Glossary
The encyclopedia of the tourist

C
Caves
Chaar-Tash
Chaek
Chalai, pass
Chaldybar
Chatkal, river
Chatyr-Kel, lake
Chelpek
 Chet-Baisoorun
Chichkan
Chigu
Chil-Mairam
Chili-Sai, gorge
Chimin-Tash
 Choktal
Cholpon-Ata, town
Cholpon-Ata, petrogliphs
Chon-Ak-Suu
Chon-Aryk
Chon-Kemin
Chon-Kurchak, gorge
Chon-Kyzyl-Suu
 Chon-Sary-Oi
Chon-Tash
Chon-Tuz
Chunkurchak


Caves. When in Kyrgyzstan,the passionate also get their share of caves. Almost all of them a re located in the Osh area inthesou them part of the re public. The Osh Mountains are well known and easily accessible. There are dozens of caves in the low limestone mountains on the foot of the Great Pamirs. Between Aravana and Ak-Bura rivers, on the sunny foothills of Chil-Ustun, mounds are scattered like islands of a mysterious archipelago. From a geological, and particularly a geomorphologic point of view, these mounds are the remnants of a huge mountain range and are the sediments of the Paleozoic period, dating back 350 million years.
4km from Aravana, on Chil-Ustun Mountain, just below the peak of 1460 m lays the entrance to three underground caverns connected by narrow passages, of which the third is the most impressive with its 100 m length, and up to 50 m width. The cavern is propped up by beautiful columns, glistening as the beam of your flashlight reflects off it. The walls are decorated by finely woven crystal lace. As you touch the crystals, a sound reverberates off them, the sound of music of millions of years back. On your way out, pay attention to the many inscriptions on the walls, some of which are in Sanskrit. Besides the Chil-Ustun cave, there are many other interesting and easy to access caves on the slopes of the mountains: Sasyk-Unkur (140 m), Suvli-Kamar (120 m), Chil-Mayram (130 m), Teshik-Tash (180 m), Snake (185 m) and Besh-Unkur (the depth is 100 m).
20 km south of Chil-Ustun, the Tuya-Muyun mountain is split by a deep canyon. On its left side: the deepest cave of the republic, Fersman's Chasm, the depth of which is 240 m, next to it Big Baritovaya cave (length is 300 m) and Ajiadar-Unkur cave, which is famous for its bat communities. On its right: Surprise cave with a length of 450 m and Po bed nay a cave with the length of 1200 m. All the caves of Tuya-Muyun region are characterized by rich mineralization. Multiform and multicolored crystals cover the surface of the majority of its underground passages and caverns.
The next cave is so interesting, it is indispensable to any speleologic itinerary through Southern Kyrgyzstan. Kan-i-Gut is located in the easter most of the Osh region near Batken. The cave served as a mining pit from where in the VI XI centuries lead and iron were extracted. Over two dozen gigantic caverns, deep passages, fire-places, narrow trapdoors and tunnels give you a g limp’s at mining activity centuries ago.     Top

Chaar-Tash. The Chaar-Tash petroglyphs are in a remote region, North of the Naryn River, near the point where the borders of Djalal-Abad, Chui and Naryn regions meet. Top

Chaek. Chaek - is one of a group of villages stretching along the main Kochkor – Suusamyr - Osh road. Lying in a wide valley with the distant mountains showings many different hues. There are some dramatic roadside rock formations - but although this is farming country - other vegetation is sparse. Top

Chalai, pass. Naryn. At 3800 m, it is said that this pass offers views of both Issyk Kul and Son Kul lakes - but … we cannot cannot vouch for this. It is best approached as part of a horse trek. Top

Chaldybar. Chaldybar is on the Naryn - Osh road near the village of Kosh-Tepe on the banks of the Manakeldy river, on the ancient road Fergana - Tien-Shan with an ancient fortress dating from the tenth century. This fortification was a caravanserai and has a square shape measuring 64 m square. The walls are fortified with corner towers. The building had 54 rooms of different size connected by corridors. In the centre there is a roofed yard for live stock, which measures 25 m x 25 m. The caravanserai was built of pahsa and adobe. Top

Chatkal, river. Located in the Western Tian-Shan mountain range, the River Chatkal flows for 189 kilometers in a remote valley in the extreme West of the country.
Walnut groves with Semyonov's maple and less frequently ash and tree-like hawthorns are spread along the lower slopes of the Chatkal River, which flows to Uzbekistan.
Traces of early human habitation have been found in cave sites (such as the Obirakhmat and Khodjakent grottoes) where hunting tools, stone-processing sites and petroglyphs from the Neolithic period have been discovered.
Minerals were extracted from various sites during the Bronze Age (about 3000 BC); first non-ferrous, then ferrous metals were extracted. Huge burial mounds with bronze vessels have been found dating to this period. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of nomadic cattle-breeders in the area dating from the early Iron Age. In the lower reaches of the Chatkal river over 2,000 burial mounds, 30 «tepe» and 3 ancient settlements have been found.
During the Kushan-turk period (dating from the 4th to the 7th centuries), the region was already densely populated. In addition to the nomadic herdsmen, pastoral agriculture and settlements developed - towns grew up. Some of the main trade routes of the Silk Road passed through the region. A number of local products were exported far and wide, including silver from the Talas and Chatkal river basins, Sal ammoniac and mercury, cattle and walnuts from the Arslanbob region.
A little South-West of Djani Bazar is the site of an ancient settlement Changar Khan dating dating from between the 10th and 12th centuries.
Near by is the gumbez (mausoleum) of Idris Baygambar - dating from the 19th century.
To the North East lies the site of the town of Arlankent which dates from between the 7th and 12th centuries and was the main town of the region - which at that time was known as Djydguil. The town is mentioned in several chronicles dating from the Middle Ages.
Also to the North, in the gorge of Kuru-Tegerek, archaeologists have discovered ancient mining excavations and the site of the ancient settlement Kurbes Kan.
The Besh-Aral Zapovednik (Bio-diversity Reserve) is situated in the Chatkal Valley of the Jalal-Abad Oblast 340 km from Jalal-Abad the oblast centre and 25 km from Kanysh-Kiya the Chatkal Rayon centre.
The Chaktal river is often used for rafting expeditions, (although border problems with Uzbekistan have limited recent expeditions) and the mountains are used by athletes from the former Soviet countries for «high altitude» training and the mountain slopes are often used by skiers.

Chatyr-Kel, lake. The third largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, Chatyr-Kel (width 11 km, length 23 km, depth 19 m) is situated on the western outskirts of the Ak-Sai Valley between the At-Bashy and Torugart-Too Ranges at an altitude of 3520 m above sea level. In summer the lake turns into a real "bird colony". Mountain geese and ducks fly together here. Roes, martens, lynxes, wild boars and porcupines inhabit the canyons of the wild rivers. In the coniferous forests of the Karatal-Japar reserve, one may meet brown bear, goat and snow leopard.
There is a nature reserve here and a mausoleum at the Western end of the lake. Top

Chelpek. A village South of Karakol where a number of artifacts (the «Chelpek treasure»), dating from the time of the Saks (including an altar table in the shape of a woman (a priestess?). Top

Chet-Baisoorun, canyon. Just above the village of Ananyevo, at the foot of an 18 kilometer canyon, lies the hamlet of Chet-Baisoorun. Top

Chichkan. («Mouse» in Kyrgyz). The Bishkek - Osh road follows the Chichkan river between Suusamyr and the Toktogul reservoir, The river flows into the reservoir just West of the town of Toktogul on the northern shore. There is a nature reserve here, and off the tributary Bala-Chichkan in the south of the Chichkan valley is the Ak-Unkur cave.
There are two highmountain lakes (at an altitude of over 3300 m), and one of them features a 60 m. waterfall.
There is a yurt camp and guest house run by a Bishkek based Tour Company in the valley. Top

Chigu. To the West of Tyup, on the peninsular jutting out into the lake archaeologists have found the site of the ancient settlement of Chigu, dating to the 2nd century. Top

Chil-Mairam. There area lot of caves not far from Osh airport in the east of the mountains of Chil-Mairam. Top

Chili-Sai, gorge. A little to the South of the small village of Eski Nookat - lies the Chili-Sai Gorge, which contains a number of petroglyphs. Top

Chimin-Tash. In the mountains to the South West of Talas, South of Leninpol, is the river Urmaral - and here are some petroglyphs dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC. Further, near the border with Djalal-Abad region are the petroglyphs of Chimin-Tash, dating from the 6th to the 8th centuries.Top

Choktal. Asmall village on the Northern shore of the lake. There are some ancient barrows (burial mounds) behind the village, and many petroglyphs have been found in the area. Under the lake there are sites of ancient settlements.
The road into the mountain leads to the wooded valleys of the Choktal, Chet-Koi-Suu, and Orto-Koi-Suu rivers. Top

Chon-Ak-Suu, canyon. The Chon-Ak-Suu canyon is also known as Grigorievka - which is the name of the village on the main road at the foot of the valley.
This canyon is 32 kilometers long with a road the first 15 kilometers from Grigorievka. The slopes are covered with dense fir groves and littered with waterfalls. There are glacial lakes, and spectacular views of peaks and glaciers on the various trails over the mountains to Almaty, as well as a trail to Chon-Kemin. Top

Chon-Aryk. A small village, South of Bishkek. On the road from Bishkek can be seen some barrows, (burial mounds) dating. Top

Chon-Kemin. One hundred and fifty kilometers from Bishkek lies the valley of Chon-Kemin. This valley is most famous for being the birthplace of Askar Akayev. There is a small museum dedicated to him here.
There are other attractions, however. This long valley lies at altitudes of between 1400 m and 2800 m above sea level and reaches over 80 km deep into the mountains between the Kungey Ala-Too and Zailii ranges, parallel to the Kazakh border. It has verdant pastures, woodland (of Tian-Shan firs), mountain lakes (jamalysh, Kogor,Tor, Almaty and Kichi-Kemin amongst them) and spectacular views of the mountains (for example: Kichi-Kemin - 4220m; Alisher Novoi - 4170 m and Teke Tor - 4190 m.
The valley has a rich variety of vegetation, and animal life, and boasts both a Zoological preserve (with partridges, gold pheasant, hare,wild boar and mountain sheep) and a botanical reserve (Kapchagai - which is home to ephedra - horsetail). The conifer forests which line the mountains which form the sides of the valley are reknowned throught out the country and are home to many varieties of mushrooms, berries and herbs.
Manas is supposed to have held games here and near the village of Kyzyl-Bairak is a mausoleum dedicated to Shabidan Baitir, a 19th century chieftain of the Sary-Bagysh tribe who ruled the valley and is highly regarded as a national hero. There is also a statue of him on horseback in the main square in the town of Kemin.
There are several ancient barrows (burial mounds) in the valley at Tegirmenty and Shabdan. Those near the village of Shabdan, date from the 4th and 3rd century BC and arcaeologists have discovered the remains of the ancient settlement of Suyab, dating between the 6th and 11th centuries AD near the mouth of the valley.
There are several possibilities for trekking in the valley. One route runs over the mountains towards Balykchi on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, and others lead up towards the valleys of Griorievka and Semyenovka.
The Chon-Kemin valley also offers a venue for white-water rafting and fishing. Top

Chon-Kurchak, gorge. It is located in 30 km south from Bishkek, in this interesting place there is an unusually beautiful waterfall called "Dove waterfall". It is the same beauty in winter and in summer. The water falls from the height of 40 meters. The way from the parking lot to the waterfall won't take a long time. Mint grows along the river and on the slopes of the mounts you can gather sherbets. There are two ways to the waterfall the first one is traditional-the path takes you down the slope and the wonderful view of the waterfall opens to your sight. The second way is not that known, the beginning of the path lays 25 meters away from the river but then it gets to it. At the end of the way you find yourself staring at the waterfall. If you are lucky you can meet the flocks of the wild doves.Top

Chon-Kyzyl-Suu. One of the terminal points of a standard trek from Altyn-Arashan. There are warm springs up the valley, for example, at Svetlaya Polyana. The valley stretches some 34 km, and leads to other valleys, such as Djuuku-Chuk. Top

Chon-Sary-Oi. A village about 12 kilometers to the West Cholpon-Ata - with a site containing some petroglyphs.
Nearby is a site identified by archaeologists as Timur's palace. Top

Chon-Tash. A short distance outside Bishkek is Chon-Tash - now a popular tourist resort for people from the city. 1991 saw the televised excavation of a mass grave of some of the victims of Stalinist repression. Diggers discovered a 4×4×4 chamber, 40 cm below ground, containing some 137 (or 138 according to some sources) skeletons, some complete with personal effects/papers - It is thought that the entire Supreme Soviet Central Committee of the Republic of 1937 - plus a few other important individuals including Torokul Aitmatov (father of the Kyrgyz author Chinghiz Aitmatov) were murdered here by the KGB over two nights. The bodies have since been moved 100 m to the «Ata Beyit» cemetery («The cemetery of the fathers»). Chinghiz Aitmatov paid for the transfer. The discovery was made because, although the KGB swore the caretaker to secrecy, he told his daughter on his deathbed in the 1980s. After independence she came forward to tell the story. Top

Chon-Tuz. Not far from Kochor is the Chon-Tuz Sanatoria. There is a mountain of rock salt and in Soviet times a mine was established to extract the mineral. The mine still works and salt is produced not just for use in Kyrgyzstan - but is also exported. You won’t find it on your table, however, as the rock salt is usually given to farm animals as a food supplement. Also, during the Soviet period many people would come here for treatment for Asthma and allergies. Apparently, spending time in the atmosphere inside the salt mine is thought to be very beneficial. A course of treatment involves staying in the mine for 10 hours a day for 16 days. In recent years a development program has been underway to turn the mine into a health resort including providing accommodation and facilities. Tourists - assuming that it isn»t full of patients at the time, can also use the center. They have their own jailoo, about a three hours trek away, above the center. Top

Chunkurchak. In the Chaktal range, East of Lake Sary-Chelek - a collection of seven mountain lakes. Top

Kyrgyzstan travel