The State Historical Museum, now officially dedicated to the history
of Kyrgyzstan, was once, under Soviet rule, the State Vladimir Ilich
Lenin Museum. Remnants of this on the second floor, including a giant statue
behind the museum, offer an interesting glimpse of the unique
'cult of Lenin'. The first floor is an unexpected exhibit
dedicated to the current Kyrgyz president, Aksar Akayev, displaying
numerous photographs and gifts from other world leaders. The third
floor houses fascinating exhibits on
Kyrgyz culture and history, including traditional weaving, embroidery,
and national costume, as well as exhibits tracing Kyrgyzstan's history
all the way back to its origins as a territory along the Silk Road.
Most exhibits are labeled in Russian and Kyrgyz, but helpful
English-speaking guides are available for those not fluent in either. OPEN: TUES - SUN, 10AM -7PM.
State Museum of Fine Arts/ Музей изобразительного
искусства
Arguably the most interesting exhibition in the city, Bishkek's Museum of Fine Arts
offers a superb collection of both Kyrgyz folk arts as well as modern
works of the Soviet Era and of the present day. The main hall showcases
traditional Kyrgyz handiwork, from jewelry to weaving to some very
intricate embroidery. For most, however, the highlight is the
exquisitely detailed yurta, which is decorated inside out with ribbons,
wall-hangings and other handiwork. Another hall, located on the
ground floor, contains a selection of paintings by local artists,
stylistically interesting in their blend of Eastern and Western styles.
For the Sovietologists, there are also remarkable collections of Soviet
Realism and propaganda posters. It is recommended to set aside at
least a couple of hours for this museum. OPEN TUES - SUN, 9AM - 4PM; FRI 10AM - 4PM.
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Exursion and Travel from Bishkek
Bishkek is the capital of
Kyrgyzstan, but like any capital, it does not accurately represent the
culture and breadth of the country.
A visitor to Bishkek will almost certainly want to leave the confines of
the main city and experience some of the rich atmosphere Kyrgyzstan has
to offer .
Numerous possibilities for daytrips and various outdoor
activities are available, giving visitors to Bishkek the opportunity
to explore the scenic natural surroundings outside the big city.
Several tour agencies operate out of Bishkek, and because tourism is not
as developed an industry it is in many countries, most itineraries are
extremely flexible and agents are happy to arrange specially-tailored
excursions, which center around where you want to go, for how long, and what kinds of activities
you'd like to do there. Please note that Bishkek tour agencies are
generally geared for group-travel, so if you are alone, or with a group
of four or less, these options are often quite pricey. It is
possible, however, to use public transport to desired destinations, and
then arrange guides or activities once there, but this is much less
convenient and not always reliable.
One destination that everyone in Kyrgyzstan will tell you to go to is
Issyk-Kul, a pristine salt-water lake nestled within the
Central Tien Shan mountain range, about 150 km (93mi) east of Bishkek. About 25
km (15mi) from the Kazakh border and less than 200 km (125mi) from
China, Issyk-Kul
is noted for being the second largest
high-altitude mountain lake in the world (Lake Titicaca in South America is the first),
having an altitude of 1,607 meters (5272ft). It measures a huge 170km
(105mi) long and 70km (43mi) across,
and depth of 668 meters (2191ft). Issyk-Kul acquired its
name, which means "Hot Lake" in Kyrgyz, due to the unique
properties of its salt-waters, which, unlike other lakes in the region,
do not freeze in winter. Nowadays, however, it is more often
referred to as "the pearl of Kyrgyzstan", and is renowned both for
its strikingly vivid blue color and for the healing properties of the
water and air; for this reason, the area was used during Soviet times as
a therapeutic health resort. Today the region is a cross between
seaside ambience and small rural town, and, indeed, this is much of its
appeal. (This is perhaps why former Russian president Boris
Yeltsin still makes regular yearly pilgrimages here.) Around the lake are
several accessible mountain trails, where you can hike, go horseback
riding, and glimpse small traditional yurta communities (transport can be arranged from the town you are
staying in) Transportation to Issyk-Kul can easily be arranged from any travel
agency, or, if you are not the tour-group type, you can take a
long-distance marshrutka from the Eastern Bus Station (Восточный
автовокзал). The journey takes around 4 hours and costs 150
som (~$4) one-way (as of July, 2004). There is no set schedule,
marshrutkas leave as soon as they are full.
Some destinations which are not so far afield include Ala-Archa
National Park, a 120,000 hectares protected territory located 40km
(24mi)
from Bishkek. The breathtaking gorge lies between snow-capped
mountains, lined by green forests and cradling the fast-flowing Ala Archa
River, and is well worth the visit. The base camp is located at an
altitude of 2100m (6889ft), and offers superb views as well as endless trekking
options.
South of the Bishkek lies Alamedin Gorge, a lush green valley
that offers scenic hiking and an relaxing picnic getaway from city life.
The Alamedin Valley is also famous for its Tyoplye Klyuchi ("Hot
Springs"), once a reputed sanatorium, now a place for rest and relaxation.
80km (49mi) from Bishkek at the mouth of the Shamshy Valley is the
Burana
Tower, the only remaining vestige of an 11th Century Silk Road
town that once stretched out 25-30km (18mi). The tower is believed to be one of
several minarets surrounding the central mosque, used in the past to
call worshippers to prayer. Scholars believe that the Burana Tower
once measured about 45 meters high; today, however, the structure
reaches around 25 meters, its dome toppled by an earthquake around
the 15th Century. The tower was restored during the Soviet Era and
a small but fascinating museum dedicated to Burana's history and
archeological finds has been established (open daily 9am to 5pm).
For Global Village Volunteer Groups,
the GV Hosting Coordinator helps to set up 2-to-3-4 day
excursions to the Shamshy Gorge or Issyk-Kul, which may
include activities such as river-rafting, horseback riding, hiking,
trekking, steam-boat rides, barbecues on the beach, and even spending
the night in a traditional Kyrgyz yurta. Habitat generally
arranges these excursions through a local tourist agency Alltournative.
You can find information about this Agency, directly from their website --
Alltournative Travel Agency.
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For more information about
Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, useful web-links include the following:
- Embassy of the Kyrgyz
Republic, UK -basic information about Kyrgyzstan, including a
clarifying diagram of the Kyrgyz political structure, some history and
information about visas..
- Travel to Kyrgyzstan -
an excellent and readably informative source of information about
Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, including photographs, particularly of
interest to the traveller.
- The
Online Guide to Travel - includes some basic history and cultural
information, with links to photos and an up-to-date currency
converter.
-
Bishkek - an independently written website that is concise and
informative.
- Fantastic Asia-Kyrgyzstan
-
Lonely Planet - while the sanctimonious and overly blase
writing-style can sometimes be grating, this site does provide useful
information, including facts about the climate, dialling code, health
risks and public holidays.
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