Osh and the Great Silk Road

Osh city is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the south of Kyrgyzstan, near the mouth of the Ak-Bura River in the southeastern end of the Fergana Basin. It is often called the “southern capital of Kyrgyzstan”. The city has a history of at least 3000 years and has been the administrative center of Osh since 1939.

Historically, the city is located in the corridor connecting the residents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Osh took advantage of a large number of opportunities and received a monopoly on trade and economic development in the interior of Kyrgyzstan and within Central Asia.

The modernization of the remote, steep and mountainous Osh-Bishkek road has significantly improved the traffic conditions of the two cities, which has contributed to the development of daily traffic in Kyrgyzstan.

There are many monuments in the city: a monument dedicated to the southern queen Kurmanzhan Datka, a monument dedicated to Lenin, which has been preserved since the times of the former Soviet Union. Osh city has mosques like Rabat Abdul Khan built in the 16th century and a central mosque next to the bazaar, as well as a Russian Orthodox Church that was reopened after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Mount Suleiman in Kyrgyzstan is the best observation deck overlooking the entire city and the suburbs of Osh. The Suleiman Cave has a museum that includes a collection of archaeological, geographical and historical relics and information on local flora and fauna.

Osh is one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia. As early as the 8th century AD, it was known as a center for the consumption and processing of silk along the Silk Road. This famous trade route reached Kashgar eastward through the Arai Mountains. Now Osh has become the end of the Pamir Highway. The road crosses the Pamir Mountains and starts from the Tajik city of Khorog. Babur, the sixth grandson of Timur and the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, was born in Uzbekistan in the city of Andijan. They say that he often climbed Mount Suleiman, where he reflected on his future and found answers to his questions.

Previously, the Russian Empire was in the so-called “Great Struggle”. In 1876, the city was officially annexed by the Russian Empire. Having defeated all the khanates in Central Asia, this great battle became a rivalry between the British and Russian empires to seize power in Central Asia.

Now, the incredible flavor of the city of Osh attracts a huge number of travelers from all over the world. The best times to visit are spring and autumn. In spring, each of the tourists will be able to enjoy the incredibly clean air, to capture the nature awakened from hibernation. In autumn, the city turns into a fairy tale, golden leaves and their rustling sound will make any tourist fall in love with this city and remember the beauty of this city for a long time.

Earlier the article was published here.

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