Panfilov Heroes Memorial Park, Almaty (must see)

The urban park situated in east-central Almaty surrounding the Ascension Cathedral is known as the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. It was named in honor of the Panfilov heroes, a group of 28 soldiers from an Infantry unit who lost their lives while defending Moscow against the German invasion during the Second World War. The group was named after Ivan Panfilov, the General who commanded the 316th division. The park features a giant black monument of soldiers from all 15 Soviet republics and an eternal flame commemorating the fall of World War II.

The park was established in the 1870s in the place of a village cemetery that was destroyed in 1921. It had several different names before being renamed in 1942 in honor of the Panfilov soldiers. The park contains several historical buildings dating back to the early and mid-20th century, including the Ascension Cathedral, which was constructed without a single nail, the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, and the House of Officers.

Today, the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Almaty citizens often lay flowers and wreaths at the park's base to honor those who died in World War II during Victory Day celebrations. In 1982, the park's Museum of Folk Instruments building, the Ascension Cathedral, and the Memorial of Glory were added to Kazakhstan's list of historical and cultural monuments of republican significance.