Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KOJO-KELEN
The mild agricultural undulations around Osh aren't Kyrgyztan's mot photogenic vis-
tas and many daytrips suggeted by well-meaning locals (Özgön's mausolea, Aravan's
horse petroglyphs) can feel like little more than time-passers. However, the city's south-
ern horizon is ditantly pierced with dramatic mountains. You could see these peaks
much closer by heading for Kojo-Kelen. That's 110km from Osh, 75km of the Batken
road via the Papan Reservoir. Around the little red-earth village you'll ind two impressive
canyons, a 50m waterfall, clifs, a pilgrim grotto and one of Kyrgyztan's mot pictur-
esque areas of wind-eroded tone formations. There are various hiking options including
a two-day guided trek to Sary-Mogol (tents required) that crosses the 4185m Jiptik Pass
with phenomenal panoramas of the Alay Mountains.
7 ¨Shopping
The southwest entrance to the main bazaar
has several stalls selling cheap ak kalpak
hats (from 80som), embroidered gowns,
satin tunics and musical instruments.
Kyrgyz¨Konyagy¨ BRANDY
(www.cognac.kg; Lenin 233/9; h 11am-9pm) Sells
a full range of Kyrgyz brandies from 200som
to 7000som per half-litre according to qual-
ity and aging (various sizes of bottles avail-
able). Flavoured brandies make great gifts
(80som for 100ml of the delicious cedar-nut
version) and there are also herb-honey li-
queurs infused with barberry, walnut, buck-
thorn or pomegranate (185som). A stand-bar
allows you to taste your purchases - once
you've paid.
Saimalu¨Tash¨ ART, SOUVENIRS
(Kurmanjan Datka 244; h 10am-7pm Mon-Sat)
Small but attractive art and textiles shop.
chaikhana-restaurant with curtained-off
family booths and excellent home-made
laghman noodles. There are several other
chaikhanas along the same strip.
Osh¨Ordo¨ CENTRAL ASIAN $$
(gapar Aytiev 11; tea 10som, mains 170-250som;
h 9am-10pm) Above the over-glitzy main
restaurant is a summer rooftop with great
views of Suleiman Too from stylish new tea
pavilions, some set on rocker-wheels.
Atstek¨ INTERNATIONAL $$
(Aztec; % 055-750 0100; Kurmanjan Datka 203/2;
coffee 30-70som, mains 190-390som, steak & fish
500-600som; h 10.30am-11pm; WE ) Smart
restaurant with inverted Aztec pyramid
lamps and a wide-ranging menu including
Mexican dishes. The cafe section serves top-
notch espressos at remarkably inexpensive
prices.
Bridge¨ PUB
(Lenin 301; h 24hrs) Large, mood-lit base-
ment pub with leather and tartan seats
around a fireplace licking electric flames.
Extensive cocktail and beer list plus a selec-
tion of 'world' food including tasty chicken
fajitas.
Parliament¨ NIgHTCLUB
(Lenin; cover men/women 100/50som, beer 60-
150som; h 6pm-3am summer) Dance away
the summer nights in this breezy, partly
open-air disco tucked into the park-
land between Tsarskii Dvor and Koreana
Korean restaurants.
Feel¨City¨ NIgHTCLUB
( % 077-777 7850; glavni Most; h 7pm-2am) Be-
neath the big Abdykadyrov bridge, there's a
lounge-bar/karaoke, restaurant section and
disco that favours '80s and '90s Russian hits
on weekend nights.
8 Information
INTERNET ACCESS
There is a good crop of internet clubs around
the university buildings on Kurmanjan Datka.
The square outside UTAMK has free public-
access internet courtesy of US tax payers.
Meganet (Kurmanjan Datka; per hr 35som;
h 9.30am-7pm) Reliable internet connection.
MONEY
For banks with good dollar, euro and rouble
exchange rates look on Lenin, south of the post
oice, and along Navoi. A few moneychang-
ers' kiosks hidden deep within the bazaar will
change Uzbek som, Tajik somoni and Chinese
RMB at miserly rates. Visa ATMs are widespread,
there are multi-card ATMs at the airport and a
MasterCard/Maestro ATM beneath Taj Mahal
Hotel at Kazkomerts Bank (Kazcom; Zaina
Betinova 13; h 9am-1pm & 2-6pm Mon-Fri).
Search WWH ::




Custom Search