Osh

Osh is the second city of Kyrgyzstan and one of the oldest in Central Asia, built around the sacred mountain Sulaiman-Too — a lively, colourful city of the south and the gateway to the Pamir.

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have climbed Sulaiman-Too, the rocky mountain in the middle of the city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its paths lead past caves, petroglyphs and healing stones to the small shrine known as Babur’s House, with views over the city. Below, the huge Jayma Bazaar has been a Silk Road market for centuries.

Osh is the start for trips to Arslanbob, the Alay valley, Lenin Peak and the Pamir Highway to Tajikistan.

• Getting there: 1-hour flight from Bishkek, or 10–12 hours by road
• Altitude: about 1,000 m
• Best time: April to June and September to October; summers are hot

Read also: Religion & sacred places