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| Kyrgyzstan's landscape of high, forested mountains and lush, grassy steppes attracted Silk Road travellers thankful for the region's cool climate, sparkling lakes and green valleys after the perilous, exhausting and arduous desert crossings.
It was this location on the main Silk Road that has bequeathed Kyrgyzstan with the ruins of entire cities, trading towns and caravan sites of the Turks, Kyrgyz, Sogdians and other ancient travellers, as well as places linked to the spread of Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim religions.
In addition to Silk Road sites, tourists are attracted to the country's stunning natural beauty. White-water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking and even heli-skiing are all on offer for today's adventurous and intrepid traveller.
Others experience a truly unique cultural holiday by enjoying the hospitality of one of Kyrgyzstan's many authentic nomad families still living in felt yurts out on the steppes and happy to accept guests. |
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Lake Issyk-Kul, one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water, and the surrounding region are located just across the border from China and saw much Silk Road activity with several old caravan crossroads nearby. Traces of cities, temples and other structures abound. The Talas-Chi Corridor runs for 377 kilometres and boasts many individual Silk Road attractions. Archaeological expeditions have turned up traces of more than half a dozen civilisations, as well as ruins of towns, temples, caravanserais and mausoleums all built before the 15th century. The Naryn Region, named for the south-central city, contains the ruins of the town of At-Bashi dating from the 8th to 14th centuries. In a nearby valley is the 31-room Tash Rabat caravanserai, probably first built in the 10th century and now restored, where caravans sought shelter from the dangers of the road. The Rock Paintings of Saimalu Tash were created by adherents of the Tengrian religion in their ancient sanctuary high in the Fergana mountain range. There are an estimated 100,000 ritual paintings depicting both the spiritual and earthly concerns of the devotees. The Fergana-Talas Region is another stretch of Kyrgyzstan which played an important role along the old trade route. Ruins and other historical monuments remain. Near the village of Aravan are paintings dating from the 2nd century BC of the legendary 'Celestial Horses' coveted by the Chinese. Historical Museum of Bishkek. Tomb of Manas. Takhti-Sulaiman Mountains. Uzgen Mausoleum. Historical Museum of Osh. |
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