Kyzylorda Train Station

The train station Lonely Planet called the finest in Central Asia

Kyzylorda's main train station has been described by Lonely Planet as the best in Central Asia — a claim that draws curious visitors even when they have no intention of taking a train. The station dates to the Soviet era and is built on a scale that seems disproportionate to the town it serves, which is typical of Soviet infrastructure: every building was an architectural statement.

The interior features ornate decorative elements, high ceilings, and the kind of ceremonial grandeur that Soviet architects were required to produce for public buildings. Whether or not you agree with Lonely Planet's superlative, it's an interesting building worth a look, and the general hubbub of a Central Asian train station — with families camped out on the platform, vendors selling food, and conductors in elaborate uniforms — is a scene in itself.

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Lonely Planet's description of this as the finest train station in Central Asia is a bold claim that locals take seriously — and somewhat wryly. Kazakhstan's vast distances mean the train is often the most practical way to travel between cities, and the Soviet empire built its stations to impress. This one, with its ornate tilework and ceremonial proportions, was designed to proclaim that even the most remote corners of the USSR were part of a grand civilisation.