Kyrgyzstan
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At a glance
- Region
- Central Asia
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Population
- 7.2 million (2024)
- Area
- 199,951 km²
- Languages
- Kyrgyz, Russian
- Currency
- Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
- Drives on the
- right
- Calling code
- +996
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Before you go
Overview
It is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is also called Kirghizia. It covers an area of 199,900 km2 and it recorded a population of 6.316 million.
The capital is Bishkek that is popularly referred to as the “Green City”. The city is home to the State Museum and Kyrgyz National Opera and the Ballet Theatre.
The oldest and second-largest city in the country is Osh.
Panoramic view of the Tien Shan mountain chain in Kyrgyzstan.
History
Kyrgyz people settled there in 1685 and were ruled by the Oirats.
Afterwards, The Chinese came in and ruled over the Oirats in 1758.
Afterwards, the Russians took over Kyrgyzstan into their empire in 1876.
Kyrgyzstan gained independence from Russia in 1991 with Askar Akayev as the president.
Food & culture
The culture of the Kyrgyz borrows a lot of influence from Russians, Persia and Turkey.
The main crops include winter wheat, barley, rice, corn and animal fodders. Others include tobacco, cotton, grapes, berries, potatoes and vegetables.
Kyrgyz popular dishes include Beshbarmak, Ashiam-fu, blini and chuchvara.
Wildlife
The most common wildlife includes wild boars, Siberian ibex, wolves, foxes, porcupines, Turkestan Lynx, Tien Shan Elk, Golden eagle and brown bears.
Festivals & events
The major celebrated festivals include Navroz Spring Festival, National Horse Festival, Independence Day, New Year and Kyrgyz Kochu Festival which celebrates the rituals performed by the nomadic Kyrgyz communities during the autumn migration.
Things to see
Bishkek City has many parks like Ala Archa National Park with wildlife and botanical gardens.
The National Museum of Fine Arts preserves the country’s history and culture.
The snowcapped Tien Shan Mountains encircles Lake Issyk Kul which offers many water sports, resorts and preserves the earliest settlements.
Song-Kul is an alpine lake at Naryn Province at the northern of the country.
Interesting facts
Lake Issyk Kul is the world’s seventh deepest lake, tenth-largest by volume and the second-largest salty lake after the Caspian Sea. It is known as “the Pearl of Central Asia.”
The official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian.
Majority of the inhabitants’ population are Sunni Muslims.
