Karakol. What is worth to know

One of the largest cities of Kyrgyzstan, Karakol has a population of 80 thousand inhabitants, it is located 12 kilometres away from the grand creation of nature, the majestic Issyk Kul Lake. The city was founded by Russian merchants and the militaries in the late 19th century, used both as a garrison for the control of the south-eastern borders, and as a commercial area featuring important trade routes. In addition, local gorges, animals, plants, mountain ridges and valleys attracted scientists, among whom was the famous ethnographer Nikolai Przewalski. During one of his expeditions to the area, he came down with typhus and died in Karakol. A few years after this, the tsar decided to rename the city after him, changing the name to Przewalsk. It was just a beginning, then in the last hundred years, local residents were forced five times to get used to renaming "Karakol-Przewalsk- Karakol" - each new government decided on its own, so the older generation today does not really know what the name of their city is. Officially, it is Karakol since 1992. The name is translated as a "black hand" which origins from the name of the local river.

Karakol Historical Museum commemorates Przewalski. Although the place does not store any exclusive and unique exhibits connected to Nikolai Mikhailovich, the ethnographer with a bad temper, still, there are enough artefacts to get familiar with the most known facts of his biography.

Read also: 10 facts about Kyrgyzstan

Karakol is a very pleasant place, especially its central part: ancient cobbled streets, merchants' houses, shopping areas, the smell of spices and traditional bazaars, among which green market and animal market stand out. The first is famous for its endless selection of vegetables and fruits, and the second market is at the same time a place of trade and exhibition. People from all over the country come there to bring various cattle, they make deals, drive hard bargains. At least one of the bazaars is worthy attention to understand what the eastern trade is.

In the centre of Karakol there are two differently amazing religious object. Dungan Mosque was built without a single nail by the Chinese-Dungan, who in the 1860s fled their native country for fear of persecution because of the Islamic religion. As historians say, more than 300 thousand of them reached Kyrgyzstan, however, over time many of them returned home. Those who stayed, were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the local population, so knowing that no one was hostile to their buildings, they went down to business. The project was headed by the legendary architect and builder Chzhou-Su, specially invited from China. It took him three years to prepare the wooden beams. Though when the work was completed, the mosque was assembled as if a construction toy for a couple of days. So, it has been decorated the city since 1910, and the Chinese still play an important role of the city life.Photo reddit.com

Another famous religious site is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which, by the way, is also made of wood. For more than one hundred years of its existence, it has survived at all the "trappings" of the Soviet attitude to places of worship, when being used as a recreation centre, a gym, and a museum. After independence, in 1992, the church, or rather what was left of it - rotten and looted building, has been finally returned to church community. It took them three years to recover it, and this work was rewarded - today the Holy Trinity Cathedral with its appearance and atmosphere encourages even unbelievers to thinking about eternity.
Photo triptokyrgyzstan.com

Another important attraction of Karakol, namely the city speciality, is ashlyamfu – a dish of Dungan cuisine. Local recipe is famous all over Kyrgyzstan, that’s why it is a must to try it. Experts recommend to sample it not in a cafe, but at the markets and bazaars where they cook it properly. The dish includes: noodle, which shall be eaten with hands, sauce, garlic, vinegar and corn starch. Ashlyamfu shall be consumed cold, so it is perfect for the summer heat. On the top of it, a huge pasty is served to make sure that a person eating this dish will not be hungry, and if you order a "meat edition", you won’t be able to eat anything for half-day, but in the evening you may have the same dish again, as it is hearty and delicious.
Photo investor.kg

After that it's time to travel outside the city, because that is where nature has created such landmarks which people, with all due respect, will never be able to create in spite of all the efforts. Where to go is a rhetorical question: there is more than eyes can take in, and the choice is really huge. The guests are offered a modern ski resort, trekking trails, hot springs, mud baths, refreshing waters of Issyk Kul Lake, and dozens of breath-taking gorges and mountain routes.

One of the most beautiful valleys of Kyrgyzstan is Altyn Arashan, it has been long renowned for its therapeutic hot springs. Healing water is mountainous and located at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level. A rare combination of hydrogen sulphide and radon hot springs located in close proximity to each other, adds a uniqueness to this place. Thus, for instance, the radon springs with water temperature to 50 degrees, are good for swimming all year round.
Photo triptokyrgyzstan.com

The road from Karakol to the resort takes from 5 to 6 hours by car and is a steep slope on the mountain serpentines along the Arashan River, in the narrow, rocky canyon. Directly from Karakol to the resort there is only about 35km, but this distance is impressively beautiful! This place is also special by the fact that a large part of the Arashan valley, including hot springs resort Altyn Arashan is a protected area.

Neighbourhoods of Karakol attract a significant portion of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan. Despite the fact that their number reaches several millions, each visitor is able to escape from the city, and to be alone. Local conditions are perfect for relaxation and therapeutic procedures, and fans of adrenaline certainly will not be bored spending their time everywhere: on land, in the water and in the sky.
Photo kaktus.media

The great thing is that the natural beauty operates throughout the year, so there is no concept of "season" here. Skis and snowboards are replaced by bicycles and quads, and the coolness of the Issyk-Kul Lake is taken over by hot springs and geysers. Everything is located against the backdrop of spectacular scenery that are not worse than the Alpine sites, but have a low marketing recognisability. Let's hope this is a temporary shortage and just a incentive for the development of tourist industry, because the most important thing is that the nature of Kyrgyzstan is eternal, and therefore everything will be developed to the best advantage.

Cover photo pinterest.com