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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Kyrgyzstan

19 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan

Updated November 24, 2022

Unusual Attractions in Kyrgyzstan

At-Bashi District, Kyrgyzstan

Tash Rabat

Extremely isolated Silk Road caravanserai in the middle of nowhere.

Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Muzey Sulayman Too

An outstanding piece of retro Sci-Fi architecture built into a sacred mountain.

Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan

Monument to Yuri Gagarin

A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

Yrdyk, Kyrgyzstan

Dungan Family Restaurant

On the shores of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Lake, a family cooks a feast that tells the sad tale of a people's exile.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

National Museum of Kyrgyzstan

Time capsule of a museum, in which the Soviet Union remains alive and kicking.

Ak-Su, Kyrgyzstan

Merzbacher Lake

Glacial lake that mysteriously empties itself every year.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek Circus

This retro, UFO-like structure is a remnant of the Soviet-era circus.

Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Dungan Mosque

Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.

See All 19 Things To Do in Kyrgyzstan

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Kyrgyzstan

Yrdyk, Kyrgyzstan

Dungan Family Restaurant

On the shores of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Lake, a family cooks a feast that tells the sad tale of a people's exile.

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The Silk Road of Central Asia

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Stories About Kyrgyzstan

The Toughest Mountain Bike Race in the World

In Kyrgyzstan, determined riders persevere through blizzards, lack of sleep, and disintegrating shoes.

Make the Ancient Road Snack of Central Asian Nomads

Qurt is salty, long-lasting, and packed with protein.

by Susie Armitage

How Muslim-Chinese Food Became a Culinary Star in Kyrgyzstan

Their signature noodles are eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

by Richard Collett

December 18, 2018

Life in Kyrgyzstan, 26 Years After the Collapse of the Soviet Union

Trying to see the future and reckon with the past in the former Soviet state.

by Anika Burgess

August 30, 2017

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