Cholpon Ata
Cholpon-Ata is one of the most famous resort cities of Kyrgyzstan. The city is located on the coast of the famous lake Issyk-Kul, here you can get the purest "crystal" water, sandy beaches, a pleasant mountain climate and unforgettable flavor of Central Asia!
The history of Cholpon-Ata begins from the first century BC, when the caravans of the Great Silk Road started to pass through these lands. Due to the convenient location between the water arteries, caravans often stayed overnight. Later, caravanserais appeared here, which contributed to the development of the settlement and its transformation into a city.
According to one of the versions, the name Cholpon-Ata is translated as “Father of the morning star”, which means the proximity of the settlement to the stars. According to another version of the name of the city comes from the name of the patron saint of shepherds and sheep-herds - Chopan-Ata. According to legend, Saint Chopan-Ata, the patron saint of Sufism, struck the ground with his staff and from that moment the life-giving spring from under the ground appeared. In confirmation of this legend in the city of Cholpon-Ata springs with mineral waters are in abundance.
Cholpon-Ata is located at a distance of 208 kilometers from the capital of Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek. Today, the population of the city is about 12.5 thousand inhabitants, but in the summer months, this figure increases several times due to numerous tourists. The city of Cholpon-Ata is famous for its underground sources and mineral waters - people come here for treatment, there are many children's camps and resorts here.
Among the sights of the city you will find the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, in which the legendary Kyrgyz epic Manas included in the list of masterpieces of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. In the vicinity of Cholpon-Ata, you will find the Chon-Koy-Suu gorge, where you can see ancient petroglyphs and burial mounds.
The city is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Ala-Too on the one hand, and Issyk-Kul Lake on the other. You are waiting for the purest air, the beauty of untouched nature and the mountains around!