Glossary
The encyclopedia of the tourist

O
Onion Glade
Orgochor
Ortok
Orto-Tokoi
Osh, town



Onion Glade - Lukovaya Polyana (3800 m). The last vegetation before the stone moraines of the mountainside of the Lenin peak. It is a green oasis, with two sides surrounded by cliffs. Once there was a powerful glacier between these cliffs, but over the years it rose much higher. The most real, wild green onions grow on the Onion Glade. In the midst of Pamir summer (2-3 weeks in July), the field surface resembles a bright and colorful floral carpet. The road lies right up to the Onion Glade, where border checks take place systematically. Previously, the base camps of climbers were located at the Onion Glade before the Lenin peak, but now, in order to keep the nature of the field, they have been moved. Hence, one can see the gorge from here - the exit onto the pass of Travelers towards Lenin glacier. From the Onion Glade to the Achik-Tash base camp is around 4-6 hours on foot.   Top

Orgochor. A small village about 30 km West of Karakol. The Historical Museum of Jeti-Oguz is here, started in 1990 to record the local history from a distinctly Kyrgyz viewpoint.
It was the birthplace of Telekmat Sartikiev (1799-1863) who served as ambassador to China, Russia and the Kokand Khanate. The first Kyrgyz ambassador to Russia was dispatched to Ekaterinburg as early as 1787, and others followed in 1814/15 and 1824/25. Trade relationships with their neighbours having been a source of conflict throught the previous century. Apparently, the village housed Japanese prisoners of war in World War. Top

Ortok. A village about 60 kilometers à North west of Jalalabat, set in one of the densest forest regions in Kyrgyzstan - surrounded by mountains and mountain meadows. There is a wide variety of flora - trees, grasses and other plants - and fauna. About 6 kilometers outside the village is a cliff with an extensive, labyrinth, cave system. Top

Orto-Tokoi. The Orto-Tokoi reservoir on the river Chui alongside the main road between Naryn and Issyk-Kul has azure waters and makes a pleasant picnic spot, but the water level varies with the seasons. Top

Osh, is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. The exact date of its origin is unknown. Legends connect it’s foundation with the name of Alexander of Macedon, and even the prophet Solomon (Suleiman). None of the legend does not explain either the fact of the city or the etymology of its name, but has his evidence of ancient agricultural activities of the inhabitants of these places.
The history of the city was written 1000 years ago, and archaeological findings lead to three thousand years ago. The appearance of the city of Osh is connected with the settlement of ancient farmers of the Bronze Age, discovered on the southern slope of Mount Suleiman. The development of the city, which is located in a fertile valley at the foot of the Pamir and Pamir-Alai, is directly connected with geographic location. Due to the favorable geographical situation Osh was the point of intersection of the trade caravan routes of the ancient and medieval India and China to Europe. It was one of the branches of the Silk Road there - the major commercial artery of antiquity, connecting the East and West.
Commercial city of Osh was known for its bazaars and caravanserais. The main Bazaar, located on the left bank of the Ak-Bura river, was a classic example of the Eastern Market Hall - Tim. More than two millennia, the main bazaar in Osh has lived their noisy and colorful life, changing their building and expanding the boundaries, but remained at the same place chosen in ancient times. Modern Osh Bazaar is the most popular tourist attraction. The most popular is Artisans street and Fruit orchards. The city of Osh was one of the Muslim religious centers of Central Asia. This is mostly due to Sulaiman-Too mountain located in the city and which is given the power to heal any illnesses of pilgrims according to the legends and folk traditions.
By the end of the XIX century there were 154 mosques and around a dozen of madrassas in Osh. A few landmarks have survived. Among them is Asaf ibn Burhiya (XVII-XVIII centuries.) Rovat mosque Abdullah-Khan (XVI-XVII centuries), the Mosque of Muhammad Yusuf, Bayhodzhi-Ogly mosque Alymbek-Datka (XIX cent.) Madrasah Muhamedboy Turk Hal Muratbaev, Hazrat Muhammad madrassas Damulla Sydyk Akhund Aglam (all XII-XVII centuries.) Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael (the beginning of the twentieth century) settlement Ak-Buura, History and local history museums, museum of local crafts, a memorial complex "Eternal Flame" (1976) with a memorial "Grieving Mother" (1990), Kyrgyz Drama Theatre, art gallery "Saltanat" monument of Orozobekova Sultan Ibraimov, Kurmanzhan-Datca, Toktogul Satylganov, Niyazaly and Moldoniyazu, and, of course, always colorful and noisy bazaar on river Ak-Buura.
The main attraction is the quadriceps mountain Sulaiman-Too (Takht-Sulaiman), rising almost in the center. On the southern slope they have found the remnants of the settlement (XII-VII centuries BC), which defined the 3000 year age of the city.
Most of the mountain is the part of the National Museum "Silk Road" and includes Asaf ibn Burhiya, the ruins of baths (XI-XII centuries). It is a museum under the open sky now, Takht Suleiman mosque and the mosque Jami Rawat Abdullahan (X-XI cc.).    Top

Kyrgyzstan travel