Kyrgyzstan
Asia · Central Asia
Overview
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. About 80 percent of the country is covered by mountains, primarily the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay ranges, whose highest peaks exceed 7,000 meters. Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and has since developed into one of the relatively more open, democratically oriented countries in the Central Asian region. The official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian, and the population traditionally followed a nomadic, pastoral way of life, a cultural heritage still visible in rural areas today.
Bishkek, the capital, with its Soviet-era architecture and wide boulevards, serves as the country's political and economic center, though it draws fewer visitors than the mountainous regions. Issyk-Kul, the world's second-largest mountain lake, which does not freeze in winter due to its high salt content, is a popular resort area, its shores lined with Soviet-era vacation retreats. The old town of Osh, in the south of the country, a historic stop along the Silk Road, is home to Sulaiman-Too, a sacred mountain pilgrimage site that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009. Tash Rabat, a 15th-century stone caravanserai in the mountains, is one of the well-preserved reminders of the Silk Road's trade routes.
Mountain trekking is one of Kyrgyzstan's main draws, with the peaks of the Tian Shan range, including Khan Tengri and Jengish Chokusu (Peak Pobeda), presenting significant challenges for mountaineers. Visits to traditional nomadic yurt camps, set up on high-altitude summer pastures known as jailoo, offer insight into everyday Kyrgyz pastoral culture, including horseback riding and drinking traditional kumis, fermented mare's milk. Song-Kul, a high-altitude lake sitting at about 3,000 meters, is a characteristic site of summer nomadic grazing, with yurt camps along its shores. Local cuisine is built around meat and noodles, with beshbarmak, a meat and noodle dish, as a signature item, traditionally eaten by hand on communal occasions.
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain
Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain Kyrgyzstan dominates the Fergana Valley and forms the backdrop to the city of Osh, at the crossroads of important routes on the Central Asian Silk Roads. For more than one and a half millennia, Sulaiman was a beacon for travellers revered as a sacred mountain. Its five peaks and slopes contain numerous ancient places of worship and caves with petroglyphs as well as two largely reconstructed 16th century mosques. One hundred and one sites with petroglyphs representing humans and animals as well as geometrical forms have been indexed in the property so far. The site numbers 17 places of worship, which are still in use, and many that are not. Dispersed around the mountain peaks they are connected by footpaths. The cult sites are believed to provide cures for barrenness, headaches, and back pain and give the blessing of longevity. Veneration for the mountain blends pre-Islamic and Islamic beliefs. The site is believed to represent the most complete example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia, worshipped over several millennia.
Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
This property is a 5,000 km section of the extensive Silk Roads network, stretching from Chang’an/Luoyang, the central capital of China in the Han and Tang dynasties, to the Zhetysu region of Central Asia. It took shape between the 2nd century BC and 1st century AD and remained in use until the 16th century, linking multiple civilizations and facilitating far-reaching exchanges of activities in trade, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, technological innovation, cultural practices and the arts. The thirty-three components included in the routes network include capital cities and palace complexes of various empires and Khan kingdoms, trading settlements, Buddhist cave temples, ancient paths, posthouses, passes, beacon towers, sections of The Great Wall, fortifications, tombs and religious buildings.
Western Tien-Shan
The transnational property is located in the Tien-Shan mountain system, one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. Western Tien-Shan ranges in altitude from 700 to 4,503 m. It features diverse landscapes, which are home to exceptionally rich biodiversity. It is of global importance as a centre of origin for a number of cultivated fruit crops and is home to a great diversity of forest types and unique plant community associations.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan?
The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek.
What is the area of Kyrgyzstan?
The area of Kyrgyzstan is 199,951 km².
What is the population of Kyrgyzstan?
The population of Kyrgyzstan is 7,221,868.
What is the currency of Kyrgyzstan?
The currency of Kyrgyzstan is Kyrgyzstani som (KGS).
What is the official language of Kyrgyzstan?
The official language of Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz, Russian.
What side of the road does Kyrgyzstan drive on?
Kyrgyzstan: Right-hand traffic.
Is Kyrgyzstan a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Kyrgyzstan is a member of the United Nations.