Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet country, boasts a proud heritage of Central Asian warriors who once ruled a vast empire. G Adventures’s clients can discover mesmerizing pieces of its history, from the wild mountain steps to the cities and bazaars. Here are five interesting things to know before you book your trip there.

 

1. The country is mostly mountains

There are more than 85 distinct mountain ranges here, which in total cover more than 70% of the geographic territory. This is the most popular tourist area of Kyrgyzstan, where visitors can enjoy horseback riding as well as watching traditional horse racing and experiencing nomadic kazakh folk customs.

An exceedingly beautiful spot found here is the high mountain lake appropriately called Heavenly Lake. Created by melt water from the snowy peaks, the lake is like a crystal-clear mirror reflecting the sky and tree-covered mountainous landscape towering over it.

 

 

2. It’s one of the world’s least-crowded countries

Unlike other sparsely populated places like Australia, where most residents are concentrated in the cities, only 36% of Kyrgyzstan’s population reside in urban locations. Some of their favourite traditional foods include tea (lots of it!), horse meat and milk, which is consumed in this country far more than cow’s milk.

These might be paid for with a three-som (three-dollar) coin; Kyrgyzstan is one of the few countries in the world to have this denomination.

 

 

3. It produced the longest poem in history

The Odyssey has nothing on the Epic of Manas, which is perhaps the most famous part of Kyrgyz culture. Weighing in at a whopping 500,000 lines, this epic poem about the life of the warrior Manas is 20 times longer than The Odyssey.

Manas was born in the Talas Region of Kyrgyzstan, and his epic chronicles his efforts to unite various warring tribes to create a peaceful homeland for his people. The influence of Manas and his tale is huge in Kyrgyzstan culture; statues of him are everywhere, streets are named after him, and productions of his story are a major part of the performing arts in the country.

 

 

4. Kyrgyz warriors were fierce

Manas wasn’t the only warrior, and the need for his unifying effect was clear. The Kyrgyz were one of the groups of people who raided the borders of China in the third and fourth centuries B.C., creating the need for the construction of the Great Wall as a protective barrier. But don’t think these warriors were all men.

Kurmanjan Datka was a young 19th century woman who fled from an arranged marriage to fight against Russian imperial forces, eventually becoming the leader of Alai highlanders in a kingdom that spread across modern-day Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Known as the “Queen of the Mountains,” Datka was immortalised in modern culture in a 2014 movie.

 

 

5. Kyrgyzstan is home to three Unesco World Heritage sites

One of these is the Tien Shan mountain range. Another is the historic Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected China with Europe and the Middle East. The lasting impact can still be felt on the commerce and culture of the region all these centuries later, and travellers are drawn to this exotic and myth-laden landscape.

Some of the most popular Silk Road destinations in Kyrgyzstan are Tash Rabat, Burana Tower, and the Osh bazaar. Originally built as a monastery, Tash Rabat was later an inn for trade travellers on the route. The large, domed, symmetrical structure is accentuated by the dramatic natural surroundings. The Burana Tower minaret was originally 45 metres tall, but over time earthquakes reduced it to 25 metres. It marks the site of the ancient city of Balasagun, and is surrounded by a field filled with stone statues of warriors.

 

For more information, visit gadventures.com