Astana Left Bank (Bayterek, Khan Shatyr and Hazrat Sultan)

The Capital District Of Kazakhstan, Built From 1998 On The Open Steppe And Planned In Large Part By Kisho Kurokawa, With Buildings By Norman Foster (Khan Shatyr, The Palace Of Peace And Reconciliation) And Manfredi Nicoletti (Hazrat Sultan Mosque). Bayterek, 97 M, Is The Symbol Of The Capital. · Astana, Astana

Astana's Left Bank is a capital built from nothing since 1998 on the open steppe south of the Ishim River, planned on a grand scale along the Nurzhol Boulevard. At one end stands Bayterek, a 97 m tower with a golden ball and an observation level, at the other the Presidential Palace. Between them are Norman Foster's Khan Shatyr, a huge translucent tent holding a shopping mall with an indoor beach, his Palace of Peace and Reconciliation pyramid, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia. At night the lighting is dramatic. Be honest about it: the district is very big and spread out, the buildings are new and some visitors find the whole thing sterile and empty. Winter drops to minus 30s C, summer can be hot, and the wind is nearly constant, so plan indoor stops and bring a windproof layer in every season. Go for the architecture and the sense of ambition, and take taxis or a bus between the sights, since walking it all is tiring.

Planned capital district on the south bank of the Ishim River, along the Nurzhol Boulevard from the Bayterek tower to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Astana, Astana, Kazakhstan

The district is an open area that can be walked at any hour, and the evening lighting runs after dark. Bayterek's observation level, Khan Shatyr's mall and its indoor beach, and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation have their own daytime and evening hours, usually daily with some closures for events or maintenance. The Hazrat Sultan Mosque welcomes visitors outside prayer times, with set gaps for worship and a possible closure on Fridays and holidays. Walking the boulevard and viewing the exteriors is free. Hours and ticket rules change, so confirm each building locally before you plan your day.

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