Issyk-Kul
Overview
The region of the Issyk-Kul, in Eastern Kyrgyzstan, is probably the most beautiful and the most visited of the whole country. Its main hub and where you are likely to stay, is Karakol, a small town with not much to see but a Russian church and a Chinese mosque, but with beautiful surroundings, such as Jeti Ögüz and the Issyk-Kul Lake. There are some good trekkings in the area, but take into account that the best season to visit is Autumn or Summer, as during wintertime is more difficult to get to the main sights.
Sightseeing
In Karakol the main sights are a Russian Orthodox wooden church located in the center of town. It is quite big and with the typical onion-shaped domes. You can get inside and admire the frescoes.
Further north of town, you'll come across a wooden Chinese mosque fully functioning. Not really special but worth a visit if you have never seen a Chinese traditional building, as it has the typical Chinese roof. A special thing about this mosque is that it doesn't have any minaret, just a tower to call for praying.
Besides that, you can visit Karakol's main square (just another Soviet square), Karakol's bazar (a chaos of cars, people and marshrutkas departing to most of the nearby towns) and walk around town a bit.
The main reason to come to Karakol, though, is to visit the surroundings. We went to Jeti Ögüz, a small vilage some 10 km from Karakol. Some 10 km further towards the mountains you have the Seven Bulls Mountain, a strange formation of 7 red small mountains near a Sanatorium. Just a couple of km from there you come accross the Broken Heart, another red colored mountain split in the middle resembling a broken heart. But probably the most beautiful part of Jeti Ögüz is accross the road from the broken heart. Just walk a bit inside the mountains to enjoy a totally superb landscape: a small stream going down from the red stone mountains, a really high red wall... beautiful, especially during winter as you see the contrast between the red of the rock and the white of the snow. Don't miss it!
Besides Jeti Ögüz red formations, the road leading to them is really scenic, as you're having views of the impressive surrounding mountains, rivers and the occasional cows and horses crossing the road.
Another side trip you can take from Karakol is visiting the Issyk-Kul Lake. It is the second biggest alpine lake in the world and it makes for some nice views.
Besides that, there are trekkings, hot springs and skiing possibilities in the area, but we just went to Jeti Ögüz and the lake, so no opinions about the rest.
Further north of town, you'll come across a wooden Chinese mosque fully functioning. Not really special but worth a visit if you have never seen a Chinese traditional building, as it has the typical Chinese roof. A special thing about this mosque is that it doesn't have any minaret, just a tower to call for praying.
Besides that, you can visit Karakol's main square (just another Soviet square), Karakol's bazar (a chaos of cars, people and marshrutkas departing to most of the nearby towns) and walk around town a bit.
The main reason to come to Karakol, though, is to visit the surroundings. We went to Jeti Ögüz, a small vilage some 10 km from Karakol. Some 10 km further towards the mountains you have the Seven Bulls Mountain, a strange formation of 7 red small mountains near a Sanatorium. Just a couple of km from there you come accross the Broken Heart, another red colored mountain split in the middle resembling a broken heart. But probably the most beautiful part of Jeti Ögüz is accross the road from the broken heart. Just walk a bit inside the mountains to enjoy a totally superb landscape: a small stream going down from the red stone mountains, a really high red wall... beautiful, especially during winter as you see the contrast between the red of the rock and the white of the snow. Don't miss it!
Besides Jeti Ögüz red formations, the road leading to them is really scenic, as you're having views of the impressive surrounding mountains, rivers and the occasional cows and horses crossing the road.
Another side trip you can take from Karakol is visiting the Issyk-Kul Lake. It is the second biggest alpine lake in the world and it makes for some nice views.
Besides that, there are trekkings, hot springs and skiing possibilities in the area, but we just went to Jeti Ögüz and the lake, so no opinions about the rest.
Accomodation
We chose the Bailanysh guesthouse, located some 10 minutes walk from the center of Karakol in Lenin street. It is a quite good place and the owners are nice. It was New Year's Eve and they brough us food, tea, coffee and a bottle of Champagne to celebrate. It has Internet, although slow. Recommendable.
Food & Drink
You have quite a few options in Karakol, but probably one of the best ones is Stealth Café, located in the center and serving local dishes. Not pricey but they charge 15% of service commission, although this is a common pratice all over Kyrgyzstan.
You can also try Zarina Café, although the staff is not as good as in Stealth. Similar prices in both places.
You can also try Zarina Café, although the staff is not as good as in Stealth. Similar prices in both places.
Transportation
To get to Karakol from Bishkek the trip took 6 hours and we payed 300 soms per person. In Karakol the bus drops you at the main bus station. From there, take marshrutka number 109 to the center.
In Karakol you can walk everywhere, so no need of public transportation, just to get to the bus station. On the way back to Bishkek same procedure but this time we payed 350 soms.
To get to Jeti Ögüz go to the main bazar and ask around until you get to the place where marshrutkas depart. Pay 50 soms and after 20 minutes you'll be in the village. From there take any car and pay them 200 soms to take you to Jeti Ögüz Sanatorium, where the seven bulls rock is. They will wait for you to take pictures and stop on the way wherever you like, but the main sights are the seven bulls and the broken heart.
Back in the vilage, take a marshrutka back to Karakol, this time for 35 soms per person.
As to get to the lake, take a big Soviet bus from the centre for 10 soms going to the beach. Get off at the end of the line and you'll be on the beach. You can walk a bit back as the buses are only every hour and take the bus or a marshrutka back to Karakol.
In Karakol you can walk everywhere, so no need of public transportation, just to get to the bus station. On the way back to Bishkek same procedure but this time we payed 350 soms.
To get to Jeti Ögüz go to the main bazar and ask around until you get to the place where marshrutkas depart. Pay 50 soms and after 20 minutes you'll be in the village. From there take any car and pay them 200 soms to take you to Jeti Ögüz Sanatorium, where the seven bulls rock is. They will wait for you to take pictures and stop on the way wherever you like, but the main sights are the seven bulls and the broken heart.
Back in the vilage, take a marshrutka back to Karakol, this time for 35 soms per person.
As to get to the lake, take a big Soviet bus from the centre for 10 soms going to the beach. Get off at the end of the line and you'll be on the beach. You can walk a bit back as the buses are only every hour and take the bus or a marshrutka back to Karakol.
Safety
The only issue is walking at night in Karakol. The streets are dark black and you need a headtorch, especially in Winter, otherwise it s likely you can fall in a hole or just fall down as the streets are icey.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
