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