Several historical and natural sights of the Kyrgyz Republic are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are the famous mountain Sulaiman-Too, the network of routes of the Chang'an-Tien Shan corridor of the Great Silk Road and the reserves of the Western Tien Shan - Sary-Chelek, Besh-Aral and Padyshatinsky.
Towering over the southern capital Sulaiman-Too has been a beacon for travelers who considered the mountain sacred for more than a millennium and a half. On its five peaks and mountain slopes are numerous ancient places of worship and caves with rock carvings, as well as rebuilt mosques from the 16th century.
The Chang'an-Tien-Shan Corridor is the most ancient section of the Great Silk Road. It appeared in the second century AD and connected the city of Chang'an (now Xi'an) in central China with Central Asia. The 5,000-kilometer route was used to transport raw materials, food, and luxury goods. In particular, silk was brought from China to Europe.
From east to west to Central Asia, the first part of the Chang'an-Tien-Shan corridor was explored by the outstanding Chinese diplomat Zhang Jian. The second part of this route from west to east from the Mediterranean countries to Central Asia was explored by the Macedonians during the campaigns of Alexander the Great. His army also visited the ancient city of Osh and the relict forest of Arslanbob in the Jalal-Abad region.
UNESCO has included 33 sites of the Chang'an-Tien Shan Corridor in the list of cultural and spiritual heritage of mankind. These are palace complexes, trading settlements, Buddhist cave temples, ancient paths, mountain passes, ancient fortresses, sections of the Great Wall of China, tombs and places of worship.
Tourism along the Great Silk Road is an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of ancient caravans, where rich merchants passed with silk, skins and spices.
Sary-Chelek Reserve
Sary-Chelek State Biosphere Reserve has existed since 1959. Its main part is occupied by walnut, apple and pear forests. The fauna of the reserve is also rich, there are red deer, ibex, argali and wild boars, fallow deer and porcupines, as well as about 157 species of birds.
On the territory of the Sary-Chelek Reserve there is a lake of the same name, the third largest in the Kyrgyz Republic. As well as 6 small lakes and many rivers.
Besh-Aral State Reserve
Besh-Aral State Reserve is located in the southwestern part of the Chatkal valley, surrounded by mountain ranges at an altitude of one thousand to four thousand kilometers. Its area is more than 1200 square kilometers.
More than 1,500 thousand plants grow in the Besh-Aral Reserve, 30 of them are listed in the Red Book. There are many medicinal herbs.
About 50 species of animals and 150 species of birds live in the valley. An endemic animal of the Western Tien Shan is found here - the marmot Menzibra, also listed in the Red Book.
However, the reserve is located in a place that is difficult to access for transport. And you can get to it only through high passes (3305 meters).
Padysh-Ata State Nature Reserve
Padysh-Ata Nature Reserve was created on the basis of a forestry enterprise to preserve unique juniper forests, Semyonov's fir, listed in the Red Book, and local biodiversity in 2003. Here you can meet a snow leopard and a long-clawed bear, an ibex and a Turkestan lynx, animals also listed in the Red Book. The area of the reserve is more than 30 hectares.
On the territory of the reserve there is a sacred mazar "Padish-Ata". The grave of an Islamic preacher is an object of pilgrimage for Muslims.
