Talas

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Talas is a town in Kyrgyzstan and also the administrative center of Talas oblast. Population – 34 500 (2003) pers. It is located in north-eastern part of the Talas valley, at an altitude of 1280 m above sea level in the floodplain of the Talas River, 360 kilometers west of the capital of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek, 90 km east of the railway station, Zhambyl ( Kazakhstan ) and 90 km west of the highway Bishkek-Osh highway. The climate is continental, droughty. The highest average temperature occurs in July and is +15 +25 ° C, the lowest monthly average temperature in January and is -6-14 C. The annual rainfall is 300-400 mm.

The city was founded in 1877 by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in the central part of the Talas valley on the left bank of the Talas River at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level and was formerly known as Dmitrievka. Talas region – one of the small regions of the republic, is located in north-western part of Kyrgyzstan and occupies Talas valleys and mountain slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too. It is bordered on the north and west with the Republic of Kazakhstan (Zhambyl region), south of Jalalabad in the east with the Chui oblast of Kyrgyzstan. In Soviet times, Talas region was part of the Chui, although the transport connection between them is difficult. In winter, contacts are possible only through the territory of Kazakhstan from the valley of the Talas River (river), which is the main water artery of the area. Independent subject area was in 1997. Its population is the very smallest in Iraq i.e. about 200 thousand people.

Highlands Talas region – places traditionally inhabited by Kirghiz – nomads and pastoralists (see Turkic peoples) with a strong mongoloid influence, an absolute majority of the population field. They appeared here, though not so long ago, in the Middle Ages (13-15 centuries). At present, this area is not very high proportion of the various ethno-linguistics minorities, since most of them emigrated in the first years of independence. According to the 1999 census, lived in the area of 198 thousand inhabitants – 4,1% of the population, making it the smallest province in Kyrgyzstan, the number of the population. (216 thousand in 2005). In mountainous areas the population density is low, much higher than it is in the valleys and near the state border with Kazakhstan, where it sometimes reaches 100-200 people per square km with an average for the area – 19 people / km ². The region is characterized by high fertility, low mortality, high estesvenny growth and a significant level of economic emigration in the last decade aimed at Bishkek, Chui oblast, and after 2000, also in Kazakhstan and Russia. In addition, most of the region’s population is about 70% – rural residents. The only city is Talas.

Ethnic groups: Kirghiz 88.4% 175 thousand (1999), Russian 8 thousand 4.0%, Kurds 5 thousand 2.5%, Kazakhs 3 thousand 1.5%, Ukrainians 0.5%, 1 thousand , the other 6 thousand 3.1%.

It is noteworthy that in the majority of the (39.3%), Kurds Kyrgyzstan (Kurds) and about 6% of the Kirghiz country. The Russian-speaking population is concentrated in the city of Talas (Capital Region). In Chon-Kapka ridge Echkili Too on the Talas River built Kirov reservoir. On the territory of the region there are about 70 lakes, many of which are small, alpine, ice and Zavalnoye origin.

The gorge is Chychkan Chychkansky State Zoological Reserve, and in the gorge, Ken Cole, near the town of Talas, Talas State Forest is located. Besh-Tash gorge is located south of the city of Talas, on the northern slopes of the Talas Ala-Too. On the slopes are scattered juniper bushes, sometimes passing into the picturesque woods park type. Here at an altitude of 2997 m is moraine-dammed lake Besh-Tash turquoise. In the vicinity of the custom there are many marmots. At Besh-Tash created sports and tourist complex with swimming pool, designed equestrian routes.

20 km north-east of the town of Talas, at the foot of the mountain Manastyn-Chokusu on the shore of a mountain stream, Ken Cole, is an interesting monument associated with the poetic legend. According to legend, many centuries ago, was buried the legendary hero of the Kyrgyz epic Manas. Here is the mausoleum of the XIV century – the tomb was built as the tomb of the daughter of the Emir. But legend has it kyumbez Manas, erected by his wife Kanykey, which is not to attract the attention of enemies who wish to desecrate the memory of the hero, told me to specify in the inscription of the name of a noble woman. It offers a Sako-Usun burial mounds (I in. BC), catacomb monuments Ken Kola burial ground, dating back to I in BC – II century AD and belonging who came to Central Asia Huns. Here you can see the gravestones – stone sculptures (balbaly) VI-IX centuries AD, as well as one of the thirteen stones with the Orkhon-Yenisei (runic) inscription.

The epic “Manas” – the great spiritual heritage of Kyrgyzstan, which continues to amaze humanity after so many centuries after its appearance. The epic is considered a kind of encyclopedia of life of the Kyrgyz people, evidence of its ancient history . In the world there is no precedent either in oral or in writing such a monumental epic work, which would have been so large scale displays historical, cultural and ethnographic aspects of the life of a people, their life, traditions and customs.

Talas – a little-known town in the valley of the same name. Talas valley cut off a chain of mountains from all other regions of Kyrgyzstan, and the most convenient route passes through Kazakhstan, but you need to get a visa . However, you can reach the valley through the pass, Theo-Ashuu, turning to the north to the main Bishkek-Osh road, after crossing the Susamyr Valley. Talas is known as the Land of Manas, it is considered that it is here to be the birthplace of the legendary hero. A few kilometers from the town is the Mausoleum of Manas. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of the epic Manas, which was built to celebrate the 1000 anniversary of the Manas in 1995. The museum is located behind the hill, which was used as a lookout sentry guarding the valley. Archaeologists have made some pretty interesting discoveries here, and it is believed that the hill was created by people, that is not a special feat. There are other indications of an ancient building and the protection of the territory . In Talas valley there are several tombs, and is very similar, many of them are designed along the lines of this particular tomb. There are 2 different opinions about the origin of Gumbez. The first opinion, that his son had brought the body of Manas Semetei here (in the village Ahyrtash, near the mouth of the river Kenkol.) And built a mausoleum. According to another opinion, the mausoleum was built by his wife, Kanykey, and his friend and adviser, tank, and in order to prevent the destruction of the enemies of the Manas, they hung the sign above the door that is the mausoleum of a little girl. Gumbez itself, consisting of one room , built in typical Asian style on a square base with an octagonal pyramidal roof. He is depicted on the reverse side 20 soms bills. The brickwork adorns the complex.

This area was part of the Chinese Empire, as in 751, the combined forces of the Arabs, Kyrgyz and Tibetans defeated the Chinese army in the Battle of Talas. Some time in China’s T’ang dynasty ruled. They have successfully reclaimed their land that had previously been lost, and strengthened their position in the Tibetan border. In 740 years they have gained control over Kabul and Kashmir. As you move north and west, while being led by Kao, Hsin-Chin (who led the army to victory in Gilgit and Ferghana), they were confronted with a unified army and were defeated in a single battle between Arab and Chinese armies. In fact, the battle took place on the banks of the Talas River, near the town of Taraz (Zhambyl), Kazakhstan. But for Chinese it was more than just a military defeat, because among the prisoners who were detained after the battle, there were many experts on the production of paper and silk – two cherished Chinese secret, and soon these secrets were revealed in western Europe. Arabs are also very well developed influence of Islam in Central Asia, Silk Road, even if they had not sought the return of Chinese back to China.

In 1275 the Nestorian missionary Rabban Sauma traveled in a westerly direction along the Great Silk Road, and met a lot of priests. In Talas, in the north western Kyrgyzstan , he met Kaydi Khan, brother of the great bvoyurodnogo Kublai Khan. In Europe, he visited the Vatican and met with British corral by Edward I in Bordeaux, France.

The atlas, compiled by Abram Crescas in Palma de Mallorca, Catalonia during the years 1375-77 was presented map of Kyrgyzstan, which had shown the lake Issyk-Kul and Talas and the city of Jerusalem, which were designated as the “holy city” for the Jews.

This area was inhabited in 9 century, but even when the Russian expand the settlement in 1864, it was less than the village. The current city was found in 1877 as a village Dmitrievskoe. From the beginning there were about 100 houses built by settlers, who were mainly farmers. The most notable building was a church built of brick in 1920. In the center of the city and the river is a picturesque park.

In the vicinity there are examples of cave paintings and petroglyph. Not far in the direction of the north-east of the city (about 20 km) are 3 parking places of ancient man – Kulan Sai, Terek Sai and Tash Kurgan.

To the south of the city is stunning valley Beshtash (which translated from Kyrgyz means “five stones”) – one of many valleys, waiting for more than a brave traveler. This region is also renowned for the famous deposits of the modern Kyrgyz writer – Chingiz Aitmatov, who was born in a small village Sheker near the Uzbek border.

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