Kök Bazaar, Public market in Medeu district, Kazakhstan
Kök Bazaar is a multi-floor public market in the Medeu district of Almaty, Kazakhstan, where vendors sell fresh food, spices, textiles, and handmade goods. The stalls are spread across several levels, with each floor tending to group similar types of products together.
The site dates back to 1868, when it served as a resting place for merchants and caravans passing through on trade routes. After an earthquake in 1887 caused major damage, the complex was rebuilt in 1927 and gradually took on the form it has today.
Visitors can find Kymyz, a fermented drink made from mare's milk, and Shubat, made from camel's milk, sold alongside everyday groceries. These drinks come from the nomadic herding traditions of the steppe and are still part of daily life for many locals.
The market sits at the corner of Zenkov and Jibek Joly streets, making it easy to find on foot from central Almaty. Parking is available on site for those arriving by car, and mornings tend to be quieter than afternoons.
In the 1970s, the original wooden stalls were replaced by a concrete building in a brutalist style, which stands out among the markets of Central Asia. That structure is still standing and shapes the way the market looks from the outside today.
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