Kyrgyz history  |   Kyrgyzstan in brief  |   Bishkek - the capital  |   Photos of Kyrgyzstan  |   Tourist attractions

  You can arrange skiing, mountaineering, trekking and horseback trips with adventure-travel agencies in Bishkek. There are also excellent walking opportunities in the Ala-Archa Canyon and Alamedin Canyon, both rolling out of the Kyrgyz Alatau above Bishkek. Karakol on Lake Issyk-Kul is a good base for organising skiing and trekking in the Terskey Alatau. There are plenty of thermal spring, massage and mud bath centres around the lake. For serious adventure treks and mountaineering, the Central Tian Shan is your playground, but don't underestimate the hazards.

Attractions

Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is situated on the border with China, south Kazakhstan, north Tajikistan and west Uzbekistan. It is located on the same latitude as Italy, Northern Turkey and Japan. Its area is 198.55 sq.km. The longest distance between W � E is 925 km., N � S is 454 km. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country. The highest altitude is 7439 m., Pobeda Peak. The Kyrgyz republic became an independent state in 1990. The supreme power belongs to the president and a two � chamber Parliament. The climate of Kyrgyzstan is continental. As a rule, sunny weather is the most typical feature of Kyrgyzstan's climate (247 sunny days per year).

Bishkek.

Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz republic is located where the Kazakh steppe meets the foothills of the majestic snow � capped Tien � Shan mountains ("Heavenly mountains" in China, Kyrghyz call it Ala � Too "variety of colors"). Bishkek was founded at the beginning of the 19 century after the Kokand conquers erected a fortress which guarded the caravan routes extending from Tashkent through the Chu Valley to Issyk�Kul and Kashgar in China. After the battles between Russian Tsarist troops and Kokanders the fortress was destroyed and became Russian outpost (1864 � 1878). After the Revolution of 1917 and the delineation of Central Asia in 1924, Pishpek became the administrative center of the Kyrgyz Autonomous region. On April 3, 1926, the city was named after the revolutionary hero, Mikhail Frunze, who was born there. In 1991 the city was renamed Bishkek. The city is beautiful any time of the year, though it is at its best in Spring, when the squares are covered with red tulips and yellow daffodils. People say there are few cities, which can rival Bishkek for greenery. There are about 20 parks inside the city. One of the largest is Oak Park.

Naryn river.

The largest rivers of Central Asia are Amu � Darja and Syr � Darja in the Fergana valley. Naryn, the largest river of Tien � Shan, is the largest tributary of Syr � Darja. "NARYN" is translated as "Sunny" from Mongolian language. The name is connected with mountain massif Ak � Shyirak, the river � head of NARYN, raising high to the sun. NARYN is 600 km long, 500 km in Kyrgyzstan, and has more than 500 big and small tributaries. There are 360 lakes in high mountains in the basin of NARYN, Son � Kul and Chatyr � Kul the largest. The river � head of NARYN � a small stream Kumtor flows out from a small lake (800 m in diameter) near the icy precipice of Petrov glacier in Ak � Shyirak RANGE (the highest point is 5225 m), which has the largest knot of freezing in Central Asia. Ak � Shyirak glaciers remind the Scandinavian type in the mountains of Norway, Sweden and Shpitsbergen. Petrov glacier, the largest in Ak � Shyirak, is 20 km long. The Nature � reserve, where Big and Small NARYN flow together (40 km away from NARYN town) is usually visited by the tourists.

TASH � RABAT, X c.

The stone fortress Tash � Rabat is situated at the height of more than 3000 m above the sea � level 80 km from Torugart, 3752 m (China � Kyrgyz border post) and 90 km from Naryn town in Kara � Kojun Gorge of the Inner Tien � Shan. It is known as the karavansarai of the XV century, (the medieval inn of the merchants and travellers on the Great Silk Road). It was recently dated by the X century due to the archaeology and architecture research of the last years. It is supposed to be the monastery of nestorian � Christians (or Buddhists) who came here before the Mongolian invasion and the spreading of Islam in Tien � Shan. Tash � Rabat fits in well with the mountain landscape. It has the form of a multidomed rectangular with the sides of 35,7 m and 33,7 m. The whole structure consists of a big Central hall (in the interiors of which �ganch� (burnt clay) plaster and the traces of painting preserved) and 31 rooms around it, enclosed by 20 domes with 11 vaultings. There are numerous underground passages, secret exits and underground prisons (zindanz) in the fortress. It is the largest structure in the Central Asia made of stone and similar of the kind in Samarkand, used like a fort, the refuge of hermits, and the place to study the religion, the shelter for the trade caravans � caravansarai during many centuries

Lake Son � Kul.

The second largest lake (after Yssyk � Kul) lake Son � Kul is located 90 km. away to the north � west from Naryn town in a high mountain desert in a valley 60 km. long and 30 km. wide, surrounded by the rocky Son � Kul Range (4042 m.) in the North and Moldo Too Range in the south and north � east (3900 m. ) covered with Tien � Shan fur � trees. The total area of the lake is 275 sq. km., it is 15 m. deep and is situated at the height of 3016 m. above the sea � level. In winter it is covered with thick (1,5 m.) ice. The lake is the favourite place for nestling of wild geese, ducks and sea � gulls. The one river flowing out of the lake is Son � Kul with cascade of waterfalls in a rocky Kok � Dzherty Gorge 4 km away from the lake. The river is the tributary of the largest Tien �Shan River � Naryn.

Osh.

Osh City is the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan, one of the oldest in Central Asia, 3000 years old, as old as Rome. The evidence of this is the four � headed Sacred Suleiman Mountain in the center of the city with stone inscriptions, signs and the ancient settlement of the Iron Age on the southern slope of it. In the X century Osh was the third city in Fergana Valley and an important point on the Great Silk Road, which led to China, India and Afghanistan.

In the XIII century, during the Mongolian invasion, it was destroyed and later restored.
Until the XVI century Suleiman mountain was called Bara � Kukh (�beautiful mountain�). �Takht � i � Suleiman� (�the throne of Suleiman or Solomon�) is the name given to the mountain when the Muslim prophet Suleiman � Sheik was buried at the foot of it. Many centuries it was known as Mecca for Muslims and attracted thousands of pilgrims. Khan Babur built a small house on one of the tops of the mountain in the XVI century and admired a nice Panorama of Osh and mountains. In the caves of Suleiman mountain tourists usually visit the History Museum.

The Osh bazaar remains one of the largest in Central Asia, such abundance of fruit, vegetables and oriental colors are hardly seen anywhere else.

Uzgen.

Uzgen town, 60 km away from Osh, is situated on the right bank of the mountain river Kara � Darja was founded in VIII � IX centuries in the Turkic Kaganat (state) on the Great Silk Road from Maveranakhr to the Eastern Turkestan. It was a mighty fortress, the greatest blossom of which was in X � XII centuries in the Karakhanid State. In the XIII century it was destroyed by Genghis Khan and only the Uzgen Tower (Minaret) and three mausoleums preserved.
Uzgen Minaret X � XII centuries (Burana Tower XI c., Kalyan Tower XI c. in Bukhara), built near by the Muslim mosque, played an important role in the architectural composition of the medieval feudal city. Muedzin (clergymen) from the top of the minaret called people to pray and the cathedral mosque personified the unity of the members of the city society. Mazonry and carved gaunt of the minaret has a perfect technique and is a graceful decoration.
Uzgen Mausoleums of the XI c., the Northern, Middle and South, were built in Shakhristan (the center) of the city in one axes tightly to each other. The square facades are decorated with carved plaster and carved polished bricks with wide belts of aphorisms in kufi language on the portals. The scientists called the architectural terracotta and carved plaster � the �Encyclopedia of ornaments of the XI c.�

Sary � Chelek.

The unique biosphere Nature � reserve Sary � Chelek is situated on the southern spurs of Chatkal Range in a picturesque Arkit gorge, 70 km away from Tash � Kumur (on the Naryn river). It's a geobotanical museum with a rare combination ot unique ancient walnut and wild fruit � tree forests of the South (wild apple � tree, pistachio, Sogdiana plum � alycha, walnuts, brought from Central Asia to Greece by the warriors of Alexander the Macedonian) and the Nature of the North (Tien � Shan fir � trees, archa juniper, belonging to cypresses, Semionov firs or pikhta and honeysuckle).

The heart of the nature � reserve � Lak.e Sary � Chelek is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the country (1873 m, 7 km long and 1,5 km wide, 234 m deep) with the rocky slopes coming from the water. The blue lake in the necklace of the snowy mountains is the largest among the seven lakes of the nature reserve.

Journey to the nature

Kyrghyzstan, country of natural beauty and history. Kyrghyzstan played an important role because of its geographical location on The Silk Road from the 2nd century B.C. till the end of the Medieval Age which made this region the center of civilization and trade. The ruins of the ancient and medieval settlements still exist today.

The mountain series, which cover the whole country, named Tien-Shan, meaning Celestial Mountains or sky-high mountains, are covered by the snow caps and glaciers all seasons. For this reason, they got a name that they really deserve; Ala-Too, means Colorful Mountains. This mountain range has three famous peaks: Victory Peak, 7.439 m., the peak has a shape of razor edge of rock and ice; Lenin Peak, 7.134 m., the peak has an irregular pyramid shape and Khan Tengry, 6.995m., the pyramid shape of the peak looks like a splendid collection of pink and white marble, this fabulous peak is called " Ruler of the Ghost" or "Master of Sky". This high mountain range boasts an abundancy of natural beauty; mountain lakes, rivers, glaciers, canyons, caves etc., waiting for you to be discovered.

Lake Issyk-Kul, the pearl of the Tien-Shan, is the world's second largest mountain lake and also the cleanest and the most beautiful one's.

Issyk-Kul is called Warm Lake. It doesn't freeze during the winter.

The lake offers many opportunities for sailing, wind surfing, rowing, scuba diving and fishing.

Sary-Chelek is surrounded with forests and national parks. This lake shows the typical characteristics of Siberia. Mountain rivers flow down from these highlands of which the Naryn River is the longest.

Among these mysterious mountains is situated one of the world's biggest glaciers, Inylchek Glacier. It is about 60 km long and up to 450 m. Wide. Merzbaher, name of the glacier lake that spreads out in the upper areas of Nothern Inylchek is where all the characteristics of the Arctic region can be observed. Also, wonderful long narrow canyons encircle the beautiful snow capped and needle sharp peaks. These mountains are also rich in caves which can be visited.

The wild and virgin nature of Kyrghyzstan together with the secrets of the country's history, is really worth visiting. As you travel with the PITON staff, you will have the opportunity to know more about the characteristics of the virgin nature and mystic history of Kyrghyzstan.

Kyrghyzstan is a country of mountains. The snow capped mountains inspire immortal artistic creations and are an integral part of the lives of the Kyrghyz people. The musical productions give the opportunity to feel the mountain atmosphere and landscape.

Ala-Archa canyon.

The Kyrgyz National Nature park Ala � Archa is situated 40 km. away from Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Ala � Too mountain range at the height from 1600 m. to 4860 m. (Korona Peak), the total area of the Park is 19,5 thousands sq.km. The park's best offerings are trekking and climbing in rocky, icy, spruce � clad canyons up to an elevation of almost 5000 m. above the sea level, which are removed from civilization and require serious preparation. One of the best all round routes is to the Ak � Sai canyon and Korona peak. Korona peak can be sealed in a day's outing from it's base camp. This requires technical equipment and skills (and ideally, a guide). Crampons, ice � axe and experience will bring you up the snowy glacier surface to within 200 m. of the summit, where the ice of Ak � Sai glacier starts its journey from heaven to sea in a yawning crevasse situated on the steep slope. From here there is a spectacular view of the peaks surrounding the Ak � Sai circus: Boks, Teke � Tor,Ak- Tor and Izyskatel. On the Trekking route to the Adigene waterfall there is a cemetery of mountaineers from where you can also see Corona Peak. The park abounds in wildlife, including eagles, ibex, Marco Polo sheep, wolf, bear, lynx, boar and the rarely seen, often talked of � snow leopard.

To the Issyk-Kul lake.

To road runs from the east of Bishkek through the Chu Valley, surrounded by the Kyrgyz Ala � Too range in the south and Chu � Ili, the Spurs of Zailijski � Alatay in the North, to Boom canyon, " the Stone gateway" of the blue Issyk � Kul.

Burana.

Burana was the site of Balasagun. It was founded in the middle of the 10 century on the site of an older settlement. The minaret (Burana from Turkish monara' � minaret), one of the oldest of its kind in Central Asia, was built in the 11 century and was originally 45 m. tall, Balasagun was the birthplace (in about 1015 ) of the poet Jusup Balasagun, and was later, with Kashgar, one of the capitals of the Eastern Khanate when the Karakhanid state split (the western capital was Samarkand).
The poet Jusup Balasagun was a Brilliant example of high Islamic culture in Medieval Central Asia. Jusup's only surviving work is "Kutadgy Bilig" ( roughly, " The knowledge which brings happiness"), a long didactic poem cast in epic lines. He wrote the work in his Dative Uighur (Turkish) language in Arabic script in about 1070. The Kyrgyz have taken over steward � ship of "Kutndgu Bilig", largely as an accident of Balasagun's location on the territory of their modern republic, and the Kyrguz translation of "Kutadqu Bilig" is represented in the museum of Kyrgyz Language and Literature in Bishkek.
Balasagun was so important and celebrated that Genghis Khan's Mongol horse spared the city from destruction when they began to conquer the world in the early 13th century. They renamed it Gobalik, "good city" � high praise indeed from the people who were the greatest nemesis to sedentary life in history.

Issyk-Kul lake.

" Tien � Shan looks like a sleeping camel,
And among its humps, in the circle of mountain
ranges, Issyk � Kul is sparkling like
A birth � mark on the girl's face".
(an old Kyrghyz folk song).

Issyk-Kul occupies the Central part of the valley created by the circle of the Terskey and Kungey Ala � Too mountain ranges. The lake greatly affects the climate of the area. It doesn't freeze in winter (" Warm" lake in Kyrghyz), and so, the whole region surrounding this large body of water has a more mild climate than the altitude of the area would normally have. Also, the sun is very strong here and this affects the climate. The Issyk � Kul lake is the largest in Tien � Shaa mountains (6,236 sq km) and has a maxi mum depth of 668 m. The altitude of the lake is 1609 m. above the sea level. Next to lake Titicaca in South America, it is the world's second largest mountain lake in area. 1ssyk � Kul is unique in that dozens of rivers and streams flow into it, yet none flow out. The wooden mountain slopes around it are populated with wolves, magnificent dears and other wildlife.

At present at the bottom of the Issyk � Kul lake scientists have discovered three types of ancient relics and monuments: settlements, graves and hoards. They date back from the first millennium B.C. to the middle of the second millennium A.D.

What about diving in Chigu (the town of the Red valley) 7 It was the head quarters of Usuni nomads since the second century B.C. and the most ancient trade center of the Tien � Shan on the great Silk road. About 2000 years ago the town was destroyed by the roaring Issyk-Kul waves as a result of the lake's catastrophic transgression.

These submerged towns give us a rich archaeological material proving the close links between the inhabitants with the steppe, ancient Fergana and ancient China Empire.


KONORCHEK CANYONS in the Boom Gorge, on the way frorn Bishkek (120 km to the east) to the lake Yssyk-Kul is quite different from what they can see in the central part of Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range. It's a mysterious land of highly colored red sandstone and Tertiary clay canyons with fancy, intricate forms. The American film �The gold of Makena�. shot in the Grand Canyon (big Colorado canyon), the largest canyon on the Earth. could be shot in the Konorchek Canyons (�Hiroshima�, �Bobsleigh �,� Fairy -Tale�, �Castles�, �Skyscrapers�) of the Kyrgyzki Ala-Too Range as well. In the niches of canyon walls (250- 600 m), one can see the nests of eagles and black storks - the rarest birds on the earth.
Trekking in the canyons can be combined with the ascent to the �Dostuk� (�Froenschaft�) Peak, 4250 m at the beginning of the route with a nice Panorama of the Koronchek canyons and Kyrgyzski Ala-too Range.

Stone inscriptions of Cholpon-Ata.

The stops of pristine tribes of the Neolithic period were found in many places ia the Chu valley (Chumish dam, Alamudun river, near Bishkek), near Tokmok, on the shores of the Issyk � Kul lake, near Cholpon � Ata, Naryn Tien-Shan, Talas and in Osh region (the world � known Saimaly � Tash ("embroidered stones"), "heavenly " horses of Fergana in Airmach � tay). Patient and careful browses will be rewarded with intriguing glimpses of the world view of early Iron Age people. The primitive images are mostly ibexes, as well as horses (some with riders and bows) snow leopards, camels, etc. belong to the II millenium B.C. The stone inscriptions of Cholpon � Ata (Yssyk � Kul ) (petroglifs) amount more than 10.000 pieces.

Karakol.

Karakol is situated near the eastern end of the lake Issyk � Kul and near the higbest mountains (Peak Pobeda, "Tomur" in Chiaese, 7439 m. and Khan � Tengri, Kan Too in Kyrghyz 7010 m.) and the largest glacier Ynylchek in Tien � Shan mountains. During the sightseeing tour of Karakol, founded at the end of the 19 century, you will see the Dungan's mechet built in the style of a Buddhist pagoda and made of wood. It was built without a single nail. There is also a Russian orthodox church � "Sviato � Troitski Sobor", history museum, oriental bazaar.

Nikolai Przevalski.

The greatest in the world Tibetian Highlands are girdled by the mountain ranges of Himalayas, Kun � Lun, Nan � Shan and Tian � Shan. These huge mountain systems isolated Central Asia from the Influence of seas and oceans. Due to these vast territories of Mongolia, China, Tibet and Eastern Turkestan stood out as unbroken "white spots" among the Territories which were studied well enough. But the fearless naturalists penetrated there also. Plano Karpini, Vilgelm Rubruk, Marco Polo left the fantastic stories about the nature and the people of Central Asia, incredible hardships of movement in the mountains and deserts where the monsters devoured people.

Interesting manuscripts on history, ethnography and language were left by the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, who penetrated there from India, for example, d'Andrad, d'Orvil and Gruber. Russians penetrated Central Asia mainly from the North. In the XYIII century Nikolai Spafariy, Seitkul Albin, Ivan Perviliev had been to Mongolia and China, and in the XIX century Iokinf Bichurin and the Kazakh Chokan Valikhanov.

Eastern China was explored by French Guk and Gabe. Ia 1856 the brothers Adolf and Robert Shlagintveit visited Tibet from lndia. The outstanding explorer of eastern China was Ferdinand Rihtgofea, but only the Russian traveler Nokolai Przevalski penetrated to the heart of Central Asia. He devoted 20 years of his life to the study and 11 years to travelling in this region and surveyed 6 mln.sq.km., 20000 sq.km. were put on a map.

The memorial complex of N. Przevalski (the grave, the monument, the museum and the apple garden) is on the lofty bank of lake Issyk � Kul.

The land of" Red Rocks".
Dzhety-Oguz ("Seven Bulls in Kyrgyz) Gorge.

The alpine health resort " Dzhety � Oguz" lies on the river with the same name at an altitude of 2200 m. in a picturesque canyon on the Northern slopes of the Terskei Ala � Too Range. A broad valley surrounded by the snow � capped summits � is the most beautiful ia the Northern Tien � Shan area. The origin of Dzety � Oguz is connected with whimsical red rocks, that stand high at the very entrance to the canyon.

At the Dzety � Oguz health resort tourists can drink mineral water from the local springs and bath in a spa.

Sary-Dzhaz canyon.

This zone is located in the valley ol the river Sary � Dzhaz near by Karakol and its biggest tributary Ak � Shiyrak. Because ot severe natural and climate conditions it is recommended for experienced tourists. The Sary � Dzbaz river runs from 3600 m. to 2700 m. above the sea level. Its upper part is surrounded by the Sary � Dzhaz Range (peak Semionov, 5816m.) and Terskey Ala � Too (peak Karakol, 5280m.) the river � head is in the snows and glaciers of the mountain massif Mustag. It is 198 km. 1ong in Kyrghyzstan and cuts through the huge Kokshaal � Too range and goes to China.
Its the largest tributary of the Tarim river, which flows through the Takla � Makan desert into the Lob � Nor lake in China. Sary � Dzhaz is a rear place where you can see yaks.

Kyrgyzski Ala-Too Range separates North and South of the country, it is 450 km long, the highest point is Semionov Tien-Shanski Peak. 4895 m. There are 480 glaciers in it and the largest are in the central part of the range among the river-heads of Ala-Archa and Alamudun, the so-called Ak-Sai mountain knot.
The tourists are being awaited here with the magic beauty of mountain Panoramas, the noise of fast rivers, the fury of mountain stream with a cool icy water; the turquoise surface of mountain lakes; the juicy greenery of alpine meadows in the frame of inaccessible rocks; the snow in the middle of the summer; the picturesque stone �rivers�, the racket of wonderful waterfall; glaciers with ice falls and flat areas where you can ski in July, various flora and fauna, numerous mineral springs.

ALAMUDUN GORGE, next to Ala-Archa and near by Bishkek, 30 km away to the south, is the second attractive area for the tourists.
Avoiding hot Bishkek, they cau be accommodated in a small rest-house �Tioplye Kluchi� (�Warm springs�), 1891 m high in single and double rooms (hot and cold water, shower) and acclimatize, trekking in the gorge and bathing in a pool with warm mineral water.
The smell of the eternal juniper forests (juniper, which belongs to the cypresses), rough Alamudun river, rolling the stones, alpine meadows with unique �King's tulips�-Greig tulips, rocks and the highest point of Kyrgyzski Ala-Too Range (4895 m)-Semjonov Tien-Shanski Peak or Western Alamudun Peak (the second name), mountain Ashuu-Tor and Altyn-Tor Lakes, Koguchken-Sugat waterfall are awaiting tourists.