Rupert Parker visits the Central Asian country for his guide to Kyrgyzstan, a major stop on the famous Silk Road.
Welcome to my guide to Kyrgyzstan, the heart of central Asia, at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road which connected China and India with the West. This is a high country, with 90% of its territory above 1500m. Pik Pobedy, the highest mountain, rises 7,439m on the border with China, and slightly smaller peaks mark the borders with Kazakhstan, in the North, and Tajikistan to the South.
For this guide to Kyrgyzstan I start at Bishkek, the capital, known during Soviet times as Frunze, and travel east to Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-highest navigable lake in the world after Lake Titicaca. Sandwiched between two mountain ranges, the microclimate means it’s warm and winter and cool in summer. Silk Road traders stopped here to relax after crossing the mountain passes and it’s still a popular spot for tourists.
As the sun sets on the shores of the lake, I’m waiting for a demonstration of eagle hunting. Ruslan tells me that he‘s been involved in this sport for over 30 years and presently is the proud owner of two eagles. He took them from their nests in the wild, before they were able to fly, and patiently established a bond, training them over a few years.
These are females, bigger than the males, and they make the best hunters. The tradition goes back a thousand years, the birds essential for catching food and guarding flocks. The Soviet rule put an end to nomadic life and nowadays hunting with eagles is mainly for sport and entertaining tourists. Still, there’s no shortage of young apprentices to carry on the tradition.
We watch as one of them, with the eagle perched on his arm, trudges to the top of a nearby rock outcrop and waits. Ruslan drops a dead rabbit at his feet and emits a high pitched whistle. The eagle rises from the peak, swoops down, grabs the carcass and starts to rip it to pieces.
As it munches the raw flesh, her owner calms it by stroking its head. This relationship will not last forever. At 15, the eagle will be released back into the wild to find a mate and hunt for another 25 or 30 years. Ruslan will then have to find another chick and start all over again. For now, though, he’s looking forward to competing in the World Nomad Games, held next year in Turkey.
For thousands of years, the Kyrgyz people were nomads, living in Yurts which they transported on horseback. At Kyzyl-Tuu village, where they still make them, I’m given a quick lesson on how to assemble one of these, an essential skill when you’re moving home every day.
First, they form the frame with wooden struts, made from willow, then lattice sections are inserted in the gaps. Next, the structure is topped with a circular arrangement and then everything is covered in felt. It takes less than an hour if you know what you’re doing.
From here I set out on the road west. The landscape is stunning. Beautiful snow-capped peaks on one side, sparse white clouds piercing the deep blue sky, contrast with the azure waters of the lake. Small shacks, roofed with corrugated iron and surrounded by neat fenced-off compounds, dot the parched terrain. I’m soon climbing up to over 2500m into rocky treeless terrain, before dropping down to greener pastures.
I’m aiming for Arslanbob, a never-ending drive on a long dirt road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It lies in a fertile valley, the town planted with poplar trees and the slopes containing one of the largest walnut forests in the world. It’s been here for over a thousand years and spreads over 60,000 hectares.
The walnuts here are of high quality and were one of the many goods transported along the Silk Road. Now is harvest time and families are camping out in the woods to gather the nuts. Small children rush up to me, thrust their treasure into my hands, and then shyly run away. In a good year the forest yields over 200 tons of nuts.
My final destination is Osh, one of the oldest cities in Kyrgyzstan, founded over 3000 years ago. In the 8th century, it was important for silk production and a major trade centre on the Silk Road. These days there are few signs of its illustrious history but a visit to the Jayma Bazaar, one of the largest in Central Asia, gives you a sense of its importance. It’s incredibly well organised, divided up into clearly defined zones, and the only hassle is the men pushing carts who shout “Bosh Bosh!” as they make their way through the crowds.
Overlooking the city is a steep rocky outcrop, where King Solomon reputedly spent the night. That’s only a legend but a descendant of Tamerlane the Great, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, took refuge here in the 15th century, before going on to India and founding the Moghul dynasty. The mosque he built at the top is still known as Babur’s House, although the original was destroyed by an earthquake in 1853. The views of the mountains towards Tajikistan are tremendous.
Apart from hotels in the two cities, in the rest of the country I stay in homestays, sometimes no more than a handful of rooms in a Kyrgyz house. Not only does this benefit the community, but it also gives me an opportunity to experience traditional hospitality first-hand. Food is uniformly excellent, always home-cooked, and, of course, there’s always the local vodka to wash it down.
Tell Me More About this guide to Kyrgyzstan
The Bradt Guide to Kyrgyzstan is indispensable. Turkish Airlines flies from London to Bishkek via Istanbul. No visa is required to visit Kyrgyzstan. The Hyatt Regency Bishkek provides luxury in the capital. The Classic Hotel makes a comfortable base in Osh. The Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association (KCBTA) lists homestays across the country.
