Kyrgyzstan or officially the Kyrgyz Republic is a landlocked country in the very heart of Central Asia, bordering with China (the longest border), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. About 90% of its territory is covered by the mountains of the Tian Shan mountain system. There are hundreds of lakes, rivers and million-year old glaciers in Kyrgyzstan that together with the water system of Tajikistan form about 90% of all the water in Central Asia. Thus, our country is often referred to as “the Switzerland of Central Asia”. Having a rich recorded history of more than 2,000 years, Kyrgyzstan has been at the crossroads of several great civilizations as part of the Silk Road. In 1922 Kyrgyzstan joined the Soviet Union and became independent only after its collapse in 1991. Today the population of Kyrgyzstan is more than 7 million people (2024).
About Kyrgyzstan
Capital city: Bishkek is the largest city of Kyrgyzstan and its proud capital (known from 1862 to 1926 as Pishpek and from 1926 to 1991 as Frunze). The current population of Bishkek is about 1.5 million people (2024).
Safety: in general Kyrgyzstan is a pretty safe country. It actually has been placed in Level 1 group by international organizations along with the other Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which means they are among the safest places to travel to. Unfortunately, because of its suffix – stan, the country is often associated with the other less popular and dangerous destinations. People in Kyrgyzstan are very friendly and hospitable. Very often we hear tourists say that they feel much safer in Kyrgyzstan than in some of the European countries. Of course, anything can happen in life but our team always works hard to ensure comfortable and safe travel for our tourists.
Language: Kyrgyz – is a state language, Russian – is official. Many people are bilingual. Other ethnic minorities may use their native language within the community but also can speak either Kyrgyz or Russian.
Language: Kyrgyz – is a state language, Russian – is official. Many people are bilingual. Other ethnic minorities may use their native language within the community but also can speak either Kyrgyz or Russian.
Climate: primarily sharp continental with some variations depending on elevation and region. In the south it may be extremely hot in summer with temperatures reaching 40 °C (104 °F). In the northern parts the climate is more temperate with an average of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F) in summer. In winter the maximum temperature can reach -25 °C (-13 °F) with the average figure of -5 °C (23 °F).
People: Nearly ¾ of the population is taken up by Kyrgyz and amounts to 70%. Second place is behind Uzbeks – 15%, third is Russians – 3%. The rest of the population includes other ethnic minorities like: Dungans (1%), Uighurs, Tajiks, Turks, Kazakhs, Tatars etc.
People: Nearly ¾ of the population is taken up by Kyrgyz and amounts to 70%. Second place is behind Uzbeks – 15%, third is Russians – 3%. The rest of the population includes other ethnic minorities like: Dungans (1%), Uighurs, Tajiks, Turks, Kazakhs, Tatars etc.
Currency: Kyrgyz som (KGS). It was first introduced by the Kyrgyz government on May 10, 1993, after the entire Soviet epoch of using the Soviet rubles. The current exchange rates of the main international currencies are: 1 USD = 89 KGS, €1 = 95 KGS. £1= 110 KGS and 1 Russian ruble = 1 KGS.
Cuisine: The traditional food of Kyrgyz people consists mainly of meat and obviously refers to our nomadic past: beef, mutton and horse. There are numerous variations of meat dishes mixed up with other products like: potato, noodles, rice and vegetables. The most popular examples are: beshbarmak (boiled noodles with meat and onion), lagman (noodles with meat, vegetables), kuurdak (fried potatoes with meat and onion), manty (dumplings with meat and onion) and plov (rice with meat, carrot, onion and sometimes with some berries). Due to the wide ethnic diversity in Kyrgyzstan, many dishes and ingredients have been derived from other cultures as well. Thus, nowadays you will find many similarities in Kyrgyz cuisine with those of: Uzbek, Russian, Uighur, Dungan and Kazakh cuisines. Dairy products and national drinks are hugely popular as well, such as: kymyz (fermented mare’s milk), maksym (a fizzy drink made of fermented grains), chalap, bozo and jarma. The traditional Kyrgyz bread is called “boorsok” but in Kyrgyzstan as well as in the whole Central Asia there is a very popular round-shaped bread called “lepyoshka”, which is baked in “tandyr” (a special clay stove).
Cuisine: The traditional food of Kyrgyz people consists mainly of meat and obviously refers to our nomadic past: beef, mutton and horse. There are numerous variations of meat dishes mixed up with other products like: potato, noodles, rice and vegetables. The most popular examples are: beshbarmak (boiled noodles with meat and onion), lagman (noodles with meat, vegetables), kuurdak (fried potatoes with meat and onion), manty (dumplings with meat and onion) and plov (rice with meat, carrot, onion and sometimes with some berries). Due to the wide ethnic diversity in Kyrgyzstan, many dishes and ingredients have been derived from other cultures as well. Thus, nowadays you will find many similarities in Kyrgyz cuisine with those of: Uzbek, Russian, Uighur, Dungan and Kazakh cuisines. Dairy products and national drinks are hugely popular as well, such as: kymyz (fermented mare’s milk), maksym (a fizzy drink made of fermented grains), chalap, bozo and jarma. The traditional Kyrgyz bread is called “boorsok” but in Kyrgyzstan as well as in the whole Central Asia there is a very popular round-shaped bread called “lepyoshka”, which is baked in “tandyr” (a special clay stove).
Our contacts:
Kyrgyz Republic. Bishkek city
Miko Travel
