City of Osh
Recent studies have shown that the city with this name is not about two thousand years old, as was believed until recently, but much older — three thousand. Osh is a contemporary of Rome. This fact alone speaks volumes about the interest this city holds for tourists.
Modern Osh is the regional center and the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Its new part is built up with multi-story buildings stretching along wide streets and squares. One of the city's attractions is its bazaars, characterized by true Eastern abundance, vibrant colors of vegetables and fruits, and the attire of sellers and buyers. The city has a developed industry, a pedagogical institute, and branches of several capital universities, two musical and dramatic theaters — Kyrgyz and Uzbek, several houses of culture, and a combined historical and cultural museum-reserve. Osh is connected to Bishkek by air and also by a high-altitude road that is practically not used for passenger transport. There are railway branches leading to the neighboring Jalal-Abad and Andijan (Uzbekistan).
Osh sprawls in a foothill valley on both sides of the Ak-Buura River at an altitude of 940—1070 meters above sea level. The ancient age of the city is eloquently indicated by the rock drawings and inscriptions found on the southern slope of the four-headed Suleiman Mountain. It was here, in the center of modern Osh, at the foot of Suleiman Mountain, that the first settlements appeared three millennia ago. The slope of the mountain was convenient for construction because swamps stretched around, remnants of which were only recently drained by meliorators. The mountain served as a natural fortification and predetermined the unusual for Central Asian cities layout of the Osh settlement — terraced, characteristic mostly of the Caucasus.
Until the 16th century, Suleiman Mountain was called "Bara-Kukh" — "Beautiful Mountain." It received its new name — Takhte-i-Suleiman ("Throne of Solomon") — after the Muslim prophet Suleiman-Sheikh was buried at its foot. Since then, the mountain has been considered sacred. Even today, sick pilgrims come here to heal their ailments. This is reminded by the colorful scraps left by them on the branches of trees. The mountain has depressions that, according to legend, were left by the hooves of the prophet's horse. Currently, a viewing platform is equipped at the top of the mountain, from which one can see the panorama of ancient and modern Osh, and the former caves house a local history museum, accessible by a road and stairs.
Throughout its history, the city has experienced periods of prosperity and decline. In the 10th—11th centuries, Osh was one of the most important economic and cultural centers of Fergana and was the third largest city in the region. Architectural monuments from that time include the mausoleum of Asaf-ibn-Bukhriya, which has survived to this day, built at the foot of Suleiman Mountain. More recent monuments include the mosques of Ravat-Abdullakhan (17th—18th centuries) and Muhammad Yusuf Baykhodji-Ogly (1909) located in the territory of the ancient city. On the southern outskirts of Osh, one can see the remains of the ancient Ak-Buurinskaya fortress. Even in the first century BC, this fortress defended the Osh oasis from the south. From the north, it was protected by the fortress of Belovurtupe, and from the east, the fortress of Mady, the remnants of which have also survived to this day.
Travelers to Osh should take this opportunity to visit the caves of Zmey, Solovey-Razboynik, Calcite, and others, which are located near the airport at the eastern end of Mount Chily-Mairam. Within 20—70 kilometers from the city are the tourist zones "Ak-Buura," "Kyrgyz-Ata," and "Abshir-Sai."
To enhance the appeal of the historical zone, it is possible to partially recreate the environment and atmosphere of the ancient city. Along Alabaster Street, a pedestrian street called "Old Crafts" could be created, which would simultaneously serve as a museum, shopping center, and a place for communication and relaxation. A tour along "Old Crafts" street would be complemented by a poetic narration about the atmosphere, functions, and traditions of the Eastern bazaar. Researcher Sh. Shukurov writes that the bazaar occupies a special place in the life of the ancient city. It was here that carnival processions began, executions took place, and statues of pagan gods and various temples were erected in ancient times. Is it not because this is a place of gathering for many people? And of course, that too. But not only that. It should be remembered that ancient and medieval people lived in a world of meanings and symbols; any object, any action, any space was for them a symbol, a peculiar sign pointing to other things, events, and spaces lying in the realm of spiritual and intellectual experience. From a symbolic point of view, the bazaar square was considered the center of the world. In the bazaar tea houses, strange people who had literally walked half the world gathered. From them, one could hear understandable and cheerful speeches. Remember the legendary Khoja Nasreddin with his humorous, and sometimes sad stories. An item bought at the bazaar begins to speak of distant lands, of old times, and for the curious and thoughtful buyer, it reveals the secrets of its making. The famous Muslim philosopher and healer Abu Ali ibn Sina, known to Europeans as Avicenna, bought, for example, that very cherished book at the Bukhara bazaar, which explained to him the incomprehensible speeches of the Greek Aristotle. By purchasing an item at the bazaar, one can mentally find oneself in China and India, in Byzantium and Russia, in far-off exotic Ethiopia. Through the bazaar, space is condensed, and time is condensed as well. The bazaar, as the center of the universe, encompassed a vast complex of opposites. And this is characteristic not only of the East. In Western Europe, the central square of the city housed the secular building of the town hall, the main cathedral, and rows of shops. A similar tradition exists in Russia. The historical center of Moscow — Red Square — originally served as a trading place. And it bore a corresponding name: Trading. This tradition, one could say, has been preserved to this day: now the main shopping center is GUM. Here, on the square, stands the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, where once stood the Church of the Holy Trinity. This square also hosted the execution site where Peter I executed rebellious streltsy. Here, in 1703, he organized a popular theater called "The Comedy Hut."
The story of the mystery of the bazaar will be complemented by a showcase of the most ancient crafts of Central Asia. Various handicrafts will serve as magnificent souvenirs for travelers.
The development of educational tourism will be facilitated by including the caves of Chily-Ustun, the Aravan Dangi canyon, the Abshir-Sai waterfall, and the rock drawings of Syuren-Tash as excursion sites. All these sites can serve both the tourist center in Osh and the "Algabas" shelter and the "Abshir-Sai" tourist base.
The needs of tourism can also be met by the hippodrome located in the vicinity of Osh in the village of Teleiken, which will attract tourists with displays of national games, rituals, and performances. Especially if tourists can participate directly in them.
