More Talas oblast places

Ak Debe : Talas : In the North-western corner of the oblast, South of Tazraz (Kazakhstan), just inside the border, archeologists have discovered the site of an ancient settlement dating from between the 6th and 7h centuries. Also known as Dzhoon Debe

Atlag : Talas : In the North-western corner of the oblast, South of Tazraz (Kazakhstan), just inside the border, archeologists have discovered the site of an ancient settlement dating from between the 7th and 12th centuries.

Aulie Ata : Talas : In the time of the Kokand Khanate — this fortress built on the banks of the River

Talas, was the largest fortress in Kyrgyzstan — measuring some 500by 250 m.

Besh Tash : Talas : To the south of Talas, lies the valley of Besh Tash (=«five stones»). The road climbs slowly at first and follows the Besh Tash river to a height of 2997 meters asl, where there are some mountain lakes. Constantly changing, wild, spectacular mountain scenery and the fact that you are unlikely to meet other foreigners make this an interesting venue for either a day trip out of Talas, or as a base for a longer camping/trekking expedition.

Chimin Tash : Talas : In the mountains to the South West of Talas, South of Leninpol, is the river Urmaral — and here are some petroglyphs dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC. Further, near the border with Djala Abad oblast are the petroglyphs of Chimin Tash, dating from the 6th to the 8th centuries.

Djergalanskiy Zaiiv Sheldzhi : Talas : In the North-western corner of the oblast, South of Tazraz (Kazakhstan), just inside the border, archeologists have discovered the site of an ancient settlement dating from between the 6th and 14th centuries.

Dzhoon Debe : Talas : In the North-western corner of the oblast, South of Tazraz (Kazakhstan), just inside the border, archeologists have discovered the site of an ancient settlement dating from between the 6th and 7h centuries. Also known as Ak Debe

It Agar : Talas : Deep in the mountains, between the Talas-Suusamyr road and the Djalal Abad border, is the site of the It Agar petroglyphs.

Kugundy : Talas : In the hills in the South Western corner of the Talas oblast is a collection of petroglyphs.

Kunushtag river : Talas : There are signs around the river to the South of Leninpole of ancient silver excavations.

Kyurkyupeo Suu : Talas : At the extreme Western end of the Talas oblast, a little past Sheker is the village of KakSai. There are some petroglyphs nearby which are dated from between the 15th century BC and the 8th century AD.

Leninpol : Talas : A small village on the main road West out of Talas. There are a number of other mausoleums in the neighbourhood — three dating from the 18th and 19th centuries are located to the East of the town. The area around the Kumushtag river to the South has evidence of ancient silver excavations. To the West archaeologists have discovered the remains of the ancient town of Sul, which dates from between the 6th and 12th centuries.

Maymak Gorge : Talas : At the extreme West of the Talas oblast, just inside the Kazakh border, lies the vllage of Suulu Maymak, where there is a collection of petroglyphs. To the South, at Kyurkyupeo Suu and Kugandy are some more.

Orovka : Talas : The birthplace of Theodore Hetzen, the artist. There is a small museum dedicated to his life and work in the village.

Hertzen was born in 1935. He was educated at both the Bishkek and Moscow Institutes of Art and he has been granted many awards such as the titles of Monumental Draughtsman, Kyrgyz National Painter and Kyrgyz National Art Craftsman. He has exhibited in several exhibitions and galleries — in Kyrgyzstan, the former Soviet Union and internationally.

He works in a variety of media. As well as painting in oils, he has created a series of pastel landscapes dedicated to the nature found in the Talas valley.

He pioneered monumental paintings for industrial interiors and created works in mosaic (examples are found throughout the country, for example in social clubs in both Kemin and Kochkor, the «Kirov» reservoir, the Theatre in Osh and until recently in the Ai Peri building in Bishkek).

It is as a book illustrator that he is most famous. He created a series of over 200 linocuts based on the «Manas» epic which took over ten years to complete — and examples can be seen in the Fine Arts Museum in Bishkek and a collection of them have been published separately in book form — His paintings have also been used by many authors, including Chinghiz Aitmatov, to illustrate their works.

Ur Maral : Talas : In the mountains to the South West of Talas, South of Leninpol, is the river Urmaral — and here are some petroglyphs dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC. Further, near the border with Djala Abad oblast are the petroglyphs of Chimin Tash, dating from the 6th to the 8th centuries.

Suz : Talas : To the West of Leninpol, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a town dating from between the 6th and 12th centuries.

Tash Aryk : Talas : A few kilometers to the East of the town of Talas. Tash Aryk is notable for the fact that it is home to the Manas Gumbez, (or mausoleum). The mausoleum has been dated to about 1334, although it appears to have undergone at least two reconstructions. Made of bricks, held in place by clay, it measures a mere 5 meters square, and has a domed roof. The walls display a number of typical Islamic patterns. There are some inscriptions — but not all are readable. It is said that archaeologists discovered the corpse of a tall man inside.

In the grounds of the mausoleum is a museum dedicated to the story of the epic.

It is overshadowed by a mound which was used as a lookout post by the sentinels whose duty it was to protect the valley. Archaeologists have made some interesting discoveries here and it appears that the mound may well be man-made — which, if true, is no mean feat. There is also a large open field which is sometimes used as a hippodrome.