The most beautiful parks and gardens Kyrgyzstan

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.

After passing the entrance, where a porcupine and a few turkeys are desperately trying to cheat their boredom, you can see at Karakol Zoo the main animal species living in the Kyrgyz mountains with the exception of the Marco Polo and the snow leopards. Camels, eagles, grey wolves, yaks and also some lynx are the main attractions but do not shine by their vivacity. The living conditions of the animals in this zoo seem questionable and we encourage you not to endorse this zoo by your visit.

The Oak Park was laid out at the end of the 19th century by a Russian botanist. It is best known for its amazing statuary, which began in 1984 and has continued to grow in value ever since. Several sculptors collaborated on this work to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Kyrgyz SSR. The spaces between each oak tree now seem to abound with sculptures in wood, stone or metal, among which one can recognize Kyrgyz heroes (including Jakov Logvinenko) or Russian personalities (such as Marx and Engels chatting peacefully).

This park located along the river seems to serve as a spillway for the bazaar which is just a stone's throw away. It is very lively, the chaikhanas are full almost all day long, and one can join the chess players in hard games. The other stands are classics of Central Asia: rifle shooting, merry-go-rounds, punching-ball... The chaikhanas in the central square mainly serve ice cream, pastries and cold drinks. Set back, under the trees, others have paid more attention to comfort by having attractive sofas and serving compound dishes like simple chachlyks all day long. In the evening, the stands are full until 10pm, with groups of friends, young couples in love, lost tourists, aksakals and babushkas watching the time go by without getting tired of it for a second! In the centre, a Yak 40 seems to be stranded at the top of the waterfalls, and attracts all the kids in the park who regularly test the strength of its wings. This is the version, repainted in blue, and now harmless, of the old Yakovlevs that once linked Bishkek to Osh: a tight flight between the mountains. The only reassuring thing to know as you climbed in is that only Afghanistan veterans were able to fly them! It was scrapped some time ago and replaced by much safer Boeing. The park is a good place to feel the general atmosphere of the city while breathing a breath of fresh air along the river.