13 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Kyrgyzstan

At-Bashi District, Kyrgyzstan

Tash Rabat

Extremely isolated Silk Road caravanserai in the middle of nowhere.

Added by Tawsam

Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Muzey Sulayman Too

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

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan

Monument to Yuri Gagarin

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

Dylan

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

National Museum of Kyrgyzstan

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

Added by Tawsam

Ak-Su, Kyrgyzstan

Merzbacher Lake

Glacial lake that mysteriously empties itself every year.

Added by Tawsam

Burana Tower

Lonely minaret stump of a destroyed city.

Added by Tawsam

Przhevalsk, Kyrgyzstan

Dungan Mosque

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

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek Circus

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

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

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Unique
Food & Drink
in Kyrgyzstan

Kurt

Gastro Obscura

Meats & Animal Products

Kurt

These pocket-sized cheese balls have fueled Central Asian nomads for centuries.

Gastro Obscura

susarm

Added by susarm

Borsok

Gastro Obscura

Ritual & Medicinal

Borsok

Kyrgyzstan’s fried dough marks special occasions and "feeds" the dead.

Gastro Obscura

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Sumalak

Gastro Obscura

Ritual & Medicinal

Sumalak

A sweet and simple pudding traditionally made in a joyous, spring ritual.

Gastro Obscura

Meg

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Explore Kyrgyzstan

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Recent Kyrgyzstan Activity

fstephenson wants to go to National Museum of Kyrgyzstan

MNbiker has been to Eki-Naryn Forest Swastika

MNbiker has been to Aalam Ordo

triumphofalltheoldmen wants to go to Eki-Naryn Forest Swastika

paulb4223 wants to go to Merzbacher Lake

Stories
About Kyrgyzstan

A bowl of Ashlan Fu, ready to be eaten with chopsticks.

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

An abandoned trailer in the frost of Mailuu Suu.

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