December 16, 2014

3 Must-See Ancient Petroglyph Sites in Kyrgyzstan

ИК3_Lada_StupinaIf you’ve been researching information about Kyrgyzstan trying to figure out what to do while you’re here, even looking at a Kyrgyzstan travel report and trying to read up on blogs of travel experts in Kyrgyzstan still might leave you with an information vacuum.  Of course there are some things with an abundance of information, such as ski resorts and trekking opportunities, but one activity that never seems to get the limelight is exploring Kyrgyzstan’s historical petroglyph sites.

You might think that petroglyphs can only be appreciated by history lovers, but even if you’ve never considered yourself a history fan, there’s something mysterious and timeless about petroglyphs – puzzling over the messages, events, and culture communicated to us from ancient peoples and civilizations. While the buildings and books of different eras have taken form and then been lost to us again in the harsh passage of time, these drawings have survived endless trials for thousands of years, giving us a glimpse into a life long since passed.  It may look dull in history books, but it certainly isn’t when you’re in the middle of the snowcapped mountains exploring sites with the aid of an experienced travel guide from Kyrgyzstan who can also fill you in on local stories and legends.

So where can you find petroglyphs in Kyrgyzstan? While there are many petroglyphs hidden throughout Kyrgyzstan, here are 3 different petroglyph sites I’d recommend visiting, each with a drastically different atmosphere and setting.

Petroglyphs 1

PETROGLYPHS OVERLOOKING LAKE ISSYK KUL,KYRGYZSTAN

 On the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul, the world’s 2nd largest alpine lake, you’ll find the city of Cholpon Ata.  On the outskirts of the city is a massive collection of petroglyphs you probably won’t find referenced in a travel brochure for Kyrgyzstan.  However, if you’re traveling around Kyrgyzstan with an experienced guide, they will tell you that true travel experts in Kyrgyzstan know this site to be a goldmine of petroglyph specimens.  This open-air petroglyph museum covers a total of 42 hectares of land and contains hundreds and hundreds of boulders sporting petroglyphs ranging from 30 centimeters all the way up to 3 meters in size!  Archeologists estimate some of these drawings to be up to 4,000 years old, with a large number of petroglyphs from the 8th-3rd centuries BC.

The petroglyph site is loosely enclosed by a fence and visitors are expected to pay a minimal entrance fee (if there’s an attendant present in the small building that serves as the “collection booth,” that is).

100_1367PETROGLYPHS ON THE SACRED MOUNTAIN, SULAIMAN TOO

The sacred mountain of Sulaiman Too is located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s southern capital.  This imposing mass of land juts up out of the ground right into the middle of the city.  This destination is extremely popular and one you might well see in your travel brochure of Kyrgyzstan or recommended to you by travel agencies in Kyrgyzstan, and it is well worth visiting.  Sulaiman Too houses 17 places of worship, ancient medieval baths and buildings from the 11th-18th centuries, a museum, and 7 caves.  Inside these caves is where you’ll find petroglyphs hiding out.  There are more than 100 specimens within the caves including depictions of people, animals, and solar symbols.

100_1418SAIMALUU TASH: THE STONEHENGE OF CENTRAL ASIA

Saimaluu Tash, located 200 km outside of Jalal-Abad, is the largest petroglyph site in all of Central Asia.  This site is spread across 2 remote valleys and covers dozens of acres.  Prepare yourself for over 10,000 stones that depict a total of more than 90,000 individual drawings/carvings, including pictures of hunting scenes, religious ceremonies, wild animals, farming, people, and more.  This site lay dormant and wasn’t really studied in any depth until the 1950s. To this day, many of the petroglyphs haven’t even been categorized. Talk about a goldmine for adventurers!

Sadly, you won’t see Saimaluu Tash listed in any travel reports of Kyrgyzstan that you read and just a few travel agencies in Kyrgyzstan offer tours to this historical treasure.   The reason is because Saimaluu Tash is extremely remote and difficult to reach.  It’s located between 2,800 – 3,400 meters above sea level and can only be visited from mid-July to mid-August (or just the month of August depending on the weather).  Due to саймалуу-таш-22its high elevation, snow covers the roads leading up to the site the rest of the year, making it impossible to reach.  Even during that month-long sweet spot, it takes about a day on foot or horseback to reach Saimaluu Tash from the nearby village of Kazarman.   Nevertheless, I highly recommend visiting this rare historical site as you travel Kyrgyzstan, a guide preferably in tow to help you navigate the area.   It’s estimated that less than 100 people visit these petroglyphs every year; be one of the few to experience their exquisite beauty as well as the stunning, isolated mountain scenery that few foreigners have tread!

A WELL ROUNDED TRIP

If you’re interested in seeing all of these sites, you’ll actually manage to see a large portion of Kyrgyzstan.  Two of these sites are more off the светлана гетоваbeaten path, which certainly adds an extra dimension to your trip, but don’t rule out other historical destinations from your Kyrgyzstan travel brochures.  Kyrgyzstan is full of fascinating historical places that will amaze history and non-history lovers alike. If you’re connected to a travel agency in Kyrgyzstan, have your travel guide take you to other historical destinations along the way to give you an even more robust picture of Central Asian history. Petroglyphs are just the tip of the iceberg, so dive in and experience everything Kyrgyzstan has to offer!

Picture by Lada Stupina, pictures from the Internet, picture by Svetlana Getova

3 days

Three Cities Around Lake Issyk Kul

Visit 3 cities that rest on the edges of Lake Issyk Kul, the largest alpine lake in Central Asia. This trip gives you a glimpse of Kyrgyzstan’s stunning natural beauty, Kyrgyz history, and K ...

From 
$650
The price depends on a group size. The price 650 USD per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
9 days

Vacation and Travel in Kyrgyzstan silk road: 9 days

This 9-day Kyrgyzstan tourism packages takes you through Kyrgyzstan’s gorgeous wilderness, historical sites, quaint villages, and bustling cities. Visit the remote, picturesque village of Ky ...

From 
$2690
The price depends on a group size. The price 2690 USD per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
13 days

Asian Holidays in Kyrgyzstan silk road: 13 days

This Kyrgyzstan tourism packages has everything needed for a true off-roading games! Enjoy Kyrgyzstan’s pristine natural beauty by visiting alpine lakes (Lake Song Kul and Lake Sary Chelek), ...

From 
$
The price depends on a group size. The price 3224 USD per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
8 days
Fixed dates
i
Fixed dates for 2020:
06/05/2022 - 06/12/2022
06/12/2022 - 06/19/2022
06/19/2022 - 06/26/2022
06/26/2022 - 07/03/2022
08/21/2022 - 08/28/2022
08/28/2022 - 09/04/2022
09/04/2022 - 09/11/2022
09/11/2022 - 09/18/2022

Nomadic Culture & History Tour 2022

This week-long trip ensures travelers a wide variety of experiences during their stay in Kyrgyzstan. Start out by visiting the country’s most popular national park and continue on to see anc ...

From 
$995
The tour price is 995 USD.
More info
14 days

Cycling, Trekking and Horse Riding in Kyrgyzstan

If you are active and adventurous, we can offer you this unforgettable trip. Imagine yourself cycling in the Tien Shan mountains, 3 days hiking in Tong and horsebacking in a yurt camp at 245 ...

From 
1350
The price depends on a group size. The price 1350 EUR per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
7 days

Motorcycle Touring in Kyrgyzstan

Join us for an adrenaline-packed Enduro adventure through Kyrgyztan’s rugged mountain terrain. Riding through Kyrgyzstan's thinly populated landscape will make you realize that the middle of ...

From 
1750
The price depends on a group size. The price 1750 EUR per person is available for groups of 6 people.
More info
10 days

Classic Kyrgyzstan 2020

The Pearls of Kyrgyzstan are hidden high in the Pamir and Tien-Shan Mountains and guarded from curious eyes by powerful snow-covered walls. We invite you to have a look at high-altitude Lak ...

From 
$1135
The tour price is 1135 USD. The price doesn't depend on the amount of people in a group. The tour will be fulfilled even if only one person buy it.
More info
5 days

Festivals of Kyrgyz Culture 2020

Kyrgyzstan is a small mountainous country in Central Asia where mountains cover 93% of the landscape. People have been inhabiting the mountains of Kyrgyzstan silk road for thousands of years ...

From 
$880
The price depends on a group size. The price 880 USD per person is available for groups of 2 people.
More info
6 days

Horseback Riding to Lake Song Kul 2020

Over many years the horses help shepherds to move their houses (Yurts) over the passes to the alpine pastures. A horse is considered to be an integral part of the life of the nomadic people. ...

From 
$1028
Price from 1028 USD per person (the price depends on a group size). The price 1028 USD per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
14 days

Bike Tours in Kyrgyzstan: Lake Issyk Kul for E-Bikers

This bicycling trips is around Lake Issyk-Kul, a mountain lake at 1,600m. Daily distances are between 30 and 65 km with one day being only 15 km. The cycling is almost always over asphalt ro ...

From 
980
Price from 980 EUR to 1290 EUR per person (the price depends on a group size). The price 980 EUR per person is available for groups of 4 people.
More info
10 days

Unique Tours in Kyrgyzstan silk road: A Yoga Mountain Vacation

Escape the daily stresses and pressures of life for a relaxing yoga vacation in the mountains of nomadic Kyrgyzstan. Not only will you practice yoga every day, but you will also be able to v ...

From 
$1480
The price depends on a group size. The price 1480 USD per person is available for groups of 3-10 people.
More info
14 days
Guaranteed!
i
Fixed dates for 2020:
07/15/2022 - 07/28/2022

Pamir Expedition in Kyrgyzstan 2022

The trekking program is created for those, who want to see the amazing nature of Kyrgyzstan. It goes in the Pamir mountain system through various landscapes. We trek along the gorges of Turk ...

From 
$2270
The tour price is 2270 USD. The price doesn't depend on the amount of people in a group. The tour will be fulfilled even if only one person buy it.
More info
2 days

Mountain Climbing – “Advance Climb” Program

Great two-days tour programs for those, who want to try alpinism in Kyrgyzstan and increase rock climbing qualifications. We offer you three different programs near Ala-Archa gorge with the ...

From 
$330
The tour price is 330 USD. The price doesn't depend on the amount of people in a group. The tour will be fulfilled even if only one person buy it.
More info