There's a bit of every city in Astana

While it lacks the European charm or the Soviet look of Almaty, Astana has its share of high-rises. Yet, there is more to Astana than high-rises. Some of its landmarks are the Hazret Sultan mosque which is Central Asia's largest, a bridge on the river Ishim that resembles the Sydney bridge and a unique cone-shaped shopping mall 'Khan Shatyr'. There is also an under-construction theatre designed on the lines of the Greek Parthenon. Many of the cottages look straight out of the English countryside. Astana represents the convergence of diverse styles, India Today reports.

Cities often symbolise the identity of a nation. Astana expanded rapidly after 2004 and the city's master plan will get fully implemented only in 2030. Astana may not entirely reflect the Kazakh ethos, but it does embody the country's hope of becoming a regional player - maintaining its links with Russia and yet having an independent identity where traditional Islam meets modernity.

The river Ishim divides the city into old and new parts. The old square is grand and vast, a throwback to the Soviet days. But a touch of Washington is evident in the grid system of streets in the newer parts of the city and there is a little bit of Europe in the form of the boulevards.

The credit for this goes to the famous British architect Norman Foster who was invited to Kazakhstan by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Locals, most of whom are government servants, say that the city is Nazarbayev's brainchild. For many years, he yearned for a world class city to welcome global investments in his mineral-rich country.

Concerts and exhibitions have been planned throughout the year to mark its 14th anniversary as the capital.

The most famous landmark in Astana which simply cannot be missed is the tall and imposing Bayterek. The legend behind this tower as a symbol is that it represents a popular tree, on which the mythical bird Samruk laid its egg.

In the sphere on the top of Bayterek, there is an imprint of President Nazarbayev's hand - displaying the man's towering presence in the lives of the people he has governed since 1991.

Nazarbayev has been a stabilising factor in his country where oil wealth has changed the per

capita GDP from $200 in 1992 to over $11,000 currently.

To some Kazakhs though, the shift of the capital from Almaty to Astana remains controversial. Some Kazakhs resent the huge funds that went into building the new government complexes, as well as the high hotel tariffs in the city. Critics cite the city's isolated location in the centre of the Kazakh steppe and the harsh climate in winter (when the temperature drops to -40 degrees). Astana is the second coldest capital of the world after Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, making it unbearable for citizens and outsiders alike.