“When I planned for my fast-tracked trip to Kyrgyzstan, little did I know about this hidden gem in Central Asia. I wished I had planned for more days. However, the beautiful three days spent in the lap of Nature is a memory etched for life,”
writes Avishikta Sarkar.
When I told people I was travelling to Kyrgyzstan, many did not know where it was. Lying in the lap of Tian Shan and Pamir Mountain ranges, this eastern Central Asian country is still fairly unknown in the broad “tourist” community. The country is a nature lovers’ paradise and a great escape from demanding city lives that most of us live today.
I reached Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan with very little expectation but was blown away by the sheer beauty of the capital from the moment I stepped outside the airport. Bishkek has a big city vibe, yet it’s retained its humble feel with surrounding snow-capped mountains dotted with beautiful parks almost at every square of the centre. My day started with the city tour. First stop was the Central Mosque, built in an Ottoman revival style, it is considered as one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. Close to the Central Mosque, was the Victory Square, dedicated to the nation’s victory in World War II.
Next stop was the main square of the city – Ala-Too Square. Famous for its stunning mountain scenery, Ala-Too Square is in the centre of Bishkek and combines several attractions. On its perimeter is the State Historical Museum. The museum was a great visit to know about the origin of the Kyrgz clan and the transformation of the tribe to its modern times avatar. Outside the museum, stands the 45-metre flagpole with a national flag, guarded by a guard of honour which has a change of duty ceremony every hour, that is worth watching.
Ala-Archa National Park
My next destination was my highlight of the day. About an hour drive from the capital is the picturesque gorge Ala-Archa National Park complete with a mountain river rushing down like a rushing stream, high snowy peaks, juniper slopes, alpine meadows covered with a carpet of flowers. It was the most amazing time spent in this serene place, feeding birds and squirrels on the trail. Ala-Archa has many different trails and hikers have the freedom to explore in any direction – whether it’s to a plateau offering magnificent views of the gorge, along the tranquil Ala-Archa river, or towards the Broken Heart Stone, from where breathtaking panoramic views unfold. Due to lack of time, I could not complete a full hiking trail but reached up to the panoramic view to enjoy the breathtaking view of the valley with river streams felt just like a painting. All in all an amazing experience.
Kyrgyzstan has many scenic places and the two very famous lakes are Issyk Kul and Son Kul. Since I had very less time, I had to choose between either of these two destinations. Both lakes have gorgeous landscape with its own unique beauty. Issyk Kul is the larger lake and has lot of activities to do, while Son Kul is 3500 metres up in the mountains and have more of insane remoteness. I wanted to experience the remote destination, so I chose for an overnight trip to Son Kul Lake.
Next morning I was picked up by my guide and we headed straight towards the breathtaking journey to Son Kul lake. On the way we stopped at Burana Tower, a large minaret in the Chui Valley. I got a chance to climb to the top of the ancient tower, which was climbing a steep narrow staircase, where a beautiful view of the Chui valley and the Tien-Shan mountains open.
We then continued our journey to Son Kul, passing through several small but charming villages. On the way there was the Boom gorge and Orto-Tokoy Water Reservoir. This place is quaint, from the panoramic view. It was a great spot to stop for pictures and continue to Son-Kul lake.
Yurt experience
At Kochkor we changed our vehicle to switch to a 4×4 mode for the rugged mountain ride ahead. Here we started our elevation to Son-Kol lake. The surrounding view changes colour and texture all the time, from stony dunes to green hills. Unforgettable drive through the rustic, raw mountains, meeting peacefully grazing mountain horses on the way. Also, in the vast meadows of the pass, the mountain edelweiss grows.
We reached Son Kul around late afternoon and finally checked into my yurt camp. Yurts are nomadic tents and it was worth the experience of spending a night in them. The peace and calmness around Son Kul Lake were enigmatic. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this was a no network zone, lights in the camp were out by midnight and no internet. It was a perfect place for digital detox, connect with nature and star gaze at night.
Next morning to my surprise it was snowing. The entire landscape changed to beautiful white canvas. After breakfast, we started descending to return to Bishkek. On our way back we drove through one of the most spectacular roads in Kyrgyzstan that lead to the Terkey Torpok Pass, which is over 3000m high to hike to the 33 Parrots Waterfall. There was more scenic beauty on the way back and enchanting landscape.
And that was a wrap to my intense but awesome tour with a promise to come back for more of Kyrgyzstan.
