Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Kyrgyzstan. Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Kyrgyz Nomad (Bishkek), Dordoy Bazaar (Bishkek) or Sulayman Mountain (Osh).
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Kyrgyzstan.
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Kyrgyz Nomad, Bishkek
The Kyrgyz State History Museum is a museum located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The museum contains several exhibits about the cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz people, whose sculptures and objects date from antiquity to the end of the 20th century. It is one of the most important museums in Central Asia.[1]
Dordoy Bazaar, Bishkek
Also known as: Дордой базары
Marketplace in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Dordoy Bazaar is a large wholesale and retail market in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It is one of Asia's greatest public marketplaces, comparable to Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market or Tehran's Grand Bazaar. It has been described by a Western journalist as "a modern monument to the power of raw commerce."
Dordoy Bazaar is a major shopping and employment centre for the Bishkek metropolitan area and entire Chuy River Valley region. It is also one of the main entrepots through which consumer goods from China arrive at shops and markets in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. According to some economists, this re-export is one of two largest economic activities of Kyrgyzstan.[2]
Sulayman Mountain, Osh
Also known as: Сулайман-Тоо
Mountain in Kyrgyzstan. The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site located entirely in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage. The rock rises abruptly from the surrounding plains of the Fergana Valley and is a popular place among locals and visitors, with a splendid view.
This mountain is thought by some researchers and historians to be the famous landmark of antiquity known as the “Stone Tower”, which Claudius Ptolemy wrote about in his famous treatise Geography. It marked the midpoint on the ancient Silk Road, the overland trade route taken by caravans between Europe and Asia.
Sulayman (Solomon) is a prophet in the Qur'an, and the mountain contains a shrine that supposedly marks his grave. Women who ascend to the shrine on top and crawl though an opening across the holy rock will, according to legend, give birth to healthy children. The trees and bushes on the mountain are draped with numerous "prayer flags", small pieces of cloth that are tied to them.
According to the UNESCO, the mountain is "the most complete example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia, worshipped over several millennia". The site is still a popular place for local Muslims, with stairs leading up to the highest peak where there stands a small mosque originally built by Babur in 1510. Much of the mosque was reconstructed in the late 20th century.
The rock also contains the National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman that was built during the Soviet era, showing archaeological findings from the area and its history. The lower slope of the mountain is surrounded by a cemetery.[3]
Osh Bazaar, Bishkek
Spices exporter in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Osh Bazaar is one of the largest bazaars in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It is located on the west side of town, and is not far from the Western Bus Station.
At Osh Bazaar, one can buy food products, almost any common household good, clothes, souvenirs, and even musical instruments. Kyrgyz national clothes are sold in the national goods section, called "Kyyal" (Kyrgyz: Кыял - "fantasy/dream"), and may be special ordered (for size, colour, etc.) through the bazaar vendors. The national goods section also includes vendors who sell carved wooden trunks (Kyrgyz: сандык), national bedding (Kyrgyz: төшөк), national cradles (Kyrgyz: бешик), small souvenirs, and many other locally produced items relevant to the traditional and modern culture of Kyrgyzstan.[4]
Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Babur, Osh
Also known as: Бабур атындагы Ош Мамлекеттик Академиялык өзбек музыкалуу драма театры
Theater in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Babur – Osh city theatre, the oldest professional theater in Kyrgyzstan, the second oldest theater in Central Asia.[5]
Address: Osh, Lenin Street, 326
National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman, Osh
Museum in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman is a museum in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1949 as Osh Regional Museum. The present museum building was completed during the Soviet era in 1978 to celebrate the 3,000th anniversary of the city of Osh. It was carved inside the Sulayman Mountain, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The structure represents a glassed concrete arch that closes the entry to the cave.
The National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman is one of the largest museums in Kyrgyzstan. The collections include more than 33,000 pieces of archaeological and ethnographic facts, works of handicraft, paintings, sculptures and graphics.[6]