Cholpon-Ata is the most famous resort town on the shores of Lake Isik-Kul. Once upon a time, the caravans of the Great Silk Road passed through Cholpon-Ata. Today, tens of thousands of tourists from all over the CIS come to Cholpon-Ata. The city is famous for its clean sandy beaches and clear lakes. The best time to visit Cholpon-Ata is from the middle of May 6 to May 9. Then it gets warm enough, and you can feel all the charm of the mountain and sea climate.
The history of Cholpon-Ata.
Cholpon-Ata is located at an altitude of 1500-1630 meters above sea level at the foot of the Kyungei Ala-Too ridge. Cholpon-Ata is translated from the Kyrgyz language as a distorted “guardian of sheep”. Saint Chopin Ata (shepherd) once lived on this land. According to another version, “cholpon” translates as “morning star Venus”, so the name of the city means “Father of Venus”. Once, in my millennium, the Great Silk Road passed through the lands of modern Cholpon-Ata. Small settlements have sprung up here, which have grown over time. Trade caravans often stopped here for the night. Thanks to this, caravans were built on the territory of settlements and active trade was conducted. The first mention of modern Cholpon-Ata dates back to 1922. Even before the revolution of 1917, people came here to improve their health, because the region has long been famous for its therapeutic mud and a special composition of mineral water. In 1926, a stud farm was opened in Cholpon-Ata, which is why more and more people came here. Sanatoriums immediately began to open here, and already in the 1960s Cholpon-Ata became a famous health resort. In 1975, Cholpon-Ata received the status of a city.
Today Cholpon-Ata is the central city of the Issyk-Kul coast. The most popular hotels and restaurants are located here, and here they offer the most entertainment and sightseeing tours.
Attractions of Cholpon-Ata
There are not many attractions in Cholpon-Ata, but each of them is unique. The most iconic attraction is the Rukh Ordo Cultural Center, a real open-air museum, which is visited by hundreds of guests every year. Many presidents and other celebrities of the CIS countries have visited Luke Ordo at various times. There are 5 chapels: Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist and Jewish, each of which is dedicated to its own religion. Inside there are sacred books and other attributes. If the religious element does not fascinate you, then in the reconstructed Kyrgyz village there is a museum of the writer Chingiz Aitmatov, interesting sculptures, “singing” stones, exhibition halls and a huge area occupied by the Rukh Ordo. Also in “Rukh Ordo” you will learn about the Kyrgyz tribes, the epic “Manas”, etc. And here is 1 of the most beautiful piers of Ishikul. They say that wisdom awaits you if you follow it clockwise, and if counterclockwise – youth. In “Rukh Ordo” it is customary to make a wish and enjoy the silence. Concerts and other events are also held on the territory of the complex. The hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata was built after the 1st World Nomad Games were held in 2014. This is the only racetrack in Central Asia, located on the shore of the lake. There can be 1 million people here at the same time. The most interesting thing is to come here for any competition, but even if there is nothing there, look at the racetrack and it will surprise you with its scale. The Orthodox church in honor of the Holy Martyr Benjamin of Petrograd is hidden from the eyes of most tourists on the winding city streets. The temple appeared after 1991. A residential building was reconstructed especially for him and a small bell tower was added. It is worth noting that the clergy of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, who come to Issyk-Kul and have a rest, often worship here. Not far from Cholpon-Ata are the Semenovskaya and Grigorievskaya valleys. Each of them is very picturesque. There are mountain rivers, many coniferous trees and wonderful panoramas. Some places in the canyon are considered sacred. If you are lucky, you will be able to see the Kyrgyz jailoo, that is, a pasture where hundreds of animals graze. The most beautiful sight that is worth capturing in memory is a horse grazing against the background of mountains.
Museums in Cholpon-Ata
The most famous museum of Cholpon-Ata is the Museum of petroglyphs, also called the Garden of stones. On an area of 42 hectares there are hundreds of stones with rock carvings. It depicts scenes of people and animals, hunting and everyday life. Also on the territory of the museum you can see the remains of ancient settlements and mounds. The 2nd museum of the city, located next to the stone garden, is the historical and cultural museum of Cholpon-Ata. It opened in 1979. Here you will get acquainted with the history of Kyrgyzstan from ancient times to the present, learn about the formation of Issyk-Kul, its secrets and legends, the remains of ancient caravans, and the first museum of the region has a rich collection of stone and bronze tools, ancient dishes at the bottom of Issyk-Kul, wooden and precious metal products, religious exhibits, etc.
Entertainment in Cholpon-Ata
Ferris wheel in Cholpon-Ata, the beach of the Golden Sands boarding house. There is a small amusement park with roller coasters, Ferris wheel, water park and various outdoor cafes. Motor boats and catamarans depart from here, on which you can take boat trips. Thrill seekers can practice diving, find sunken settlements or swim in a life jacket, knowing that there are more than 100 meters under their feet. In Cholpon-Ata, you can go water skiing and horseback riding, paragliding, helicopter and fishing. If you want to test your accuracy, it is better to shoot with a bow. A special kind of entertainment in Cholpon-Ata is hunting with eagles. You may not participate in it, but you can always be a spectator. Eagle hunting has been held in Issyk-Kul for almost 1000 years. Owners-hunters raise chicks immediately after birth. For 3-4 years, the owner feeds the bird and talks so that the peregrine falcon gets used to 1 voice. Park in Cholpon-Ata the most famous park, central Park, is located along the main street of the city. In addition to trees and benches, there are also attractions for children. The park, named after Abdrakhmanov (former Lenin), overlooks the majestic mountains. Rukh Ordo is also a large park with green lawns and benches. There are quite a lot of green spaces in Cholpon-Ata. Take a walk around the city and explore the picturesque squares. If you are interested in Kyrgyz souvenirs, it is best to buy them at weekend fairs in the village of Bosteri (10 km from Cholpon-Ata). You can also buy it at the souvenir shop of the Rukh Ordo complex. Issyk-Kul gifts of nature – the famous currants and other fruits – can be bought from local residents. As a rule, they can be found in the city center.
Cholpon-Ata food. Most hotels in Cholpon-Ata offer three meals a day. But if you decide to eat in the city, here are a few popular establishments. Kyrgyz cuisine In Cholpon-Ata you can try the famous Karakul ashlyamfa. It is offered in almost all establishments of the city. Kyrgyz cuisine can also be enjoyed at the restaurants “At the fisherman” and “Lamb”. The Cholpon-Ata Cafe also serves European cuisine.
How to get to Cholpon-Ata
Cholpon-Ata is located 265 km from Bishkek. You can take a minibus or a private taxi along the picturesque mountain road. The journey takes about 4-5 hours with one stop. Tourists from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia can fly to Issyk-Kul International Airport, located near Cholpon-Ata (35 km). In summer, Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, Nordwind, S7Airlines, Uzbek Airlines and Air Astana fly to Tamchi. Planes fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Tashkent. Movement along the Cholpon-Ata route To most places in Cholpon-Ata can be reached on foot. If you plan to travel from one end of the city to the other or to the neighboring area, use a taxi. There are several official taxi services in Cholpon-Ata, the most common of which is the “taxi number”. What languages are spoken in Cholpon-Ata Kyrgyzstan is the official language of Kyrgyzstan, but in Cholpon–Ata everyone speaks Russian. Russian is the language of international communication in the country.
Currency of Cholpon-Ata
The national currency of Kyrgyzstan is SOM. In Cholpon-Ata, the calculation is carried out in Kyrgyz som. In addition, Visa and MasterCard international cards are accepted almost everywhere in the city. The exceptions are small private shops, markets and taxis. There are several bank branches and exchange offices in the city where you can change money.
Cholpon-Ata is the safest settlement on the coast of Issyk-Kul. This is a comfortable city for both family travelers and tourists coming alone.
