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