Tokmok

Tokmok

Tokmok (Kyrgyz: Токмок) is a city in Kyrgyzstan, the administrative center of the Chuy Region. It is located in the north of Kyrgyzstan, between 43° N latitude and 75° E longitude, on the left bank of the Chu River, which forms the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. To the north and south of it stretch the Tien Shan mountain ranges. South of Tokmok lies the powerful Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. North of the Chu River is the Ili Ala-Too, extending into Kazakhstan. The combination of the

18.07.2014, 21:58

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Arstanbek BOYLOSH (BUYLASH) UULU

Arstanbek BOYLOSH (BUYLASH) UULU (1824—1878) — one of the prominent thinkers and poets of the "zamanyists," an improvisational poet, composer, and performer on the komuz. He was born into the family of Boylosh bi, an aristocrat from the Tynymseyit tribe, by his second wife Torekan in the region of Syrt, Eki-Naryn. From a young age, the poet became aware of social issues, as his mother was declared "salbar" — a wife with limited marital rights.

18.07.2014, 21:53

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Kaligul BAI UULU

Kalygul BAI UULU (1785-1855) - a thinker, a representative of the philosophical movement of "zamanists," associated with Sufi thought in Central Asia. His famous words about life, the end of the world (the Day of Judgment), and the relationships of the northern Kyrgyz with the Kokand Khanate and Russia represent a treasure trove of folk wisdom. Although it is not exactly known whether he was literate himself, the sage of the Sarbagysh tribe of the Kochkor and Issyk-Kul Kyrgyz called

18.07.2014, 21:43

Batken

Batken

Batken is a city in Kyrgyzstan, the administrative center of Batken Region and District. The population is 12,134 people (according to the 2009 census). It is located in the southwest of Kyrgyzstan, approximately 240 km west of Osh. The total area of the city is 5,180 hectares. The city’s own territory (excluding private plots) is 1,143 hectares. Agricultural land in the city amounts to 4,037 hectares, including 1,106 hectares of land for peasant farms, of which 918 hectares are irrigated;

18.07.2014, 21:35

Jalal-Abad

Jalal-Abad

The city is located in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range at the foot of the small Ayub-Tau mountains, at an altitude of 763 m above sea level in the Kogart valley. The distance to the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is approximately 605 km. The city of Osh is located 105 km to the southwest. The climate is subtropical and dry, with hot summers reaching +43˚C, sunny autumns with rare downpours, and warm winters with increased humidity and an average temperature of around 0˚C. The

18.07.2014, 21:14

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur (Zahiruddin Babur)

The Timurid ruler and scholar - Zahir ad-Din Muhammad Babur (1483-1530), was the founder of the last powerful Muslim dynasty in India, which ruled the country until British colonization. Babur, a famous descendant of Emir Timur and nephew of the khans of Moghulistan (a state that encompassed Northern Kyrgyzstan, Semirechye, and Eastern Turkestan), became the ruler of Fergana at the age of 12 after losing his father, and chose Suleiman-Too in the city of Osh as his residence. Later, he ordered

18.07.2014, 16:04

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Jamala Karshi

JAMAL KARSHI, Abu-l-Fadl ibn Muhammad Jamal ad-Din Karshi (born in 1230-1231, date of death unknown) was a historian, linguist, and poet from the Semirechye region. He was born in the city of Almalyk, the capital of the vilayet of El-Alargu. His father was one of the scholars of the city of Balasagun. For the upbringing and education of his son, Sugnak-tegin, Jamal ad-Din was given the nickname "Karshi" ("Palatial").

18.07.2014, 15:53

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Ulugh Beg Muhammad Taragay

Southern Kyrgyzstan was fully integrated into the world of science and culture during the Timurid era, which produced many scholars, historians, poets, and thinkers.

18.07.2014, 15:33

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Ahmed Yugnaki

An outstanding Central Asian Sufi thinker and poet was Ahmed Yugnaki (second half of the 12th - early 13th century). His work “Hibat al-Haqaiq” — “Gift of Truths” has survived to us in three manuscript copies stored in Istanbul.

17.07.2014, 22:22

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

The title translates to "Khoja Ahmed Yasawi."

The 12th century is associated with the name of the steppe poet, thinker, and major representative of Sufi wisdom Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (Jazylik Kul Kojo Akmat). The place and date of his birth are disputed. According to the majority of researchers, he was born in the city of Yasyi (later Turkestan in southern Kazakhstan), while another version claims he was born in the Yasyi Valley (Jazy) in southern Kyrgyzstan. If he wandered through the steppes and mountains of Central Asia, then his work

17.07.2014, 22:10

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Mahmud Kashgari

Kashgari Mahmud, son of Hussein, grandson of Muhammad, is a representative of the science and culture of the Turkic-Muslim Renaissance of the peoples of the Karakhanid Khaganate. He was born around 1029-1038 in the city of Barskan (modern-day Barskoon in the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region) in the family of a regional ruler of the Karakhanids. He died after 1077. He studied in Barskan, Kashgar, and other centers of Muslim scholarship.

17.07.2014, 22:04

Famous personalities of Kyrgyzstan / Historical figures

Yusuf (Jusup) al-Balāsaghūnī

Yusuf (Jusup) al-Balасaguni was born around 1015-1018 in the principality's capital, which once became the northern capital of the entire khanate. This city was famous as a center of science and culture of its time. The Burana settlement, southwest of the modern city of Tokmok, is the ruins of this cultural hub of the Karakhanids.

17.07.2014, 21:17

Science

The History of Modern Kyrgyz Science

Since ancient times, humans have pondered questions about the origins of everything, the emergence of life, the explanation of death, and so on. Answers to these and other questions were sought and found in everyday life.

17.07.2014, 21:03

Sculpture

"Stationary Composition in the Works of Kyrgyz Masters"

Masters of Stationary Sculpture A sign of maturity in sculpture in Kyrgyzstan is the intense development of sculptural composition. In this genre, the figurative and compositional-plastic tasks have significantly complicated, marking a transition to a new level of artistic generalization of life phenomena, the construction of sculptural form, and mastery of traditional and modern materials. In this sphere, the talents of sculptors have been revealed quite fully and uniquely. A significant

15.07.2014, 19:18

National currency

Masterpieces of Art in Miniature 2

Of course, the story about masterpieces in miniature would be incomplete if we did not mention the money featuring unique animals that inhabit Kyrgyzstan, with the famous snow leopard being the first among them. These beautiful animals are mainly hunted by experienced trappers from zoos, who catch them alive and send them to zoos both nearby and far abroad. However, hunting the snow leopard is fraught with enormous difficulties and surprises because it is very elusive, cautious, and lives high

15.07.2014, 14:50

National currency

Masterpieces of Art in Miniature 1

Banknotes of states are true masterpieces of visual art. What do they depict? Typically, banknotes feature a coat of arms, a portrait of the head of state or a famous compatriot, a monument of antiquity, or a landscape characteristic of the country. Soviet money usually depicted the portrait of Lenin, a worker, and a peasant. On English banknotes, we see Saint George striking a dragon with a spear, and a lion holding a key with a chain. On Greek money, there are portraits of great

15.07.2014, 14:44

Finance

New Authorities - New Money

After the victory of the February bourgeois-democratic revolution, power in Russia passed into the hands of the Provisional Government, which represented the interests of large capitalists and landowners, determining its policy, including economic and financial. The slogan proclaimed by it, "War to a victorious end," meant for large capital that the super-profits from military supplies under government contracts flowed to the usual address. On the other hand, continuing the war was

14.07.2014, 22:52

Finance

Money - Servants or Masters?

Financial hunger. The first paper money - banknotes - were issued in Russia in 1796. Unlike the gold coins that existed at the same time, they did not have a fixed exchange rate. Their value often fluctuated, and they were almost always valued lower (sometimes several times) than their nominal value. In the first third of the 19th century, Russia operated a bimetallic system, where gold, silver, and banknotes circulated simultaneously. In the 1830s, preparations began for a monetary reform,

14.07.2014, 15:52

Finance

From Shell and Copper - to Silver and Gold

The oldest means of monetary circulation in our region is considered to be, as in other Eastern countries, livestock, tools of production and labor. Archaeological studies of the earliest monuments of Central Asia, including Tian Shan, also show that cowrie shells - a type of marine gastropod mollusk - were used as money. These shells are oval in shape, resembling white porcelain, and were often used as ornaments. Due to their shape, they were also referred to as "snake heads" or

13.07.2014, 00:57

Finance

Secrets of the Ancient Coins.

As a rule, ancient money commands respect: it has seen and known much, sometimes containing secrets that remain unsolved for centuries. For instance, the material from which a coin is made allows us to conclude what metals were used at that time, how various alloys were composed, and whether the blanks were processed by casting or forging. If you weigh several identical coins, you will get an answer to the question of what units of measurement our distant ancestors used. Are you interested in

12.07.2014, 22:47

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Toktogul"

The Toktogul Zone includes the Ketmentebin intermountain basin in the lower reaches of the Naryn River, the Toktogul Reservoir, and the valley of the right tributary of the Naryn — Chychkan ("mouse"). The zone is located within the middle section of the famous Kyrgyz route Bishkek — Osh. Its center, the village of Toktogul, is located 190 km from the city of Talas. The city of Kara-Kul, located on the southern border of the zone, is 295 km away from Osh. The Ketmentebin basin is

12.07.2014, 19:09

Natural ecological complexes

"Manas Zone"

The "Manas" zone is located 63 km from the city of Talas, south of the village of Kirovskoye on the northern slopes of the Talas Ala-Too. It includes the branched gorges of Kara-Buura, Kyurkureo-Suu, and Maidantal, through which the rivers of the same name flow. On the slopes of the lower part of the gorges, mountain steppes with patches of various shrubs are widely represented. Sometimes snakes can be encountered here. More than ten species of snakes are found in Kyrgyzstan.

12.07.2014, 17:35

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Talas"

The "Talas" zone is located in the central part of the Talas River valley and includes the city of Talas, its surroundings, as well as historical and cultural areas with remarkable architectural monuments, among which the mausoleum of Manas holds a special place. It is advisable to start the acquaintance with the city of Talas. This is a small city, whose growth was long hindered by the weak development of industry. It was founded in 1877 by Russian and Ukrainian settlers on the left

12.07.2014, 16:48

Natural ecological complexes

"Orto-Tokoy Zone"

The Orto-Tokoy Zone encompasses the territorial foothills at the western end of the Terskey Ala-Too range, including the Kochkorka and Kara-Kudzhur valleys. The distance by road to the center of the zone — the district center of Kochkorka — is about 150 kilometers from the city of Naryn and 58 kilometers from the city of Balikchy. The Kochkorka mid-mountain valley is framed by the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range (4234 m in this zone), Terskey Ala-Too (3600 m in this zone), Kara-Dzhorgo (3933 m), and

12.07.2014, 15:58

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Min-Kysh" (a thousand birds)

The zone "Min-Kysh" (a thousand birds) includes the fabulously beautiful valley of the same name, which is about 40 kilometers long. The valley rises from 1400 to 3100 meters above sea level. Its maximum width is two kilometers. The valley is framed by the Kabak-Too ridge (4144 m) and the Moldo-Too ridge (4418 m). At the lower part of the zone, where the Min-Kush flows into the Kekemeren, lies the village of Ornok. A road runs from the village along the riverbed to the village of

12.07.2014, 13:39

Natural ecological complexes

"Suusamyr Zone"

The Suusamyr Zone includes the eponymous high-altitude valley stretching 155 km. To the north, it is bordered by the Kyrgyz Ala-Too (peak Alamidin 4855 m), to the south and southwest by the Suusamyr-Tuu ridge (4048 m), and to the south and southeast by the Jumgal-Tuu ridge (4121 m). The valley floor rises from 2000 to 3200 m. The Western Karakol begins as a result of the confluence of the rivers Ushu-Tor, Southern Issyk-Ata, and Iyri-Tor. The Western Karakol extends for 70 km through the

12.07.2014, 13:12

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Toguz-Toroo" ("Nine Chestnuts")

The zone "Toguz-Toroo" ("nine bays") includes the valley of the same name, the southern slopes of the Moldo-Too ridge (eastern part), and the valley of the Naryn River up to the mouth of the Kekemerena tributary. The center of the zone, the district center of Kazarman, is located 200 kilometers by road from the city of Naryn. The settlement got its name from the barracks of the cavalry unit of the Red Army that were stationed here during the fight against the Basmachi. The

12.07.2014, 12:46

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Ak-Talaa"

The "Ak-Talaa" zone includes the valleys of the Ala-Buka, Arpa, and Terek rivers, as well as the southern slopes of the Moldo-Too ridge within the middle reaches of the Naryn River. The center of the zone, the district center of Bayetovo, is located approximately 120 km from the city of Naryn. Within the zone, the Naryn River collects numerous large and small tributaries, becoming turbulent and full-flowing, comparable to a mighty hero bringing warmth and light to people. Over many

12.07.2014, 12:29

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Chatyr-Kel"

The Chatyr-Kel Zone includes a significantly elevated intermountain basin with a lake of the same name, stretching from the southwest to the northeast for 70 km from the Tuz-Bel pass to the watershed of the Kek-Ayghyr River, and the western part of the Aksai Valley. The zone is located along the highway from Naryn city to Torugart village, 130-140 km from Naryn. The road bypasses the lake from the west and south and leads into the Aksai Valley. The mountain ranges framing the basin reach their

11.07.2014, 13:54

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "At-Bashi"

The At-Bashi Zone includes the Atbashi-Karakoyun Valley. The center of the zone, the village of At-Bashi, is located 50 kilometers from the city of Naryn. The valley floor rises from 2000 to 3200 meters above sea level. Its total length is 160 kilometers and about 30 kilometers wide. The valley is surrounded on all sides by mountain ridges: to the south is At-Bashi (4786 m); to the north are Naryn-Tuu (4944 m) and Baibiche-Tuu (4434 m); to the west is Djaman-Tuu (4737 m). The At-Bashi River is

11.07.2014, 13:13

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Maly Naryn"

The "Maly Naryn" zone encompasses the valley of the river of the same name, located between the ridges of Jetim-Bel, Kapkatap, Karadjorgo, Jetim-Too, Uch-Emchek, and Terskey Ala-Too. Approximately 25 km from the mouth, where the Maly Naryn flows into the Naryn (2253 m), the river valley makes a sharp turn at a right angle against the southern slopes of the Kapkatash ridge and stretches almost 100 km strictly to the east. On the right bank of the river in the area of the bend and on

11.07.2014, 12:43

Natural ecological complexes

"Pamir-Alai Zone"

The Pamir-Alai Zone encompasses a section of the Alai Valley, which stretches along the major water artery of the south of the republic, the Kyzyl-Suu River. It is bordered to the south by the northern slopes of the heavenly Zaalai (Chon-Alai) range and to the north by the southern slopes of the Alai range. From the city of Osh, the famous Pamir Highway leads to the zone, connecting the city of Osh with the village of Gulcha and the village of Sary-Tash, which then continues to the city of

10.07.2014, 20:35

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Shakhimardan" (Shaimerden)

The Shakhimardan Zone (Shaimerden) encompasses the basin of the Shakhimardan-Sai River. There is a road leading here from the city of Osh to the village of Frunze. The village produces the best antimony in the world. There are many springs with low-temperature mineralized water in its vicinity. The Shakhimardan-Sai River is formed by the Ak-Suu (on the left) and Kek-Suu (on the right). Below the confluence of these rivers in the valley of the Shakhimardan-Sai stand two powerful cliffs,

09.07.2014, 19:05

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Isfayram-Sai"

Zone "Isfayram-Sai". The left tributary of the Isfayram-Sai River is the Surme-Tash River, which originates from glaciers above the peak of Kara-Kaayk ("black pole"), while the right tributary is Archa-Kanysh, merging at an elevation of about 2850 m. The Isfayram-Sai gorge is very rocky. Thickets of juniper and shrubs often hang over the water. Several side gorges of small tributaries branch off from the main gorge in the upper reaches: Kel, Jashil-Kel, Sauk-Dzhailoo,

09.07.2014, 18:27

Sculpture

The Development of Sculpture in Kyrgyzstan Since the 1960s

In the 1960s, in Kyrgyzstan, as in other republics of the country, a new stage in the development of sculpture and monumental art began, which continues to this day. This period marks the flourishing of the work of the first national sculptor T. Sadykov, who trained under the outstanding Soviet sculptors S. T. Konenkov and E. F. Belashova, as well as sculptors Z. Khabibulin, A. Mukhtudinov, V. Shestopal, and D. Kheidze, who graduated from the country's art universities. During these

09.07.2014, 15:21

Natural ecological complexes

"Chil-Ustun Zone"

The Chil-Ustun Zone includes the Chil-Ustun, Chil-Mayram, and Keklik-Too mountains located around the village of Aravan, which rise sharply among the flat plains with rocky ridges along the Arawan-Say River valley. The distance from the city of Osh is about 30 km along the highway west to the village of Aravan. The territory of the zone is situated within the arid landscapes of Southern Pritfergan, occupying the hilly slopes of low ridges. In small areas that have remained in their natural

09.07.2014, 15:15

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Osh"

The "Osh" zone introduces tourists to the attractions of the ancient city of Osh. The city is over three thousand years old, rather than the two hundred years previously thought. It is the oldest city in our country and a contemporary of Rome. Modern Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It sprawls across the foothill valley on both banks of the mountain river Akbuura, at an altitude of 940—1070 m above sea level. Its layout clearly shows the ancient part and the new part,

09.07.2014, 11:28

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Tar"

The "Tar" zone includes the valley of the river of the same name and its tributaries. In this area, the river changes its name four times — Aлай-Куу, Ой-Тал, Tar, and then becomes Карадарья. The valley is bordered by the Fergana Ridge to the north and the Alai Ridge to the south. A road runs along the river from the city of Uzgen to the village of Kashka-Suu. The valley, with its large and turbulent Tar River, is surrounded on all sides by steep rocky slopes. For many thousands of

09.07.2014, 10:38

Natural ecological complexes

Zone "Yassy"

The Yassy Zone occupies the valley of the same name, located near the city of Uzgen, 80 km from Osh. The Yassy River (Jazy) flows along the valley, and there is a road leading from Uzgen to the village of October 15. The area is characterized by magnificent climatic conditions — mild temperatures throughout the year, relatively low precipitation, and gentle winds that positively affect the human body, making this zone a potential climate resort. In the Yassy Valley, as well as in other gorges

08.07.2014, 17:53

Natural ecological complexes

Contrasts of Southern Kyrgyzstan

Have you ever, in a short span of time measured in hours, visited a hot valley, tasted sweet melons and watermelons; walked through mountain gorges that caress with coolness; indulged in the numerous gifts of berry bushes and nut-fruit trees; climbed to blooming alpine meadows and finally touched snow with your hand? If not, we invite you to visit the southern region of Kyrgyzstan. The natural borders of the region are the crests of powerful mountain ranges: to the north — Chatkal, to the east

08.07.2014, 17:01

Circus

From the History of the Kyrgyz Circus

Elements of circus art can be found in various types of national games, especially in equestrian ones. This is mentioned in the epic "Manas" and other minor epics. The national Kyrgyz game "selkinchek" is rich in elements of gymnastics, acrobatics, and equilibristics.

08.07.2014, 15:18

Domestic policy

Kyrgyzstan on the Path to an Open Society

Kyrgyzstan today is a sovereign independent state building an open society. An open society is one where the individual, their freedom, dignity, and well-being are placed above all else. That is why humanity strives to live in an open society.

28.06.2014, 14:03

Kyrgyzstan — a sovereign state

Journey to the Kyrgyz Living Abroad

The Kyrgyz are one of the oldest peoples who lived in Central Asia and roamed the vast expanses of Asia. In the last millennium, they finally settled in the modern territory of Kyrgyzstan, which became their historical homeland. However, many Kyrgyz lived abroad, and connections with them were hardly maintained.

28.06.2014, 13:04

Foreign policy

The Foreign Policy of Sovereign Kyrgyzstan

Sovereign Kyrgyzstan is an equal member of the international community. One of the most important tasks of any sovereign state is to establish equal relations with other countries of the world. Remember, could Kyrgyzstan independently engage with foreign states during the Soviet era? Did they recognize Kyrgyzstan as a sovereign independent state? Of course not. Because at that time, Kyrgyzstan was considered just a part of the great power of the USSR. Only after the proclamation of

28.06.2014, 12:22

Domestic policy

Kyrgyzstan — Our Common Home: Interethnic Relations

Kyrgyzstan — the homeland of a multinational people. The population of Kyrgyzstan is 5,776,570 people (January 2014). The main population of the country is 4,193,850 people or 72.6% — Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz people live throughout the country and dominate in most rural areas. The second largest group is Uzbeks — 836,065 people, who make up 14.5% of the population and are concentrated in the southwestern part of the country in border areas with Uzbekistan. Russians — 369,939 people, make up 6.4%,

28.06.2014, 12:03

Kyrgyzstan — a sovereign state

New Trends in the Culture, Science, and Education of Kyrgyzstan

Changes in the Cultural Sphere. Independence and the democratic processes occurring in public life have brought renewal to the science, education, and culture of the republic. First of all, culture has freed itself from the ideological oversight of the party, which accompanied it throughout the years of Soviet power. No film, book, or play reached the people without strict censorship from the party: it determined what was worth reading, watching, and what was not. The lifting of censorship

28.06.2014, 11:01

Kyrgyzstan — a sovereign state

The Economic Situation of Sovereign Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan gained independence in a complex economic and political environment. With the transition to market relations, the unified economic complex that had been established in the USSR began to disintegrate. Economic ties between neighboring enterprises, which supplied each other with components for production, were severed. Kyrgyzstan, which had traditionally supplied raw materials and received finished products from other republics, found itself in a difficult situation. Supply contracts

28.06.2014, 10:16

Kyrgyzstan — a sovereign state

Strengthening the New State. The Constitution of Kyrgyzstan

Adoption of the New Constitution With the acquisition of independence, the renewal of the state structure began in Kyrgyzstan. It was urgent to address important issues: on what principles will power be exercised in the country, what powers will the president and the main branches of state power — executive, legislative, and judicial — be endowed with; to establish state symbols — coat of arms, anthem, flag. New laws were needed to regulate the activities of the young state and ensure its

21.06.2014, 15:54