Monuments to visit Kyrgyzstan

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.

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.

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.

Inaugurated in December 1991, this gigantic bazaar consists of thousands of freight containers bought from Kazakhstan and Russia, stacked and organized around 18 main aisles cutting through five distinct districts. On the ground floor the shop, upstairs the stocks. It is mainly wholesalers who come to Dordoy, a gigantic brewery of goods from China, Turkey or Central Asia, supplying the bazaars of India, Russia and the whole of the former USSR. Costumes, fabrics, leather, carpets, ceramics, traditional clothing and even modern DIY and electronic products: everything can be bought and sold in Dordoy. This tin town has grown steadily over the last 25 years to now house more than 35,000 people. Each district (Turkish, Chinese, Kyrgyz, European...) has its specialities and the quantities sold are such that a bus station and hotels had to be built to accommodate the traders who came from far away. You won't find a lot of handcrafted souvenirs, but take a walk around to taste the unique atmosphere and entertainment! For food and drink, you will find a few vendors selling drinks and snacks at the bazaar's main entrance, around the bus station, or simply in the bazaar's aisles, near the street vendors. For a little more comfort (and a real meal), go near the administration offices in the centre of the bazaar where the Café Lissi is located. Kyrgyz and Uyghur specialties.

The minaret, built in the late ^10th or early ^11th century, measures almost 20 m and must have been double that when it was built. Its bare-brick decoration is typical of the pre-Mongol era. In the center, the Nasr-ibn Ali mausoleum is the oldest of the three (^11th c.) and houses the first khan of the Karakhanid dynasty. The northern mausoleum (1152-1153) is that of Hassan ibn Hussein ibn Ali. The chiselled terracotta of the southern mausoleum (1187) is the most admirable.

The Karakhanid city that controlled this stretch of the Silk Road until the ^12th or ^13th century covered more than eight hectares. All that remains today are sections of the walls, gradually crumbling into dust. Legend has it that Manas, the mythical hero of the Kyrgyz epics, built it and a mausoleum for his comrade-in-arms Koshoï. As the snow-capped foothills of the nearby mountains contrast with the steppe, a few red earth walls still protrude from the ground, forming a Hollywood-style backdrop that you'll never tire of strolling along.

This vast, cold granite esplanade was built just over 30 years ago to commemorate the ^40th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis. The monument evokes the silhouette of a yurt, housing an eternal flame under four pillars, and contrasts furiously with the architectural style of the neighboring circus, erected in 1976 and very similar in style to that of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The names of the Kyrgyz who died in the Great Patriotic War are engraved in granite on either side of the pillars.

Obviously if you've been to the bazaars of Bishkek or Osh, this one will seem quite modest. But it is still worth a visit for the textile part, which has made its reputation. It stretches all along the railway line, opposite the Tsoum department store. Of course, there are many cheap clothes made in China, but if you browse around you will also find more typical Kyrgyzstani items, made of good quality felt or leather. As in all bazaars, prices will have to be negotiated boldly.