Konayev

Industrial center turned resort

Konayev, formerly known as Kapshagay, is a city located in the Almaty Region, Kazakhstan, on the banks of the Kapshagay Reservoir, which is a popular destination for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts. The city is named after Dinmukhamed Kunayev, a prominent political figure in Kazakhstan during the Soviet era.

The city was founded in 1970 under the name Novoiliysk, replacing the flooded settlement of Iliysk, which had to be evacuated due to the construction of the Kapshagay Reservoir. Initially, the city was planned to be an important industrial center. Several factories were established, including a famous porcelain factory whose products were renowned outside of the Soviet Union. Additionally, there were factories producing reinforced concrete structures, high-precision instruments, a renowned bakery, an oil factory, and a fish processing complex, among others. However, most of these factories ceased operation after the collapse of the USSR.

Today, the abandoned factories have been repurposed for activities such as rope jumping and paintball. The Robot plant, for example, still has a 180-meter high chimney that is used for rope jumping by local youth. Despite the decline of its industrial sector, Konayev remains a popular tourist destination due to its stunning natural scenery and a range of outdoor activities available at the Kapshagay Reservoir. The reservoir offers various water-based activities, including fishing, yachting, diving, and various water sports throughout the year.

The gambling capital of Kazakhstan

In 2006, when several casinos and gambling houses were relocated from Almaty to Konayev, the city became the main gambling zone of Kazakhstan. In fact, we have a separate article dedicated to the 7 famous Konayev casinos.

The city boasts excellent infrastructure, including hotel complexes and recreation centers on the coast of the Kapshagay Reservoir, which provide visitors with all the amenities of modern civilization while allowing them to enjoy a warm reservoir beach vacation.

Despite its relatively young age, Konayev has a few noteworthy sights beyond the beaches and casinos. The city has a water park with numerous water attractions and slides, as well as the Tulpar Retro Salon, a museum showcasing a collection of vintage Soviet cars such as Chaika, Pobeda, and Volga.

In addition, the city has a monument dedicated to Dinmukhamed Kunayev, the Great Patriotic War Glory Park, and Central Park. Visitors can also explore the surrounding area, including the City of Nomads, the petroglyphs of Tamgaly-Tas, or the Altyn-Emel National Park.

How to get there?

Almaty and Konayev are approximately 75 km (47 mi) apart and are connected by a well-maintained A-3 highway. There are also daily electric trains that depart from Almaty 1 railway station to Konayev, as well as buses available from Sayran bus station.