Osh

Osh is the second-largest city of Kyrgyzstan, home to more than 320,000 residents, and serves as the economic and cultural heart of the country's south. Sitting at around 1000 metres above sea level on the eastern edge of the fertile Fergana Valley, it is framed by gentle hills and the towering Sulaiman-Too massif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. The city looks back on more than 3000 years of history and has been an important caravan stop on the Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean since antiquity. Its old quarters blend Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik and Russian influences into a vivid mosaic of mud-brick houses, mahalla neighbourhoods, blue-domed mosques and traditional teahouses. The central Jayma Bazaar has stretched for kilometres along the Akbura River for centuries and is regarded as one of the oldest continuously operating markets in Central Asia.

Nearby cities

Nookat

An agricultural city southwest of Osh that benefits from the fertile soils of the Fergana Valley.

Jalal-Abad

One of the largest cities in the south of the country, known for its hot springs and mineral waters.

Sary-Mogol

A high-altitude village in the Alay Valley, serving as the primary base camp for expeditions to Peak Lenin.

Tulpar-Kol Lake

A stunning high-altitude lake at the foot of Lenin Peak, famous for its deep blue waters and the Pamir mountain panorama.

Kochkor-Ata

A city in the Jalal-Abad Region whose economy is traditionally dominated by oil and gas extraction.

Mailuu-Suu

A former Soviet closed city, famous for its uranium mining during the Cold War.

Toktogul

A city north of the huge Toktogul Reservoir, surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges.

Andijan

One of the oldest cities in the Fergana Valley, famous as the birthplace of the ruler Babur.

Asaka

A city in the Fergana Valley, mostly known for its large automobile plant.

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Kyzyl-Kiya

A city in southern Kyrgyzstan that developed as one of the oldest coal mining centers in Central Asia.

History & landmarks

Osh Lenin Statue

One of the largest and still standing Lenin statues in Central Asia, located in the center of Osh.

Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain

A prominent limestone rock in the center of Osh that has been a major Muslim pilgrimage site for over a millennium.

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Karasuu Rock Drawings

Ancient petroglyphs in the Osh region illustrating the daily life and religious beliefs of early peoples.

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Aravan Petroglyphs

These rock carvings near Aravan are famous for depictions of the legendary 'celestial horses'.

Alay Valley Historical Camps

These high-altitude meadows have been used by nomads as summer pastures for millennia.

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Ketmen-Tobe Burial Mounds

A collection of burial mounds in the Ketmen-Tobe Valley providing valuable insights into early Iron Age funeral rites.

Nature

Kara Darya

The Kara Darya flows through the southern part of Kyrgyzstan, forming green oases in the mountain valleys.

Sarez Lake

This lake was formed in 1911 by a massive earthquake that blocked the Murghab River with a landslide.

More places

Kara-Suu Bazaar

Important market in the Fergana Valley, near the border with Uzbekistan.

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Fergana Valley Cotton Fields

In the warm plains of southern Kyrgyzstan, extensive cotton fields dominate the landscape.

Jalal-Abad Regional Museum

The museum documents the history of the Jalal-Abad region, including ancient forestry and medieval trade routes.

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Dashman State Nature Reserve

The reserve is famous for its ancient and extensive walnut forests, which are considered the largest in the world.

Kyrgyz Ata National Park

This picturesque national park protects extensive juniper forests on the slopes of the Alai Mountains.

Arslanbob Walnut Forest

The massive walnut forests of Arslanbob are a unique natural heritage, stretching across gentle hills.

Alay Valley

A broad, high-altitude valley between the Alay Mountains and the Trans-Alay Range in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Kara-Darya Ruins

The remains of an ancient border city on the Kara-Darya River.