Known
as Frunze from 1926 to 1991, Bishkek (population 675,000) is
the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and the only town in the world named
after a wooden plunger - a bishkek is a churn used to make fermented
mare's milk. It's a relaxed city of wide streets and handsome
houses. Residents like to boast that it has more trees per person
than any other Central Asian country.
Bishkek is an excellent starting point for the Tian Shan mountains
and Lake Issyk-Kul, and for the overland crossing into China
via the Torugart Pass. The 4800m (15,744ft) permanently snowcapped
ramparts of the Kyrgyz Alatau range loom over the city.
Many travelers find Kyrgyzstan the most appealing, accessible
and welcoming of the Central Asian republics, particularly as
it contains the central Tian Shan and Pamir Alay ranges, Central
Asia's finest mountains. |
