Nur-Sultan Travel Guide

The Palace of Independence stands on the left bank of the Ishim River in Astana — formerly named Nur-Sultan — the capital of Kazakhstan. A landmark hall built between 2008 and 2010 in a monumental modern idiom, it hosts state ceremonies, international forums and parliamentary sessions. Clad in blue-and-white stone with gilded spires, its silhouette is imposing; inside are a multi-thousand-seat congress hall, exhibition spaces and the library of the country's first president. The design embodies the ambition of national independence and development, and the building is set among fountain squares and green belts that, together with neighbouring structures such as the Khan Shatyr tent and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, define Astana's skyline. For visitors it is the best entry point to grasp the planning vision of this young capital — a 'city of the future on the steppe' — and a classic vantage point for photographing the new town.