Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Kokshetau. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA — This year marks a significant milestone for Kokshetau as the city celebrates its 200th anniversary.
Founded in May 1824, Kokshetau has stood as one of the oldest cities in northern Kazakhstan, wrapped in the embrace of azure mountains and veiled by the whispers of over 80 lakes. Under the leadership of Abylai Khan, who united the Kazakh Khanate and liberated its territories from foreign invaders, the region where Kokshetau is located gained prominence in the 18th century. Notable batyrs (warriors), sultans, byis (the steppe judges), elders, and noblemen gathered for the state meetings in the city’s vicinity.
Kokshetau. Photo credit: Sanzhar Sabyrzhanuly Kokshetau has been my cornerstone from childhood to adulthood, even as I now navigate life far from its serene landscapes. It was not until adulthood that I fully grasped the depth of my roots, anchored by the legacies of great figures like Abylai Khan and Shokan Ualikhanov, a Kazakh ethnographer, folklorist, and educational scientist from Kokshetau.
Both have significantly shaped our history and collective identity as Kazakhs. The symbol of the city is a huge inscription with the name of the city. Photo credit: 716.
kz Reflecting on the city’s evolution, I recal.