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The white Hazrat Sultan Mosque with its central dome and four slender minarets under a blue sky with heavy clouds
Religious site · Saraishyq District, Astana

Hazrat Sultan Mosque

A white mosque in classical Islamic style with Kazakh ornament, opened in 2012 on the right bank of the Ishim in Astana

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Ambient sound · similar settingLarge crowd murmuring in a high-ceilinged hall
Photo: ekrem osmanoglu (@konevi) / Unsplash

Discover Hazrat Sultan Mosque

The mosque stands on the right bank of the Ishim River, next to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the Kazakh Eli monument and Independence Square. Its white façade and interior, massive white columns and soft blue and gold accents give it a light, palace-like appearance, and at night floodlighting makes it stand out against the city skyline.

The central dome, 28.1 metres across at its base, is the largest in Kazakhstan, and it is ringed by eight smaller domes, with a minaret at each corner of the building. Inside, the main prayer hall lies beneath the great dome; the complex also has smaller prayer rooms, a wedding hall, ablution rooms, a Quran reading room and classrooms. The walls carry Kazakh motifs and the names of 25 prophets in calligraphy.

Don’t miss

  1. 01The 51-metre central dome, the largest in Kazakhstan
  2. 02Four 77-metre minarets at the corners of the building
  3. 03White prayer hall with massive columns and a large chandelier
  4. 04Kazakh ornaments and calligraphy of the names of 25 prophets
  5. 05Floodlit façade after dark

History & culture

The story of Hazrat Sultan Mosque

The name was proposed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. 'Hazrat Sultan', meaning 'holy sultan', is one of the epithets of the Sufi sheikh Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, whose mausoleum stands in Turkestan. Construction began in June 2009, employing between 1,000 and 1,500 workers at different stages, and the mosque opened on 6 July 2012.

When it opened it was described as the largest mosque in Central Asia. Since 2022 the new Nursultan Mosque on Mangilik El Avenue, which Visit Astana describes as the largest in the country, has taken that role, but Hazrat Sultan remains one of the capital's principal religious buildings.

Local life & traditions

Hazrat Sultan is a working Friday mosque as well as a sight, and it is used for prayers, Quran study groups and weddings, which are held in its own wedding hall. The name ties the capital to Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the 12th-century Sufi poet whose mausoleum in Turkestan is one of the country's most important places of pilgrimage. Women use a separate prayer room on the upper floor during prayer times.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Visitors walk through the main entrance halls into the prayer hall under the central dome, where tourist movement is kept to a roped-off area and photography is allowed. Among the treasures described by guides are a silver Quran and a large handwritten Quran displayed under glass in the main hall. Outside, the mosque is easily combined with the neighbouring Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and Independence Square, and many city tours include it. The complex has a souvenir shop and a halal café.

When to go

The mosque can be visited year-round, and its interior makes it a good choice in Astana's cold winters. For exterior photographs, the warmer months from May to September bring longer days, and the building is lit up in the evenings.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Address
48 Tauelsizdik Avenue, Astana. Source: visitastana.kz ↗
Opening hours
Daily, 06:00 to 20:00 (as listed by Visit Astana; other sources give different hours, so confirm before visiting). Source: visitastana.kz ↗
Phone
+7 (7172) 42-24-55. Source: visitastana.kz ↗
Capacity and size
Up to 10,000 worshippers; the site covers more than 11 hectares, with a 51-metre central dome and four 77-metre minarets. Source: en.wikipedia.org ↗
Dress code
Modest clothing for men and women, no shorts; women cover their hair. Cloaks are provided at the entrance and shoes are left in lockers. Source: eurasia.travel ↗

Checked against the sources on 31 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

  • Dress modestly and bring a headscarf if you are a woman; cloaks are available at the entrance.
  • Avoid prayer times if you want to see the main hall, as women may then enter only the upper prayer room.
  • Stay within the roped-off area inside the prayer hall.
  • Combine the visit with the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation next door.
  • Come back after dark to see the floodlit exterior.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Hazrat Sultan Mosque: food, markets & places to stay

The mosque is next to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the Kazakh Eli monument and Independence Square on the right bank of the Ishim. Baiterek and Nurzhol Boulevard are across the river on the left bank, and the larger Nursultan Mosque stands on Mangilik El Avenue.

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 31 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

  1. Hazrat Sultan Mosque — Wikipedia
  2. Hazrat Sultan Mosque — Visit Astana
  3. The Hazret Sultan Mosque in Astana — Eurasia Travel
  4. Astana — Kazakhstan.travel (national tourism portal)
  5. «Nursultan» Mosque — Visit Astana

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