KarLag Museum — Attraction in Shakhtinsk

great museum and memorial of all the atrocities committed under Stalin in the area of Dolinka, in the Karlag Gulag, one of the biggest labour camps at that time. The building itself is the former administrative post and the actual size of the former Gulag is unimaginable. They showcase many items, portraits and examplary prison cells in the basement to demonstrate the sheer actions taken for political repression in the Soviet era. Most exhibits have short English subtitles and some even have a QR code with encrypted explanations. There was a young lady, museum staff, guiding us from the background through the many rooms, giving us all the time we would need. There was no extra charge. Entrance fee was 1000 pp. We spent almost 2 hours in the museum and around. Take bus 121 from Karagandy (cash 200 Tenge pp) and get off at Dolinka, it's another 2,5km or so to the museum from the highway, if you're lucky you can catch the local bus for this part, too. Definitely a must-do if you're...

Excellent museum about the Karaganda forced labour camp located in the building where it was the main office and the administration of the whole lager system in Kazakhstan. The price is very cheap (400 KZT) and the permission to take photos costs 700 KZT. Guides speak Kazakh, Russian and English. I recommend to book the visit and choose one of these possibilities (at 10 and 11.30 AM; at 15 and 16.30 PM). In one hour and half it is possible to understand what was a forced labour camp, how it worked, how many people were repressed, how many died and from where they came. The experience is hard, for strong-hearted visitors because some photos are truly shocking. Please, do not forget this small but dramatic piece in the...

Amazing experience. Great job has been done by designers, artists, and locals who shared the documents and pictures of that time. Surprisingly the museum was opened in early 2000s with only few rooms. Later it was rennovated and reopened in 2011 and became the one we see today. The guided tour was quite interesting and informative. It is so impressive to learn how many scientists, artists, writers and other brilliant people were deported here, in my home town.

It is shame there is no audio guide. I suggest the administration to introduce audio...