Bishkek City is located at the centre of Chuyskaya Valley, at the foot of
snow-white mountains Kyrgyz Ala-Too (height is 750 meters above the sea level).
Climate is sharply continental. An average amount of solar days per year is 322
(about 2600 hours). Annual average temperature is +10.2 C. The most cold month
is January (- 4.7 C), warmest month is July (+ 24.5 C). Average relative
humidity of air in January is 68 %, in July - 38%.
Ala-Archa River, Alamedin River, Bolshoy Chuyskiy Channel ([BeCheKa]) and some
small rivers and channels flow through the city. In 1979 the thermal-mineral
water sources with the temperature of +39?? were discovered.
There were many various legends about the name of city.
As old people told, many years ago Kurmanbek-khan ("khan" was a title of
public or military leader in Middle Ages Asia) has built his headquarters in the
beautiful valley between the Alamedin river and Ala-Archa river.
One day, khan escorted by his jigits (in the Asia "jigit" means a brave soldier)
was coming back after hunt. He has heard a noise and shouts of the woman, "Bishkek!
Where have you got to, Bishkek?" (" bishkek", in Kyrgyz, means a beater made
from archa tree for blending kumys - tasty and curative drink made from mare
milk). At this moment, the weeping of the newborn has resounded from nearest
yurta ("yurta" is a traditional dwelling in the Central Asia). Kurmanbek-khan
has asked, "Woman! Why do you make noise? Why do you search anything that
responds itself? Listen to Bishkek giving his voice!"
Near lonely and rather poor yurta, happy father of newborn was sitting,
listening to them and smiling.
- Accept a gift, - Kurmanbek-khan has said to the parent and has thrown kamcha
to him ("kamcha" is an Asian rich designed lash). The happy father didn't know
how to thank khan and said:
- Let the name of my son will be Bishkek and let your kamcha will bring good
luck to him!
So, the boy was named Bishkek, according to Kurmanbek-khan will.
Since early age Bishkek was distinguished by his Hercules health. He was always
a winner in any combats. The enemies did not know, where wait for Bishkek from,
because everyday his tactics varied. Bishkek baatyr (in the Asia "baatyr" means
a very strong man, Hercules) grew up and his glory spread. The enemies were
afraid him and stopped any battles against his tribe.
However, Bishkek baatyr quarreled with local aristocracy, abandoned his native
ayil Maychoku ("ayil" is the Asian village) and moved to the place Chunkurchak
in the head reach of the Alamedin river. Then he moved to the middle part of
this river, where wild track imperceptibly passed. Later this track became The
Great Silk Road.
Forward-looking Bishkek for uniting of different tribes of Kyrgyzes followed the
national wisdom "Take not the wife, but kindred" and married the daughter of
distinguished person from far Talas Valley. His children Baymurat, Manakkozu,
Manapay, Yryskul were really lovely. By the way, nowadays 40 families of the
Bishkek baatyr descendants live in the village Tyuz, Sokuluk region.
Bishkek baatyr has built a bazaar on the nine road crossing (nowadays Yu. Fuchik
Park). The early buyers went to the bazaar and were asked:
- Where are you going?
- To Bishkek, - was the answer. After noon buyers came back from the bazaar and
were asked:
- Where are you coming from?
- From Bishkek, - the answer followed. So, this district was named "Bishkek" and
later turned into the large city. When Bishkek baatyr died grateful citizens
have buried him with the great honour on the hill (nowadays approximately near a
northern part of the "Yssyk-Kul" cinema) and accordingly to ancient traditions
constructed the large gumbez ("gumbez" is the Central Asian ritual grave
construction). Before a long way or solving the great problems people assembled
near gumbez and held a meeting or made a decision.
The Chinese history sources confirm that in the 60-th years of the 18-th century
in the Chuy Valley Kyrgyzes had the Bishkek fortification that held out against
various conquerors. Much later Kokand conquerors built at this place their own
fortification that have been also named Bishkek Later the name was deformed in
writing into Pishpek.
In 1825 Kokand Empire has conquered Chuy Kyrgyzes, has destroyed their relic -
Bishkek baatyr' gumbez. At that place a clay fortress has been built. Thus the
conquerors wanted the name of the national hero to be forgotten. But the people
continued to name the new fortress as the former name of Bishkek. By the way,
according to the opinion of the historians and writers another sense of the word
"Bishkek", is also "forward part of the happy, fine mountain (mountain Baytik)
or of the five-wall fortress".
In December 26, 1862 rebellious Kyrgyzes headed by another outstanding leader
Baytik baatyr (1820-1886) encircled the Kokand Empire local governors that lived
in the fortress. The fortress was destroyed and merged with ground.
In 1926 the city was named Frunze in honour of the known Civil War commander,
who was born and lived in Bishkek. Only in 1992 after independence proclaiming
the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic has returned the initial name.
Bishkek City is the location of the state supreme authorities, foreign embassies
and representative offices. The greater part of all Kyrgyzstan industry is
located in Bishkek City too.
The most intensive developing branches of industry are engineering industry,
textile industry, construction materials industry and food processing industry.
Last years the significant attention is given to the horse breeding as the most
ancient and major export-oriented branch. Akhaltekin breed horses are well-known
and high evaluated in mountain landscape countries due to their adaptability and
endurance. These horses are quick and adaptable to sharp temperature jumps,
stony roads and mountain tracks. There is a stud farm, a horse-race school,
hippodrome in the city. In 1997 GDP of Bishkek in money terms was about 9.6
billions soms.
The international airport "Manas" (30 km to the northwest from Bishkek) has a
perspective to become the largest transit airport between Western Europe,
Central and South East Asia, Near and Far East, Oceania, Northern Africa.
Acknowledgements of this are an agreement on the air corridor recently signed by
governments of Kyrgyzstan and China, as well as large Japanese and German
investments into the airport "Manas" reconstruction, Korean investments into
building of the Amusement Park "Flamingo" (sort of mini-Disneyland), "Hyatt"
company' investment into the 5-star hotel building.
Information infrastructure of the city has been intensive growing. There are
several Internet-providers. A lot of local, global, corporate computer networks
has been created. There are two cellular radiotelephony operators (GSM-900 and
AMPS/ D-AMPS standards), several paging and trunc-radiotelephony operators.
There are representative offices of the international companies such as Mersedes-Benz,
Audi-VW, Sumitomo, Federal Express, DHL, UPS, LG-Electronics, Daewoo, Phillips,
Siemens, Panasonic, Reemtstma, Coca-Cola etc.
The banking system consists of 21 banks related by the correspondent business to
the largest foreign banks. The most of the Bishkek banks realizes their
international transfers through such net systems as SWIFT, REUTERS, SPRINT, and
WESTERN UNION. Some banks deals with international systems VISA and EUROPAY. Two
banks have their own VISA-EUROPAY processing centres. The national system of the
debit cards ALAY-CARD has been formed. But at our great sorrow the banking
system has not become perfect yet. There are no card-cashing terminals, so you
can cash your card only in the bank office. But you should be ready that you
will be asked for passport or another I.D. when cashing your card. But the
matter of fact is that there are no limits (at present) for capital imports and
exports (at least for persons) and there are too much privileges for foreign
investors (just like in the offshore regions).
A National Academy of Sciences and a lot of academic institutions and colleges
represent Science and Education. Annually 18 universities, 20 institutes and 9
academies are graduated by about 5,5 thousands qualified Masters.
The Bishkek City is a centre of the national culture of Kyrgyzstan. There are
Musical and Drama theatres, Philarmonic Society, libraries and museums here. The
landscapes of the Bishkek City are surely attractive.
The city is perfect in any season