Bishkek
The capital of Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek, is located on the very edge of the northern part of the Kyrgyz range in the Chui Valley. Bishkek is a green city with numerous parks, gardens, shady avenues where you can hide from the city rush and relax.
At the same time, Bishkek is a developed city with all the attributes of a modern metropolis. There is a large number of cultural and entertainment places: theaters, cinemas and museums, restaurants, bars and night clubs offering both standard service and creative approach, comfortable hotels for any budget, shops and showrooms. In the mountainous areas of the Chui Valley, there are recreation areas and ski resorts, where guests can enjoy a full range of entertaining activities.
For the history of the city its name has changed several times. Initially the area was called Pishpek. This is due to the fact that in 1825, the Kokand fortress Pishpek was built on the site of the modern city. However, in 1862, the fortress was completely destroyed by the Kirghiz tribe of Solto. Later, on the site of the fortress, a Cossack picket was founded, and in 1868 a Russian settlement appeared here, which retained the name Pishpek. That is why it is officially considered that the main city of Kyrgyzstan was founded by the Russians. 10 years later, on April 29, 1878, Pishpek officially received city status.
The first written mention of the Pishpek settlement is found in the book Description of Military Operations in Zailiysky Krai (Province) in 1860 and the journal of the siege of the Kokand fortress of Pishpek. Later the city was renamed Frunze - in honor of the revolutionary, Soviet state and military leader M.V. Frunze, and the city received rapid development and reached its heyday.
At the end of the Soviet era, on February 5, 1991, the city was renamed for the last time into Bishkek. There is an ancient legend about how the name of the city "Bishkek" originated. This giving is even posted on the official website of the Bishkek City Hall, as a justification for why the city is called that way.
“A pregnant wife of one strong man lost a twirling stick for beating koumiss (fermented mare's milk; in Kyrgyz a twirling stick sounds like “Bishkek ”), in the process of searching for “Bishkek” her childbirth began. The woman gave birth to a boy, who was given the name Bishkek. He became a Batyr – Strong man. After his death, he was buried on a hill near the bank of the Alamedin River, where a gravestone gumbez-Bishkek was erected. This structure was seen and described by travelers of the 17th and 18th centuries. ”
According to the studies, the first site on the territory of Bishkek appeared as early as 5-4 millennia BC. During the excavations, archaeologists have found the remains of the ancient city of Jule, or in another way Sule. Later, the settlement was already called the Blacksmith's Fortress. This city existed until the arrival of the khan of Kokand, and then the Russians. When you climb a hill, you do not even suspect that you are actually standing right on the fortress wall that once protected the city. And the highest hill is the remains of the watchtower.
A large number of monuments and cultural institutions are concentrated in Bishkek, including the National Historical Museum and the Ala-Too Square. And also, there is a huge market Dordoi with its abundance of Chinese export products, which is of great interest for tourists.