Kyrgyzstan. Tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Brief info about tourism in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Travel Information

Kyrgyzstan is made up of seven different regions, Chui, where the capital, Bishkek, is located, Talas, Issyk- Kul, Naryn, Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken. Culturally, Chui and Issyk-Kul - are by far the most Russified areas of the country. Naryn and Talas contain the most traditionally Kyrgyz populations, while Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken enjoy a strong Uzbek influence on both their culture and language.

The most prominent local languages are Russian and Kyrgyz, with a smattering of Kazakh spoken in the North, while in the South it is common to hear Uzbek, or Kyrgyz- Uzbek creole. Kyrgyz-Russian creole is also extremely common in the Northern provinces especially, but in the country as a whole. Most locals, if they study a foreign language, study English. A few are familiar with German or French, but a reliable English-speaker can be found in most large towns.

Bishkek is a capital, a soul and heart of Kyrgyz Republic, its political, economic, scientific and cultural center, the main transportation junction. Its territory is 160 sq. km, the population is about 1 million people. Bishkek is situated in the center of Chu valley, at the foot of snow - white Kyrgyz mountains Ala-Too, 750 meter height above the see level.

The city's main feature is a strict planning of the streets, which intersects at right angle to each other only. Its streets are planted with trees and shrubberies of 150 sorts.

As a center of international tourism in Kyrgyzstan Bishkek offers a lot of sights to the tourists. The main and favorite place to rest and walk for tourists and guests of the capital is the center of Bishkek. There are a lot of museums, galleries, shops, parks, public gardens, squares, restaurants and cafes.

Oak park is one of the favorite places of citizens to take rest, where it is always cool under the dense crows of trees, and pretty and frisky squirrels scurry on the trunks, scrutinizing at face and waiting for dainties. The oak park is kind of museum of sculptures in the open air. Sculptures made of stone, iron and wood are placed one by one and in groups along parks alleys, paths and some of them- among the trees on the lawns.

"Bishkek open exhibition" adjoins to oak park, this is the gallery of Erkindik, where one can admire works of local painters and crafts. Behind the gallery there is main square of the country - Ala-Too Square. The Government House made of white marble is located there.

The square is decorated with fountains; there is also a stage where mass concerts and dance parties are organized. It is also the place for military parades, demonstrations, celebrations and people's festivals.
The capital's art shops offer to the foreign tourists the variety of souvenirs and handdicrarts made in such big organizations as Kyal, NGO Zengi - Baba, Altyn - Beshik and Shaarbek which regularly organize the exhibition and fairs of souvenirs and handicrafts on the squares of the city.
Bishkek city can be proud of its national - eithnographic sight - historical complex of the national hero - Manas Aiyly and tourist complex Kyrgyz Aiyly. Kyrgyz Aiyly is an ancient history of our capital. There are national yurtas reflecting the history , culture and lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people. Here tourists can relax in yurtas, get acquainted with applied arts of nomads, have impressions of the national traditions, cuisine and games try fresh koumys.

Eastern bazaar is one of the most colorful sights of Bishkek like any other Central Asian city where in any season there is variety of land fruits and goods from all over the world. Bishkek is a center of national culture of Kyrgyzstan and the place where the republic supreme power bodies, foreign embassies and representations as well as mosques and Orthodox cathedrals are located. There are representative offices of large international companies in the city.

Along with a unique nature, Kyrgyzstan is of interest for foreign tourists by its history. More than five thousand historic and cultural monuments of the ancient days are on the territory of the Republic. Priceless keepers of the past culture are of great cognitive importance. The cave settlers of primitive humans and runic writings on stones, wonderful rock drawings and stone-made sculptures, ruins of antique settlers and medieval castles, which impress everybody by their rationality and high level of mastery. The Great Silk Route was passing through the territory of contemporary Kyrgystan, and along the Route settlers and caravan-sarais were located; their ruins one can see today.

The biggest and the most important of archeological and architectural monuments are: Suleiman-mountain, Uzgen architectural complex, tower of Burana, Shakh-Fazil mausoleum, caravan-sarai Tash-Rabat. Nobody will remain indifferent while familiarizing with these historic monuments. The contemporary architecture is represented by architectural assembles in the cities. Wonderful public buildings, living complexes, industrial buildings, squares and parks are built for humans and in the name of humans. Original architectural design, use of national traditions and collocate make a unique character of Kyrgyzstan's cities. The guests of the Republic can familiarize themselves with a unique culture of the Kyrgyzes, interesting customs and traditions, try national dishes and purchase famous souvenirs of folk amateur creative industry.

The most widely-known historic monuments are Burana ruin town (10^th -11^th centuries), tower of Burana and Ak-Beshim ruin town dated 6^th -7^th centuries.

Tourists can enjoy sightseeing both in the south and in the north of the Republic. There are many historic monuments which are worth seeing around the lake Issyk-Kul. The city of Karakol (earlier named as Przhevalsk) is really a museum under the sky. Mosque that was built without a single nail and Russian Orthodox Church, Buddhist cathedral are the most famous sightseeing of the city.

In Bishkek there are some historic monuments of the pre-Revolutionary and Soviet period as well as modern architectural assembles.