With its blue glass and white marble, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a striking display on Independence Square. It is centrally located, and stands next to the Independence Palace, the Palace of Peace and Harmony, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque. Its displays cover the entire history of Kazakhstan, ranging from a full-sized yurt in the Hall of Ethnography to the Hall of Astana where there lies a chronicle of the capital’s modern history. Most notable is the Hall of Gold, filled to the brim with ornaments from the Bronze Age, including the nation’s symbol ‘Golden Man’. The building is nothing but grand, featuring at its entrance a giant golden eagle with flapping wings, behind which an interactive screen describes the magnificent history of Kazakhstan. Subtlety is not the Kazakh way. Definitely worth a visit.