Tourist Attractions & Monuments Kyrgyzstan

A wooden mosque built without a single nail! It was designed between 1907 and 1910 by a Chinese architect, Ejoï Si, and erected by Dungan workers in a confusing style that would make one believe it was a Buddhist temple. Its foundations are "floating", i.e. resistant to earthquakes. Because of this building, the architect was condemned for having given construction secrets to the Muslims. The building became a mosque in 1910 and never stopped being a place of worship except when it was closed by the Soviets between 1933 and 1943. Five years after independence, in 1996, a controversy arose between the city's two communities, Buddhist and Muslim, over an inscription painted on the main beam saying "this is a Buddhist temple". The interpretations went well and caused much anger, and finally the inscription was removed and the spirits calmed down. The beams and panels are decorated with painted motifs representing plants as well as the stars of the mythical Chinese bestiary: dragons and phoenixes. It is not always possible to get inside the mosque, but be sure to go around the mosque to see how the different elements are intertwined. On the right side, the light blue wooden minaret is surmounted by a golden dome where the crescent of Islam rises. No guided tours on site. Free access, proper attire required and scarf for women.

Little-visited by travellers, this valley seems to be framed by sandy cliffs, raised and sculpted by erosion and then frozen by the operation of the Holy Spirit. High, red-hued needles with inspired shapes point skywards, forming canyons that are ideal for hiking. The site's rugged relief and the shapes and silhouettes of the rocks have earned it the nickname Valley of Legends. Take an hour or two stroll along the dry riverbed and let your imagination run wild.

If you're lucky enough to be in Karakol on Saturday evening, get up before dawn the next day. Every Sunday there's a gigantic livestock market, one of the biggest in the country along with Öuzgen. Cows, sheep and, of course, horses are bought and sold by the herd between 2 and 6 am. The following five hours are reserved for individuals who come to buy a few head for a wedding or a birthday. In both cases, you'll find an atmosphere like no other, and a hustle and bustle worthy of the Palais Brongniart!

It is one of the highest waterfalls in Kyrgyzstan, richer in torrents than in waterfalls by the way. 20 km south of Barskoon, at an altitude of 1,720 m, these waterfalls nestled at the bottom of a narrow gorge consist of three successive waterfalls, the largest of which is 33 m high. In the summer, many Kyrgyz people come here in search of freshness and the small road is quickly filled with a tight crowd elbowing their way to the best selfie. Jovial and good-natured atmosphere, authentic to perfection.

The statue of Lenin (Kyrgyzstan has preserved several) now stands on the "Old Square", behind the Historical Museum. It remains one of the largest still standing in the world. Before the construction of Ala-Too Square, the heart of the city beat here. Nearby, note the large building with its six-column entrance: it housed the Government Palace until 1954, when it moved to the "White House".

The most attractive market in Bishkek. Fruit and vegetable market, meat and dairy products, spices, you can find everything... In one of the big buildings, fabrics from Turkey, China, the Emirates... and, if you look carefully, khan atlas fabrics from the Ferghana Valley. Go there early in the morning to enjoy the entertainment at the beginning of the day and take advantage of the opportunity to make up your lunch as you pass through the stands, tasting salads sold in plastic bags and hot bread just out of the ovens on the right and left.

Trinity Church had a rather difficult fate. The original brick building, which replaced the yurt under which the settlers prayed, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1894. Rebuilt in wood, the cathedral was partially burnt down by the Bolsheviks, with all five domes removed. Under Soviet rule, the building was used as a meeting hall. Finally, in 1989, it was restored to its former glory, although the wooden facades seem to have long outlived their usefulness. Patriarch Alexis II consecrated the building in 1997. A bell tower was added, and bell ringers from Zagorsk and Sergei Possad in Russia installed the five bells of the traditional Orthodox carillon. Today, the church remains a bustling, busy place for Karakol's large Orthodox community. Depending on the time of year you visit, the gardens and exterior may appear poorly maintained or unkempt, but the five golden domes are irresistibly charming when they take on their most beautiful hues, reflecting the colors of the sunset at the end of the day. Inside, a whole collection of icons, candelabras and incense burners are the object of great devotion. In the entrance hall, you can view photos of the building's restoration. Don't forget to observe a few basic rules during your visit: don't keep your hands behind your back and don't turn your back to the crucifix, so go out backwards.

It's the heart of the city, always bustling with activity, especially since the fountains and lights were refurbished just before the 2009 presidential elections. In the center of the square, until 1999 and since 1948, stood a statue of Lenin, which was moved behind the museum, to the "old square", where you can still see it, and replaced by a statue representing freedom for the Kyrgyz people, soberly named the "Freedom Monument". To the north of the square you'll find the Historical Museum, while the east and west sides are lined with arcades under which you'll find a number of restaurants and stands selling succulent cheese samsas, Bishkek's specialty. To the south, staircases lead up to the monumental architectural ensemble, inspired by Soviet credo. The Historical Museum, originally named the Lenin Museum, is an integral part of the square's design, as is the Presidential Palace, nicknamed the "White House", a little further west. White marble dominates the whole complex. In front of the historical museum, the flag of Kyrgyzstan is permanently guarded by a guard of honor, whose changeover inevitably attracts a crowd of locals and tourists amused by the soldiers' marching step: you have to raise your toes to eye level with every step! Ala-Too Square is where all the major national events are celebrated, and where the people gather for every special occasion.

The primary reason for the city's success. The sandy beach runs for several kilometres on either side of Cholpon-Ata, enjoying beautiful views of the mountains set back from the south shore. An enchanting place, populated by hundreds of holidaymakers in the summer and cows the rest of the year. From the beginning of June to the beginning of September, you can rent pedal boats, jet skis, water ski and indulge in all possible and imaginable water sports here. Or stay calmly at the water's edge, for those who prefer tanning above all else.

This centre, founded with the support of the European Union, is an essential part of any visit to Karakol. Run by friendly students, it provides information on B&Bs, local travel agencies, treks in the area and topographical maps of the surrounding mountains. Hikes and treks are even organized with reservation of pitches and equipment management. A very useful center to prepare your stay in Karakol and the surrounding area.

Behind the runway of the old airport of Cholpon-Ata is a huge site of petroglyphs, made between the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages.

More than 900 rocks form a veritable open-air museum in which you can walk around discovering drawings of sheep, horses, camels, hunting scenes... Most of the paintings date from the pre-Kyrgyz period, from the 8th century BC to the 1st century AD. It seems that the local priests used the site as a place for sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the sun. The engravings that can be seen are more recent, and date from the Turkish period from the ^5th to the 10th century. The walks are rather done in the morning or late afternoon to have a low light. At the entrance to the site, a large sign gives a few warnings about what to do to preserve the site. Take the time to go around this sign: you will discover the signposted routes to the petroglyphs that will save you from wasting time wearing out your eyes on virgin pebbles. Take a picture of it on your mobile phone to find the directions that you have not memorized, because the signposting on the site is unfortunately not the most effective. And despite their large number, not all petroglyphs are obvious. Some are hidden by moss or worn out by erosion, while others had been painted white by the Soviets, to stand out better, and remained more easily spotted.

This 8-hectare park is a lively place, attracting many locals for an evening stroll. Young and old come to enjoy open-air music, ice cream and merry-go-rounds until late in the evening. Several open-air restaurants offer plov and kebabs, or simply a drink, all to the constant sound of impromptu karaoke and the clatter of pellet guns on the shooting ranges. A place to recommend for a relaxing evening in the open air, in a very local atmosphere.

Erkindik Avenue is certainly the greenest of the city's avenues. It was laid out in 1902 and divided into two small alleys lined with oak trees. It quickly became a privileged place for walking and remains so to this day. At the railway station there is an equestrian statue of General Frounze, whose legend has it that he was born in a small house in Bishkek, where the museum dedicated to him has been set up. There follows a monument more evocative of Asia and dedicated to Kurmanjan Datka, the only Kyrgyz woman to reach the rank of general in the 19th century.

Probably one of the most interesting museums in the country. It retraces the history of the region, exhibits objects from the nomadic culture: everyday objects, but also musical instruments, carpets, jewels... It is a good opportunity to perfect one's culture on the subject, and one realizes while rubbing shoulders with this nomadic culture that many questions come to mind: how food is conserved, where are clothes stored, how a yurt is transported... So many subjects and themes tackled in an illustrated way in this beautiful museum. At the same time, a large collection of archaeological objects dating from the Scythian period can be discovered, in particular many finely worked gold jewels. Most of them were discovered in kurgan and have allowed us to learn more about the burial sites of this nomadic people. In the ethnography section, you will know much more after your visit about traditions, clothing styles or akyns... The museum's collection is really interesting but there is a lack of means for the presentation and explanations in English or French of the different exhibits, even if things are tending to improve. The best thing is to be accompanied by a guide, who will be able to reveal all the secrets to you. In addition, the museum has collected numerous photos of petroglyphs discovered throughout Central Asia, particularly in the more remote regions of Kyrgyzstan, such as Kazarman, but also in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The restoration of this museum lost some of its panache, with the disappearance of the murals and painted ceilings in the purest Soviet realist style. After five years of renovation, the form has become less fascinating, but the collection remains interesting, with a vast collection dedicated to nomadic traditions and customs on the^1st floor (costumes, war equipment and harness, crafts, reproduction of a yurt...), and a second floor that takes a long look back at the Russian conquest and the Soviet period, with a wealth of weapons and period photographs.

The beach is obviously the main point of interest in Tamchy, whose main central street runs parallel to the lake, less than 500 m to the south. The beach is attractive, even if cows, sheep and donkeys are sometimes as numerous as the summer visitors. It stretches in length on both sides of the village. As soon as the weather is fine, umbrella hire companies, vendors of cold (or alcoholic) drinks, billiards, refreshment stands, shooting ranges... take possession of the first metres of sand to provide all the equipment and leisure activities necessary for a successful day on the beach. The atmosphere is very popular, much more so than on the beaches located further east and reserved for apparatchiks. If you find the whole thing too noisy and prefer contemplation, move away from the beach in one direction or the other to reach more peaceful corners. After the last houses in Tamchy, there is not really a beach anymore but a lot of nice places to picnic and have a little picnic. Even those who love peace and quiet, however, will certainly find it more interesting to stay close to the centre, to enjoy the atmosphere and the unique show offered by a day at the beach in Tamchy. During the summer months, each house opens to offer rooms for rent to Kyrgyz people who have come on holiday for the weekend or a short week's holiday (but do not necessarily have the necessary authorisation to accommodate western tourists, so there is no need to ring every doorbell).

This gigantic, prestigious white marble building houses the Kyrgyz parliament and, on the 7th floor, the offices of the President of the Republic. The White House has been the scene of many changes of power since the Tulip Revolution; in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan remains the country with the most leaders since independence, with 5 elected presidents and 4 acting presidents.

About 40 kilometres west of Bokonbaevo is this small lake, separated from the Issyk Kul by a rise in land elevation and where evaporation has led to a rise in salinity. Kyrgyz people will tell you that it is perfectly possible to read your newspaper like on a sofa without even getting the bottom of the leaves wet! Joking aside, the floating feeling is real and anyway, the shores of this "dead lake" are worth a short walk for the beautiful views of the mountain ranges on one side and Lake Issyk Kul on the other.

One of the most prestigious squares in the city. The building housing the Philharmonic Orchestra was completed in 1980 and once again bears witness to a very Soviet vision of urban planning. In front of the entrance, a high statue of Manas fighting a dragon has been enthroned since independence, which the fountains rising in the sky seem to carry over the waters. On the right side of the square is the bust of Toktogul Satilganov, one of the most famous Kyrgyz Akyn.

The statue shows two soldiers in uniform in tribute to the fighters who died in Batken, in the south of the country, during an attempt to seize power in the city by militants of the Uzbek Islamist Movement. It reminds us of the dangers of radical Islamism, which is on the increase in Kyrgyzstan and especially in the Ferghana Valley, which is historically more traditionalist. The presence around Batken of Uzbek and Tajik enclaves facilitates the clandestine movements of radical fighters.