43 Interesting Fun Facts about Kyrgyzstan - History, Culture, Life

(Last Updated On: March 1, 2022)

There are a lot of interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan you will enjoy. Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian nation. It is bordered on the northwest and north by Kazakhstan, on the east and south by China, and on the south and west by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The majority of Kyrgyzstan’s boundaries follow mountain ridges. Bishkek is the capital (known from 1862 to 1926 as Pishpek and from 1926 to 1991 as Frunze). This article will feature more interesting cool fun facts about Kyrgyzstan like this.

Nearly three-quarters of the population are Kyrgyz, a Muslim Turkic group. The Kyrgyz have a long history in what is now Kyrgyzstan, dating back to the 17th century. In the 19th century, tsarist Russian soldiers captured Kyrgyzstan, which was known as Kirgiziya during Russian and Soviet control. Kyrgyzstan gained independence on August 31, 1991, after previously being a component (union) republic of the Soviet Union. Stay with us for more interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan!

Interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan

Here we go for some very interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan!

1. Kyrgyzstan is one of Central Asia’s most beautiful countries. Beautiful wild mountain meadows populated by contemporary semi-nomads living in summer yurts, as well as enormous alpine lakes dotting a landscape dotted with attractive settlements, make up our top 10 locations to visit in Kyrgyzstan.

2. Peak Lenin base camp is estimated to be approximately one to three hours distant from Osh, which is on the Kyrgyz-Tajikistan border. It reaches a height of 7134 meters at its tallest point. Climbers believe it to be one of the simplest ascents to elevations of above 7000 meters. Even if you can’t go that high, the view of the summit from the first base camp, which is accessible by automobile, is stunning.

3. According to the World Bank, the key factors impacting Kyrgyzstan’s poverty rate as a result of the pandemic include labor income, migrant worker transfers, and rising food costs. As a result, rising food costs result in an increase in the number of people living in poverty.

4. The South Inylchek Glacier is the world’s sixth-biggest, excluding those in the polar regions. It is 37.6 miles long and straddles Kyrgyzstan’s border with China (the country’s sole neighbor that does not end with the suffix “stan”).

5. Tash Rabat is an ancient caravanserai made of stone. On the historic Silk Road, merchants and their caravans used these locations. It is one of Central Asia’s finest preserved such sites. You may stay in adjacent yurts or go horseback riding. It was erected as a Nestorian monastery before being converted into a caravanserai.

4. The flag’s crimson backdrop indicates courage and valor, the sun represents peace and prosperity, and the tunduk represents the family home or, by extension, the universe. The 40 rays of the sun, according to popular belief, symbolize the 40 Kyrgyz tribes united against the Mongols by the epic hero Manas.

5. Terrorist attacks have occurred in Kyrgyzstan in the past, mainly along the Uzbek border southwest of Osh. The Turkestan Islamic Party is suspected of carrying out a suicide bomb assault against the Chinese Embassy on the outskirts of Bishkek on August 30, 2016.

6. Bishkek, historically Pishpek or Bishkek (1862–1926) and Frunze (1926–91), is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. It is located at an elevation of 2,500–3,000 feet (750–900 meters) in the Chu River valley near the Kyrgyz Mountains.

7. Bishkek offers a wide range of dining options, from traditional Central Asian cuisine to foreign cuisine and fast food. A city tour of Bishkek will illustrate the nomad, Soviet, and contemporary impacts on the country’s growth. As you go throughout the city, you may take a stroll along many of the city’s green alleyways, buy local produce at bazaars, and marvel at the city’s many monuments.

8. Kyrgyz, often written Kirgiz or Kirghiz, are a Turkic-speaking Central Asian people who dwell mostly in Kyrgyzstan, one of the very interesting facts.

9. Song Kol Lake is a large summer meadow that is only accessible between June and September. Nomads have been grazing their livestock there for millennia. It’s at a height of 3016 meters, but don’t anticipate rocky peaks — it appears to be very level. Song Kul is a freshwater lake with a length of 29 kilometers and a width of 18 kilometers. It barely reaches a maximum depth of roughly 13 meters. If you go up there, you’ll be able to sleep in genuine yurts and experience the same freedom as your nomad hosts.

10. Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is located in the city of Bishkek. Bishkek, is Kyrgyzstan’s largest city, with a population of 1,027,200 people, which is one of the interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan.

11. Osh is the country’s second-largest city and one of the region’s oldest. Its enormous and lively market, which is still active, was a significant commercial stop on the Silk Road, an overland route used by caravans traveling from Europe to Asia.

12. Kyrgyzstan has been dubbed the “Switzerland of Central Asia” because of its mountainous Tian Shan area, which encompasses 80% of the nation. Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 meters, is the highest peak (24,406 ft).

13. The Kyrgyz typically consume a lot of meat. If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll have a hard time finding traditional Kyrgyz cuisine that isn’t meat-based. You may still ask for anything without meat and get it, but be prepared for some strange glances.

14. Horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan may be quite safe if you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who is familiar with both the horse and the area. Most visitors who go horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan have no prior riding expertise, yet they do just fine. The majority of them, however, do not ride alone and are always accompanied by a local guide.

15. Hiking in the mountains is never completely risk-free, and Kyrgyzstan’s stunning mountain excursions are no exception. Depending on where you trek, you may encounter dangerous terrain, unpredictably changing weather, and the risk of altitude sickness.

16. Kyrgyzstan is one of the world’s least populous countries, with just 29.5 people per square kilometer of land, one of the cool fun and interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan.

17. The majority of Kyrgyzstan is extremely secure, however, there are a few spots in the nation that might put your safety in danger. While there haven’t been any major violent clashes since 2010, concerns over the recognition of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek boundary remain.

18. It is the only country in the world with its own White House. Bishkek’s marble-clad seven-story presidential office is equally as majestic as its namesake in the United States.

19. Over 80% of Kyrgyzstan’s 5.7 million people are Sunni Muslims; 15% are Christians, predominantly Russian Orthodox; and the remaining 5% are Shi’a Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, and Baha’i congregations or individuals who are not affiliated with any religion.

20. The Tien-Shan mountain range is one, the old Silk Road’s network of routes is another, and Sulayman Mountain on the outskirts of Osh is the third. According to Unesco, it is “the most comprehensive example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia” and has been revered for millennia. According to folklore, women who ascend to the summit of the mountain will give birth to healthy children.

21. Kyrgyzstan is one of 45 nations that are landlocked, however, it does have Issyk-Kul, the world’s second-biggest high-altitude lake (behind Titicaca in South America).

22. The Tien-Shan mountain range is one, the old Silk Road’s network of routes is another, and Sulayman Mountain on the outskirts of Osh is the third. According to UNESCO, it is “the most comprehensive example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia” and has been revered for millennia.

23. According to folklore, women who ascend to the summit of the mountain will give birth to healthy children, one of the crazy interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan.

24. In Kyrgyzstan, tap water is generally regarded safe, however, it takes some getting used to. Cynthia and I switched to drinking just tap water after a few weeks in Bishkek, and we had no problems.

25. It has yet to produce a Nobel Laureate. The author Chingiz Aitmatov, the physicist and poet Kasym Tynystanov, and the dancer Bubusara Beyshenalieva are among its most renowned sons and daughters.

26. A spectacular alpine national park is about half an hour’s drive from Bishkek’s suburbs. You can get closer to the mountains that serve as the city’s background. The national park’s highest peak, at 4895 meters, is one of more than fifty summits in the Ala Archa range. It’s a popular picnic spot in the area, as well as a popular tourist destination for short treks.

27. Gold accounts for 43% of Kyrgyzstan’s exports; the second greatest category is “dry legumes,” which accounts for 3.5 percent. The Kumtor Gold Mine, which opened in 1997 in the Tian Shan mountains, rests atop one of the world’s greatest gold resources.

28. The eponymous hero of the Epic of Manas, a poem with 500,000 words in its fullest form, is honored in a variety of ways. He has sculptures, roads, a university, a planet (yes), an airport named after him, as well as an opera. Although the poem is said to be 1,000 years old, most academics believe it dates from the 18th century.

29. While visas are required for travels to Azerbaijan, China, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, visas are not required for visits to Kyrgyzstan for up to 90 days.

30. The administrative headquarters of the Issyk-Kul region is Karakol. Despite the fact that it is not directly on the lake’s beaches, day trips to the lake or the adjacent mountains are easy to arrange.

31. Karakol became a key location dividing the Russian Empire from China in the nineteenth century, and an important Russian military camp was created there in 1869. It also drew Chinese Muslims escaping tyranny in their home country. These two significant historical events are commemorated at the Dungan Mosque and the Orthodox Church of Karakol.

32. It alternates between hot and chilly. In the low-lying Fergana Valley, temperatures can reach 40°C in the summer, but in the mountains, temperatures can drop to -30°C in the winter.

33. Buses, minibuses (also known as marshrutkas), and shared taxis are among the several modes of public transit available in Kyrgyzstan. Buses and minibuses are generally safe, but shared cabs are not. They’re mainly vintage Mercedes that haven’t been properly maintained and don’t have rear seat belts. Furthermore, drivers in shared cabs travel at breakneck speeds.

34. The word “Kyrgyz” is said to be derived from the Turkic word “forty,” a reference to the great Manas’ 40 clans. A 40-ray sun appears on the country’s flag as a homage to this.

35. And this old tower is all that’s left of a once-vast metropolis. The old city of Balasagun was marked by Burana Tower, which was once 45 meters tall but was lowered to 25 meters by earthquakes.

36. The spectacular Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, a mosque, a zoo, and a slew of museums can all be found in Kyrgyzstan’s fourth-largest city, which is located on Issyk Kul. To the west, the Jeti-güz Rocks, a striking rock formation, may be found. Karakol is twinned with Asheville, North Carolina, which is frequently ranked as one of the greatest places to live in the United States.

37. In this country, there are 11 national parks. In the Tian Shan mountains, there’s also the beautiful Ala Archa. Hiking, horseback riding, and skiing are all popular activities.

38. Burana was built in the 11th century as part of a thriving Silk Road metropolis named Balasaghun. Originally, the tower was a minaret that stood over 40 meters tall and was the first of its kind in Central Asia. Unfortunately, the top part of the tower was damaged by an earthquake in the 15th century. It now stands at a height of a little over 20 meters, and you may even climb up it! Near the tower, there is also a small museum where you may see some old stone sculptures called balbals.

39. The spectacular Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, a mosque, a zoo, and a slew of museums can all be found in Kyrgyzstan’s fourth-largest city, which is located on Issyk Kul. To the west, the Jeti-güz Rocks, a striking rock formation, may be found. Karakol is twinned with Asheville, North Carolina, which is frequently ranked as one of the greatest places to live in the United States.

40. Kyrgyzstan’s cuisine is often substantial and satisfying. Imagine the food you’d consume before embarking on a four-day mountain climb, and you’ll get a good notion of what Kyrgyz traditional cuisine looks like. Mutton, cow, and chicken meat are used in most recipes, which are served in dumplings, on top of noodles or rice, or alongside potatoes.

41. This fretless three-stringed instrument is Kyrgyzstan’s national instrument. It’s said to be played in a variety of postures, including over the shoulder, between the legs, and upside down by virtuosos.

42. The majority of Kyrgyzstan is extremely secure, however, there are a few spots in the nation that might put your safety in danger. While there haven’t been any major violent clashes since 2010, concerns over the recognition of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek boundary remain. Visitors to the region bordering the border near Osh should exercise caution. There have been a few violent occurrences in this area, as well as a few gunfights. If you intend to travel to Uzbekistan, you should only utilize officially approved border crossings in this area.

43. Tourism accounts for just 1.25 percent of the country’s GDP, which is lower than in 174 other nations, one of the mentionable interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed these interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan!