SOME OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

 Achyk Tash : Naryn : A high mountain valley, to the South East of Kochkor, offering treks along the Savan river and a visit to the Kol Ukock lake («Lake in a Chest»). From the Kara Tor Peak there is a panoramic view across to Lake Issyk Kul.

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services, such as horse riding, for a visit to the jailoo.

Ak Beyit Pass : Naryn : At the Southern end of the At Bashi range — it is 4 kilometers from the outer checkpost on the road to Torugart — where you enter the border zone.

Ak Talaa : Naryn : Ninety kilometers to the West of Naryn. Famous as the birthplace of Togolok Moldo, who appears on the 20 som banknote, and for numerous thermal springs and therapeutic muds.

The Naryn river flows through this region and in places the water reaches speeds of 60 km/hour as it cascades between steep cliffs and enters narrows.

Ak Talaa provides access to the Southern route up to Lake Son Kul. Past the mausoleum of Taylik Batyr and climbing the steep hillsides by a winding route you emerge onto the plain with the lake in front of you.

There is a Community Based Tourism project based in the village of Kurtka, a few kilometers outside Ak Talaa which can arrange accommodation and other services.

Ak Tash : Naryn : (= «White Stone».)

On the Northern shore of Lake Son Kul — there are some ancient marble gravestones and evidence of a marble quarry.

Ak-Sai : Naryn : A restricted border region — on the «back road» from At-Bashi to Torugart — known for Marco Polo sheep, yaks, mountain goats, horses and snow leopards. Here there is an neolithic structure — «ancient man» .

Ala Myshyk : Naryn : A mountain near Naryn — «Ala Myshyk» means «motley cat» in Kyrgyz. On the slopes of the mountain is a 45 meter long cave — decorated with stalactites and stalagmites.

Archaly : Naryn : Known for its springs of mineral water.

At Bashi : Naryn : At-Bashi — a town, which stands on the site of settlements that date from the 8th to 14th centuries.

The main road from Naryn to Torugart takes you over the Kyzyl-Bel pass with views along the crest of the At-Bashi mountain range, to the village of At-Bashi, and the nearby ruins of a small citadel at Kara-Suu dating from the 10th or 12th century. The 5 metre high walls are known as Koshoi-Korgon and is where the legendary Kyrgyz hero Manas is supposed to have buried his friend Koshoy. Just before the end of the asphalt, and the start of the gravel road — the highway widens and was an emergency military airstrip built in the Soviet period to be used in the event of hostilities with China (apparently it was never used and is poorly maintained today). Further on is the Tash-Rabat caravanserai — an architectural monument from the Middle Ages. It is about 125 km from Naryn, and 80 km from Torugart border post, at an altitude of 3530m. The road continues around the end of the At-Bashi mountains, past Chatyr-Kul lake to the border post.

Baetova : Naryn : The center of the Ak Talaa region — 120 km from Naryn, Baetova lies on the road between Lake Son Kul and Tash Rabat — but the road is difficult and really needs a 4WD vehicle.

Chaek : Naryn : 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.

A Community Based Tourism project based here that van organise accommodation and other services in the neighbourhood.

Chalai Pass : Naryn : At 3800m, 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.

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services.

Chaldybar : Naryn : 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.

Chatyr-Kul : Naryn : Chatyr-Kul Lake in the Ak Sai valley, near the border with China — lies at an altitude of 3500m, this is one of the largest lakes in Kyrgyzstan and it is 16.5 m at it deepest point. «Chatyr Kul» means «Heavenly lake» in Kyrgyz. It is known as a resting place for several breeds of wild birds. The temperature of the water is between 6 and 16C between July and August — and in winter the air temperature can reach as low as -54 degrees. Nearby there are some hot springs.

There is a nature reserve here and a mausoleum at the Western end of the lake.

Chon Tuz : Naryn : Not far fromKochor 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.
 
Dolon Pass : Naryn : The Dolon Pass, at 3025 m, the highest point on the main Bishkek-Naryn Road. The caravans either side of the pass house workers who man the road maintenance depot here, and in winter they help dig cars out of the snow. A seemingly desolate mountain pass — and each summer yurts and tents of the shepherds can be seen here.

Dostuk : Naryn : About 25 km from the town in the direction of Osh is the village of Dostuk. Here there is a power station built on the At-Bashi river that flows into the Naryn River. The At-Bashi river flows through a gorge at places less than 100m wide, and at the mouth of the gorge is a dam holding back some 90 million cubic meters of water. The reservoir is reached through a tunnel 245 m long and stretches some 7 km up the gorge. At the dam the water is some 45 m deep. Some 40,000 kW of power is generated by 4 turbines and is supplied to the Naryn region, to Djalal-abad and to China. To visit the power station, special permission is needed. «Dostuk» means Peace in Kyrgyz.

Ece Naryn : Naryn : Thirty kilometers to the East of Naryn is Ece-Naryn («Two Naryns» — it is where two Naryn rivers meet) Here there is a pine covered valley and wildlife park. There is a National Park for the protection of wildlife — mountain goats, rams, deer, wild boar, bears and snow leopards, and two Botanical reserves. Archaeologists have unearthed remains of ancient settlements nearby. From Ece-Naryn (in a good vehicle) you can follow the valley of the Little Naryn River to Lake Issyk-Kul or back to Sary-Bulak and the main Bishkek Road.

Kairma : Naryn : Kairma — not far from Chaek — is the site of an ancient settlement with the remains of a fortress dating from the 10th century.

Kalinin : Naryn : Near the village is a strange remnant left over from the Second World War. A group of German prisoners of war conspired to create a memorial toNazism, and planted a copse in the shape of a swastika. Their subterfuge remained undiscovered for many years and can still be seen.

Kara Keche : Naryn : On the road from Chaek to Son Kul, Kara Keche is best known as an open pit coal mine — one of the largest in Kyrgyzstan with approximately 100 million tons of coal.

Kara Oi : Naryn : A small village in the Ak Talaa region — birthplace of the twentieth century Manaschi Togolok Moldo, whose portrait appears on the 20 som note.

Kara Suu : Naryn : A village founded in 1919 by refugees from the Chui valley fleeing the Bolsheviks. Near to At Bashi, the 5 metre high walls are part of the ruins of a small citadel dating from the 10th or 12th century and is where the legendary Kyrgyz hero Manas is supposed to have buried his friend Koshoy.

Karakujur : Naryn : A beautiful and fertile river valley

Kazybek : Naryn : Also known as Pogranich — the last village before the Chinese border.

Kokemeren : Naryn : The Kekemeren River runs through a narrow valley South from Suusamyr plain (in Chui oblast), past the village of Aral (1400 m. a. s. l.), until eventually it flows into the Naryn River. Popular for white-water rafting, at first the river is relatively calm, but gradually, more and more obstacles appear making it a much more demanding course.

Kol Ukock : Naryn : The «Lake in a Chest» — a quiet, peaceful lake with cold and crystal clear waters — to the South east of Kochkor. Like Lake Issyk Kul, a number of rivers flow into the lake, but none flow out. With a maximum depth of 17 meters, it is home to Savan trout (a multi coloured fish) and White fish

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services, such as horse riding, for a visit to the jailoo.

Korumdu : Naryn : A jailoo to the West of Kochkor in the Kyzart mountains. The highest point is 4400m, but it averages 3800m.

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services, such as horse riding, for a visit to the jailoo.

Koshoi Korgon : Naryn : The site of an ancient settlement, near At Bashi. The 5 metre high walls are part of the ruins of a small citadel dating from the 10th or 12th century and is where the legendary Kyrgyz hero Manas is supposed to have buried his friend Koshoy. A «korgon» is an ancient burial mound.

The fortress has a rectangular shape. The general length of walls is more than 1000 m. The height of the walls is 8 m. The walls are made of pahsa (pugged clay) and are fortified with towers.

Kyzart : Naryn : Off the main road between Chaek and Kochkor. It can serve as the starting point for a trek over the mountains to Lake Son Kul.

A Community Based Tourism project based here that van organise accommodation and other services in the neighbourhood.

Kyzyl Bel Pass : Naryn : About 24 kilometers South of Naryn, on the road to Torugart, the pass offers a splendid view down the valley with the crest of the At Bashi range to the East.

Min Kush : Naryn : A small village in a dramatic mountainous region in the North Western corner of the Naryn oblast — at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Orto-Tokoy : Naryn : The Orto-Tokoy 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

Ottuk : Naryn : «Ottuk» means «cud» in Kyrgyz. The village lies at the foot of the gorge descending from the Dolon Pass, where the road emerges into a wide valley — home, once, to several large collective farms.

There is a Community Based Tourism project based here which can organize accommodation and other services.

Pogranich : Naryn : Also known as Kazybek — the last village before the Chinese border.

Salkyn Tor : Naryn : A picturesque canyon located 14 km to east of Naryn, where there is a former pioneer camp with several picturesque shelters and picnic spots. There is a small hotel located at the foot of the valley

Sarala Saz : Naryn : A jailoo about 50 km Northwest of Kochkor. It is one of the largest high altitude meadows in the Kochkor region. On the way upto the jailoo are several large burial mounds dating from the 1st to the 5th centuries — measuring 60 meters in diameter and 13 meters high.

A nearby waterfall is known to locals by the romantic name «Look for me» because it is well hidden amongst the rocks. It is possible to stand within a few meters of it, hear the rushing water, but not be able to see it. Higher up, past patches of wild onions, is a permanent glacier.

The legendary hero Manas is supposed to have visited frequently and relaxed on the nearby Kara Too mountain, playing the traditional game «Ordo» with his followers. According to the legend, noticing that his horses were wandering away, he threw huge stones in front of them to persuade them to return — over a distance of 10 kilometers!. The stones are still to this day as witness to his incredible strength.

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation and services in Sarala Saz.
 
Sary Bulak : Naryn : A village on the road between Kochkor and Naryn, sitting astride the Sary Bulak river. There is a road from here through the mountains to Issyk Kul and just south of the village is the junction for the road to Lake Son Kul.

Shyrdabek : Naryn : Shyrdabek, on the Naryn-Osh road, is the site of an ancient fortress dating from the tenth century. The fortress was built at the cross-road of caravan routes and measures 120 m x 117 m. The walls are 6 m high. In the corners of the fortress there are towers. The walls and the towers are made of pahsa and adobe and have loop-holes.

Tash Bashat : Naryn : Near the village of Kalinin is a strange remnant left over from the Second World War. A group of German prisoners of war conspired to create a memorial toNazism, and planted a copse in the shape of a swastika. Their subterfuge remained undiscovered for many years and can still be seen.

Tash Tulga : Naryn : On the southern shore of Lake Son Kul — ancient stone circles which arte supposed to have associations with the legendary hero Manas.

Terz Tor : Naryn : A jailoo to the South East of Kochkor.

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services, such as horse riding, for a visit to the jailoo.

Toguz Toroo : Naryn : The Toguz Toroo river flows to the South of Kazarman and is surrounded by mountains rising to over 3400m.

Tunduk : Naryn : The Tunduk jailoo lies some 40 km to the Northwest of Kochkor. («Tunduk» means «Northern» ).

A Community Based Tourism project based in Kochkor can arrange accommodation, and other services, such as horse riding, for a visit to the jailoo.