SULAIMAN-TOO
OSH, KYRGYZSTAN
One of the most dramatic sites on the Silk Road is Sulaiman-too. The mountain rises over the city of Osh, which was once one of the major crossroads on the Central Asian Silk Roads. For centuries travellers have stopped off at the city’s vast bazaars before making a pilgrimage to the mountain shrines. It is the most famous example of a sacred mountain in Central Asia and is still an active place of worship today.
For visitors willing to tackle the climb, the peaks of Sulaiman-too offer the opportunity to be immersed in an ancient site that has been attracting travellers along the Silk Road since its earliest beginnings. This sacred mountain is a place steeped in mysticism and symbolism, and today visitors can still observe shrines that have stood for centuries. Though many shrines were destroyed during Soviet rule, those that remain offer a fascinating insight into the region’s sacred history, where pilgrims sought to be cured of anything from headaches to infertility. The mountain also offers unparalleled views across Osh and the Fergana Valley, where the ancient trade routes converged.
Visitors to Sulaiman-too can also stop at the cave museum and examine artefacts dating from the prehistoric era and beyond. It tells the story not just of the mountain, but of the people to whom it is sacred.
Mon-sun: 8.30am-6.00pm
Mountain climb: 20 som, Museum entry: 150 som