Astana, a city by many names

Picture of a tower. Text: About Astana, a city by many names

How much do you know about Astana, the host city of the IFLA World Library and Information Congress? We’re here to offer a brief history of the capital of Kazakhstan!

Astana is situated on the banks of the Ishim River (Kazakh: Esil), which separates the city into two distinguishable parts: The old, historic part on the right bank, and its newer one on the left.

Right bank

The historical part of Astana. It was on the right bank that the first settlements were founded, and the city developed. Valuable historical and architectural monuments, including from the Soviet era, have been preserved here, as well as parks, squares and residential areas. Leafy areas and restaurants line the right riverbank, where people promenade and enjoy the views of the river on summer evenings.

Left Bank

The left bank is the modern part of the city. Before the city became the capital in 1997, there were summer cottages on the left bank, and the surrounding steppes were a habitat for wild animals. With the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Astana, active development of this territory began, and now there are modern quarters with futuristic architecture, including government buildings and business centres.

Photo of modern high buildings and bridge across a river

 

A city by many names: Astana through history

 

Sepia image of a fortress
“Fortress in Akmolinsk.” Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Astana, which literally means “the capital,” holds the record for most name changes of a capital city in the 20th century! 
 
Follow along as we explore the different names the city once had throughout history:
 
  • Bozoq: It’s the name of an ancient settlement and necropolis from the 8th to 16th centuries. It is now a historical and cultural monument on the southern outskirts of Astana, on the eastern shore of Lake Buzykty.
  • Akmola: Originally founded in 1830, the Akmola fortification recieved the status of a city in 1863.
  • Tselinograd: In 1961, the city was then renamed Tselinograd.
  • Akmola: After Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, the city was renamed back to Akmola. 
  • Astana: In 1998, the city was renamed Astana and became Kazakhstan’s capital. In 2019, it was called Nur-Sultan in honour of the country’s first president. Astana reverted to its previous name in 2022.

You can look forward to exploring Astana’s unique blend of ancient history and modern development, as evidenced by its architecture and urban organisation.