The residence of the President of Kazakhstan, Astana

One of the most interesting Astana attractions is the presidential residency “Ak-Orda”. Like the White House in Washington and the Buckingham Palace in London, the Presidential Palace has excursions organized for visitors. The Presidential Palace erected in 2003, somewhile later, on initiative of the Kazakhstan’s leader became an open state-level facility for everybody to see the place where decisions, the most important for the country’s life, are made.

Ak Orda is a large four-storey building, where every hall has its function, and where heads of many world’s countries walked by its corridors. The 10 m-high ground floor houses the Grand Central Hall with total area of 1,800 sq.m., the Hall of Press Conferences, Gala Hall and Winter Garden. The first floor includes offices of the Presidential Administration staff.

The second floor of the Ak Orda Palace is meant to hold events of international level. For instance, the Marble Hall is used to sign agreements with leaders of other states. The Oval Hall is designed for summit talks, while the Golden Hall hosts meetings in privy. Besides, it houses a hall in a form of a traditional Kazakh yurt (tent), a hall for extended negotiations and other premises for meetings.

The third floor accommodates the Cupola Hall for consultations with heads of states, Government Session Hall, Presidential Library and other rooms. All the four floors of the Ak Orda Palace feature incomparable decoration, luxury furniture and are fitted in keeping with the best palatial traditions. Needless to say, that the palace construction involves the latest technologies.