Chimkent, also spelled cimkent, is a city and administrative centre of South Kazakhstan oblast, Kazakhstan, in the valley of the Sayram River in the foothills of the Ugam Range at an altitude of 1,680 feet (512 m).
History
Originally a settlement on the caravan route from central Asia to China, Chimkent dates back at least to the 12th century and was more than once destroyed by nomad attacks. After becoming part of the khanate of Kokand in the early 19th century, Chimkent was captured by the Russians in 1864. A pharmaceutical (santonin) works was constructed in Chimkent Kazakhstan in 1885.
Economy
Today Chimkent is the third largest city in Kazakhstan and a major industrial and cultural centre, as well as an important railway junction. Chimkent has large lead, automatic press, and cement works, with chemical (processing phosphates from Karatau), food, and light industries.
Main attractions
Chimkent is a good place to stop to explore ancient cities of Otyrar, Turkestan and Sairam.
Chimkent is the city of 400,000 inhabitants with a high proportion of Kazakh population. Under Tamerlaine's reign Chimkent was the most powerful trading centre in Kazakhstan, an important staging post on the Great Silk Road. Located near the border with Uzbekistan, Chimkent still engages in trade and has a booming bazaar open from 8am till 8pm. Chimkent is a good stopping place between Tashkent and Almaty also as a jumping-off point for Otrar, Turkistan, and Aksu-Zhabaghly nature reserve.
Chimkent has teacher-training, technological, and cultural institutes, cement and Karakul-breeding research institutes, and Kazakh and Russian theatres. An old Asiatic quarter still remains in Chimkent. |
