Welcome to the Soaking Land of Kyrgyzstan!

Kyrgyzstan, the Republic in Central Asia, is dominated by massive mountain ranges, scenic valleys, chilled glaciers, beautiful gorges, and ice-blue lakes. You must be thinking that this is the best place for adventurous sports such as trekking and horse riding that can make my trip worthy. Yes! You are absolutely correct and that there are bountiful selections for this. For its best feel and charm, stay with some nomads in a camp under the shining sky.

On my journey, I however explored some sites rather than trekking.

Prime Attractions

Bishkek

This is the capital of the nation. Here, we explored some historic and modern sites.

• White House:
  This is a noteworthy marble palace in the west of the square holding the President’s office and the parliament. At its rear, do not miss the Panfilov Park to hold the excitement of rides and arcades.

• Alamedin Bazaar:
  This is a small bustling market at 2.5 km in the northeast that is accessible through a trolleybus 7 or 9 from TsUM.
• Dom Druzhby:
  Once the headquarters of the Central Committee of ASSR, it is now a community centre for advocacy also holding a drab zoology museum.
• Dordoy Bazaar:
  Known as Tolchok meaning pushing crowd, this is a giant weekend market flooded with imported consumer goods at 7 km north. Either of the buses 185, 132, 25, and 200 can take you here from the north of Soviet and Chuy.
• Dubovy Park:
  This is famous for walking on Sundays. It holds some cafes, modern sculpture, and century-old oaks. There is also an open-air art gallery and the Erkindik (Freedom) Statue once of Felix Dzerzhinsky who founded the Soviet secret police.
• Frunzwe House-Museum:
  This is the two-storey museum exhibiting Frunze as a military and family man, posters, weapons, flags, and statues.
• Log House:
  This is a bizarre Russian-style house near the Ecotour office that reveals the Russian past here.
• Orthodox Church:
  This again reminds of the Russian glory and is worth a watch.

• Osh Bazaar:
  Located 3 km to the west on Chuy, all farmers’ produce is sold here. Further, you can even find a separate cloth market at its south. Trolleybus 14 on Chuy, bus 20 or 24 on Kiev, or 42 from Soviet will take you here.
• State Historical Museum:
  Watch out for yurts, a mummy, carpets, embroidery, open-air balbals (Turkic gravestones),  mural-cum-shrine to Lenin, a wild bear signifying the Nazi Germany, and a wonderful woman holding a dove indicating Mother Russia.
• World War II Monument:
  Located on the Victory Square, this is a yurt-shaped monument holding an eternal flame and commemorating the 40th anniversary of the war end.

Osh

This is the second biggest city and one of ancient towns whose history dates back to 5th century B.C. The Bishkek–Osh road itself has so much to offer that took us through the two passes of over 3000 m, the deep Suusamyr Valley, vast Toktogul reservoir, cavernous Naryn River gorge, and the wide Fergana Valley. After reaching Osh, we visited the following places.

• Dom Babura:
  This is accessible by a sheer 25-minute trek from a little entrance at the rear of an ultramodern silver dome on Kurmanjan Datka. At the cape, you can have good views. At the base of the hill, you can see an extensive Muslim cemetery. Visit this place during the morning. Further, if you know Russian and speak in so, the welcoming Uzbek warden will provide more information and shall present you a prayer.
• Historical Archaeological Museum Complex:
  Situated close to Solomon’s Throne, this is a site of three museums having the same working hours.
• Three-Storied Yurt:
  This is a huge yurt displaying a collection of traditional clothes, textiles, and shyrdaks. It belongs to the Historical Archaeological Museum Complex.
• Historical Museum:
  This is the most attractive museum of the three in the complex built at the time of Osh 3000 celebrations. It exhibits collections on local archaeology and ethnography, but with little English info along with some big weapons.
• Historical-Cultural Museum:
  This offers some exhibits of potsherds, ancient stonework, rocks, bugs, and mangy ballooned animals. A blast in a hole in of the caves at the side of a holy mountain led fixing of a bizarre sheet-metal face on an eyesore that is visible from a long site.
• Jayma Bazaar:
  Considered as among the best markets in Central Asia, it is the 1 km stretch along the west of the river flooded with Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks trading in traditional hats, knives, pirated cassettes, horseshoes, Chinese tea sets, and seasonal fruit and vegetables. Do visit this bustling market on Sunday morning. Other days, it appears as an isolated place
• Languages Faculty:
  Here, you will come across some eager students learning English that can guide you unofficially for your trip, as many people do not know English.
• Solomon’s Throne:
  This is in fact a serrated stark rock that is visible from any corner of the city. For centuries, this throne is considered as sacred for the people who follow Islam, as it is said that the Prophet Mohammed had prayed here. According to a few angles, it is believed to indicate a reclining pregnant woman and is so special to expectant mothers.

Alai Valley

Located in the far south, this is land of exclusive trekkers and mountaineers. The glaciated Pamir Alay range of 500 km stretching from Samarkand to Xinjiang is just the choice of these adventurers. Besides, trekkers opt Pik Lenin (now Koh-i-Garmo), which is the highest accessible peak on the Kyrgyz–Tajik border. Not difficult, many climbers pass the Lipkin Rocks – the name is that of a pilot who after being crashed here walked out peacefully. However, altitude sickness and avalanches pose a great threat here for the thrilling excursions, the last been in 1991.

In the Achik Tash meadows at 3600 m high located at a distance of 30 km south of Sary Moghul, IMC Pamir and trekking agencies run Pik Lenin base camps and programmes in summer.

Best Time to Visit

July to September and for trekking – June to mid-October. Avalanche danger – March, April, and from September to mid-October

Accommodations

At Bishkek:

• Hyatt Regency – at $340

• Castle Hotel Bishkek -  at $50

At Osh:

• Hotel Crystal – Standard
• Hotel Alay – Standard
• Hotel Osh – Budget
• Hotel Sanabar – Budget
• Hotel Taj Mahal – Deluxe