Culture

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The Kyrgyz people are Nomadic tribes, who originally came from Siberia and then moving to the south they reached Tien Shan Mountains. The major role in their culture was the cattle, especially sheep and horses, which were the most important domestic animals, but also cows and goats were being raised. Well, horse-back riding is one of the most significant part of Kyrgyz culture, and  Kyrgyz have a saying: "If you have only one day to live, you should spend at least half of it in the saddle."

There is a plenty of horse-back riding games exist, which are often presented with festivals or shows, and the perfection of the Kyrgyz in the saddle, where the moves are mostly derived from every-day life of former generations, is amazing. Boys start to help adults to take care for the sheep being very young.

Girls also learn the traditional handicraft very early, this explains why making colorful carpets takes months- or year-lasting work. The most famous carpets are called Shyrdak and Ala-Kiyiz, which are both made from sheep's felt and show colored patterns, that are derived from nature.

Although those carpets are very important as being the best-known product but also it is the symbol of the Kyrgyz life, the Yurt, is made from felt as well, and can be found everywhere on the pastures. Also in modern Kyrgyzstan, it is still part of every-day life, even in big cities: You can find street-cafés everywhere, serving traditional meals, and also families in towns still build the yurt on the most important holidays, such as the child's birth, a marriage or funerals. The importance of the yurt is illustrated in the flag of the Republic: It is red and there is the Tyunduk in the center. This is a central part of the yurts top, with its typical wooden circle and the crossed sticks in its middle.

The yurt is a transferable home with many functions, it consists of a wooden construction and the felt covers. The whole thing is fixed with small short leather-ribbons (instead of nails) and ropes made from animals' hair. The decoration is spread out everywhere inside: Carpets are usually on the walls and on the floor, and the "Djuk" which is at the end of the yurt, opposite the entrance: It is bedsheets, that are spread at night on the floor and offer a soft and warm place to sleep, but during daytime they are kept stapled and covered with a beautiful cloth, forming the back part of the place for the most esteemed guest.

There is a little stove in the middle of the yurt, which is usually used for cooking and warming the room. It is absolutely necessary even in summer in those high-altitude regions, especially if there is cold weather. The space inside of the yurt is strictly separated where you can find kitchen utilities, and everything needed for handicraft and sewing on the right hand side. There are equipment for hunting, fishing utilities , horseback riding and everything for the sheep on the left side of the entrance.

You can find useful information of the tour by using the link:

Jeti Oguz gorge Seven Bulls
Son Kul lake
Sulaiman Mountain
Arslanbob
Uzgen complex