Overview of Kyrgyzstan Cities

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Here the overview of major cities of Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The city is located in the north of the republic, in the Chui Valley. This is an important cultural and economic region. In the first half of XIX century, it was the place where fortification Pishpek – north-eastern outpost of the Kokand Khanate. In 1860, it was destroyed by Russian troops, and at this point arose military settlement, around which began to settle immigrants from Russia. Development Pishpek contributed to its convenient location at the crossroads of caravan routes linking the city of Fergana Verny (Almaty). In 1878 Pishpek received city status. In 1917 there lived 17 thousand people, the main occupation of which were trade and izvozny fishing. The city was famous for its gardens. In 1926 Pishpek became the center of the Kyrgyz ASSR and was renamed Frunze – in honor of the Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet military commander MV Frunze. Old name was returned Feb. 6, 1991, but in the new transcription – Bishkek [/ B]. Today it is a major industrial and cultural center. Operate in the city of enterprise engineering; food and light industries, there are universities, institutes and numerous research institutions. There is opera and ballet, theaters, a philharmonic, circus, museums and stadiums. The city was built in Soviet times a lot of modern buildings, residential high-rise housing estates, parks, boulevards and squares. Bishkek is an important transportation hub. It is connected with many countries in road and air routes.

Osh

Osh is the second largest and most important town in Kyrgyzstan. It is situated in the south of Kyrgyzstan, in the eastern part of the Ferghana valley, on the banks of the river Akbura. Osh – one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia. Local legends link the foundation of the city with such characters in world history, as King Solomon (Sulayman), or the Greek ruler Alexander of Macedon, or even the first man Adam. The main attraction of the city – the mountain of Takht-i Suleiman (“Throne of Solomon”), which since ancient times considered one of the most important shrines of local Muslims, “the second Mecca”. The pilgrimage to it can replace a trip to a real Arabian Mecca. Osh was a major trading center on the Silk Road that linked the Mediterranean and the Middle East with the Pamirs, Tibet, China and India. Modern Osh – cultural and economic powerhouse of Kyrgyzstan, the unofficial capital of the southern republic, where up to 40%. In the city of Osh, there are more than two dozen industrial enterprises, universities, institutes, museums.

Tokmak

Tokmak is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. At the turn I – II thousand here was the nation’s capital Karakhanids. 15 km south of the town preserved medieval Buraninskoe fort and the minaret, now renovated and known as the Burana Tower »(XI cent.). Advantageously located at the entrance to the gorge Boamskoe, Tokmak controlled communication between steppe and mountain areas. At the beginning of XIX century. there was a fortress Co-kandskogo Khanate. In 1867 the city became a county Tokmak Semirechensk area, and only after 12 years of center of the county was moved to Pishpek. In the XX century. economic importance of cities has increased: it became the second after the Bishkek on its industrial potential. Large enterprises Tokmak – spinning mill, glass factory, the only republic factory for the primary processing of wool are developed as well as light and food industries.

Jalalabad

Jalalabad is the second largest city in southern Kyrgyzstan. At the beginning of XX century, it was a typical village with ancient mosques. The main attraction was healing springs. They were considered sacred, and to them every year many pilgrims flocked. According to legend, here is the source, who visited the Prophet Ayub (biblical Job). Now, in Jala-Abad, there are more than 20 enterprises of light and food industries, machinery and construction materials. In the city there are schools, local history museum. Of particular prominence Jalal-Abad received thanks to its resort with thermal waters and curative mud.

Caracol

Caracol is the center of the Issyk-Kul region. It was founded in 1869 as a military-administrative center and base of equipment of numerous scientific expeditions of Russian Geographic Society (NM Przewalski, VI Roborovskiy, PK Kozlov, and others). Not far from the city – the tomb of the great explorer NM Przewalski, over which stands a monument with a bronze eagle on top. Built up mainly one-story houses surrounded by orchards. At Karakol are industrial enterprises, theater and cinema, museum of local history, in the heart of the city – a wonderful park.

Talas

Talas is an administrative and economic center of Talas Province in north-west of Kyrgyzstan. The city is situated on the terraces of the River Talas. The status of the city received only in 1944 There are several industrial enterprises, there were multi-storied houses. To the east of the city in the valley Kenkol, is the mausoleum (XIV century.), Where, according to legend, the ashes of the legendary hero Manas – the hero of the Kyrgyz historical epic.

Uzgen

Uzgen is one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia. It is located in the south, in the eastern part of Fergana valley in Kara. The city was on the trade route from Central Asia to western China. In the beginning I thousand Uzgen (KM Uzgend) was one of the capitals of Fergana, and at the beginning of II millennium – the second largest capital of the Karahanid. Preserved architectural monuments of that time – the minaret and three mausoleums, decorated with beautiful brick ornament. The city has preserved the rural character with one-storey manor buildings and narrow streets.

Naryn

Naryn is the center of the Inner Tien-Shan. It is located on the left bank of the Naryn River at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The town was established in 1867 to place a small military fortification guarding the trade route from Pishpek (Bishkek) to Kashgar (Western China). Today it is a cultural and economic center of the Naryn region, the only city in the region. There are enterprises of food and light industry, schools, college, music and Drama Theater.

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