| This mountainous country, filled with natural | | | | Skazka Valley. Here, centuries of wind and |
| beauty is often referred to as the | | | | melting snow have sculpted the limestone |
| Switzerland of Asia. The Tian Shan Mountains | | | | cliffs into magnificent arrays of columns and |
| cover more than 3/4 of the land and furnish | | | | crags, ranging from bright orange to deep red |
| endless hiking and mountaineering | | | | in color. |
| opportunities. | | | | |
| | | | Kyrgyzstan maintains its nomadic, independent |
| The remainder of country is varied, with the | | | | traditions and more than 2/3rd of the |
| subtropical, fertile Fergana Valley in the | | | | population still live in rural areas. Many |
| southwest to temperate foothills in the | | | | still make their living as shepherds and |
| north. Kyrgyzstan's diverse geography and the | | | | livestock herders, moving their flocks higher |
| hospitality of the people make it a wonderful | | | | in the mountains during summer and back into |
| tourist destination. | | | | lower valleys in cooler months. The simple, |
| | | | efficient yurt hut so common throughout |
| The capital and largest city is Bishkek, | | | | Central Asia makes for good overnight lodging |
| located in the north, near the border with | | | | anywhere in the country. |
| Kazakhstan. In centuries past it was an | | | | |
| important stop along the Silk Road and many | | | | The hospitality of the Kyrgyz people is |
| historic sites have been preserved among | | | | legendary and any stranger will be invited in |
| modern Bishkek's wide, tree-lined boulevards | | | | for a cup of the national drink, fermented |
| and well-cared-for Soviet-era gardens. The | | | | mare's milk and, more of ten than not, a full |
| nearby Ala Too Mountains provide a gorgeous | | | | meal of Kyrgyz home cooking. The other |
| backdrop as well as a cool respite from | | | | national passion is horsemanship and |
| summer heat and many alpine winter | | | | horseback is the preferred mode of |
| recreational activities. | | | | transportation in many rural areas. |
| | | | |
| To the city's east is the world's second | | | | Kyrgyzstan's second major city is Osh, |
| largest mountain lake, Issyk-Kul. Though | | | | located in the southwest part of the country. |
| surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Tian | | | | It is reputed to be some 3000 years old, |
| Shan, the lake never freezes, hence its name, | | | | older than Rome, as locals proudly proclaim, |
| which in the Kyrgyz language means "warm | | | | but its position along the Silk Road assured |
| lake." | | | | it a place of prominence through history. |
| | | | Located near the fertile Fergana Valley, Osh |
| Along the way, a stop at Cholpon-Ata lets you | | | | is dominated at its center by Sulaiman Too |
| take in the open air art museum, said to date | | | | ("Solomon's Mountain"), which is the burial |
| from 500 BC. Here, you see stone carvings | | | | place of the Muslim prophet Suleyman Sheikh. |
| depicting wolves, goats, long horned ibex, | | | | Since Mohammed is said to have once prayed |
| horses and snow leopards along with | | | | here, the Osh has become one of the holiest |
| sacrificial and hunting scenes. | | | | cities in Islam and many come here on |
| | | | pilgrimages. |
| South of Issyk-Kul is the Jety-Oguz gorge, a | | | | |
| lush valley with striking red sandstone | | | | The city's archaeological-cultural museum |
| formations called the Seven Bulls, from which | | | | houses artifacts discovered in the city's |
| the gorge takes its name. | | | | surroundings. On the banks of the river that |
| | | | flows through the city lies one of the |
| Traveling further southwest you come to the | | | | largest and most picturesque bazaars in all |
| small town of Kochkur where Kyrgyz felt | | | | of Asia and the largest mosque in Kyrgyzstan, |
| carpets are made. Nearby is the beautiful | | | | the Shaid Tepa Mosque. |