Recommended things to see and do in Karakol

Many people come to Karakol as a base or transit stop for doing things like hiking, horse-riding, and skiing outside the town.

Because of this, many will overlook actually seeing or doing things to do in Karakol which is a shame.

While there isn’t a lot to see or do in Karakol as much as other cities like Bishkek, there is enough to keep you busy and entertained.

Here are some recommended things to see and do while in Karakol.

Karakol’s biggest bazaar, you find a wide variety of things for sale in an interesting market full of little stalls and shipping container shops.

You will find a variety of fresh breads, pastries, spices, meats, fruits and vegetables, snacks (dried fruits and nuts); you’ll find everything you need to cook delicious Krgyz dishes at home such as Lagman and Plov.

It’s also a melting pot where different ethnic groups (such as Krygz, Russian, Dungan, Uighur, Uzbek, and Kalmyk) work and socalise together.

Just watch your feet in some areas as there are unexpected cracks in the pavement!

This is a small and tranquil park but full of grand Soviet statues, busts and majestic memorials for Soviet soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the second World War, best known in the USSR as the Great Patriotic War.

For a small town, I was surprised to see some talented street art hidden on the backstreets. If you love street art, it’s worth your time (and it won’t take that long since it’s a small town).

This is a unique mosque as it is built out of wood without using a single nail! The building is like an intricate puzzle where every piece has been perfectly put into place.

Dungan is a term used by countries in the USSR to name Muslim people of Chinese Hui origin. They began migrating from China in the 19th century after a series of ethnic minority wars.

Construction of the mosque began in 1907 where materials were being collected and prepared for construction. It finally finished in 1910 after three months of actual construction – assembling everything together without a single nail or any other piece of metal.

While inside, it is quite ordinary. However, the exterior construction and decoration is beautiful, reminiscent of ancient Buddhist temples. It is colourful with red (representing demons and dragons), yellow (wealth and luck), and green (happiness) working cohesively – these colours form the basis of Dungan culture.

Note: There is a 20 som entry fee for tourists (2019 cost). Hoods/hijabs are available for women to wear inside.

One of less than 50 orthodox churches in Kyrgyzstan, Holy Trinity Cathedral is among the most beautiful buildings in Karakol made out of timber, further accentuated by the golden gilded domes. The original church was built in 1869 until it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1889. It was rebuilt in 1895 but this time made entirely of wood.

It survived the secular days of the Soviet Union by becoming a different building for different purposes such as a school, gymnasium, sports hall, dance hall, theatre, and coal store.

Despite the internal changes, the church has largely remained the same.

While modest in nature, it is one of the most beautifully decorated churches in the Central Asia area.

Developed with help from USAID, Karakol River Park is a lovely little area for a stroll and even a picnic.

It’s a quiet and serene area with sounds of the flowing Karakol river, nice views of nearby mountains, and many tables to sit and relax in.

If you haven’t been to an animal market before, here is your chance! This Sunday animal market is full of sellers and buyers (and families) partaking in the exchange and purchase of animals such as horses, cows, sheep, and goats.

You can actually buy a horse for trekking across Central Asia if you want to (and resell it after).

It’s busy, loud, chaotic, and the smell of manure can be overwhelming and lay thickly on the ground in some areas. Be careful of animals that don’t care about your personal space.

It’s a fascinating experience that’s worth seeing. Just don’t forget to wear closed-toe footwear unless you want your feet covered in manure!

The largest lake in land-locked Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the 10th largest lake in the world by volume. The lake is 182km long and up to 60km in width.

The lake is calming, beautiful and pristine, especially on a sunny blue sky day when the lake shimmers in a crystal azure shine as the waves ebb and flow. In the Kyrgyz language, Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” but it isn’t always warm but it never freezes!

The view is best from the south shore as you will also get views of snow-capped mountains in the background.

Is this lake unique? No, but if you’re in the local area it is worth seeing and relaxing at.

There are several relaxing hot springs scattered nearby Karakol. The most accessible one is at Ak-Suu.

There are different pools with different temperatures – I would advise avoiding the scorching 60°C pool!

It’s perfect any time of year – it’s best great during the winter time when it is snowing but you’re warm and relaxed in the hot spring pool!

Remember to bring your swimwear. There is food available for purchase (no outside food is allowed).

Cost:
200 som per person. (as of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes.)

How to get there:
From the Rural bus station (Айылдык Унаалар Бекети), take mashrutka 350 going to Ak-Suu (Ак-Суу) – you can also get the bus from bus stops on Toktogula Road in the middle of town. Ask the driver to stop when you are near the hot spring.

Mashrutka fare:
20 som per person. (as of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes.)

How to ask the bus driver to stop (In Russian):
Say:
“Ostanovíte, pozhaluysta!” (останови́те, пожалуйста) = “Stop, please!”

Go to Google Translate for audio translation.

How to get there back to Karakol:
Stand on the opposite side of the road and catch any bus going to Karakol – they are frequent during the day but less in the evening so it’s best to leave by 17:00.

Forget overpriced food at tourist-centric restaurants – get amongst the locals in an area where English is rarely spoken and English menus are sparse in cozy and homely rooms that look and feel like you’re in some grandmother’s dining room or kitchen.

If you come to Karakol, you have to go to this local alleyway, affectionately known as Ashlan-fu Alleyway due to many shops serving delicious ashlan-fu among other foods as well.

Ashlan-fu is a Dungan food with Chinese influences. It’s a mix of wheat and rice noodles with typically chopped onions, garlic, tomatoes, crushed red peppers, served in a cold, spicy broth with chili and vinegar. It’s both delicious and cheap – it makes for a great hangover meal as well!

This is definitely the place to eat local home-style food cooked by motherly and grandmotherly figures at cheap prices. You will find other foods to try as well, such as Manty and Lagman.

I definitely recommend coming to Ashlan-fu Alleyway to experience real local cuisine and down-to-earth locals.

This is a cozy museum where it’s a good starting point to learn more about the history of Karakol and about Krgyz culture. The local wildlife display is pretty cool. The permanent black and white photography exhibition of work from Swiss adventurer Ella Maillart, Europe’s first documented solo female traveler in Central Asia, is great as it shows life in Central Asia before Soviet Union control.

Despite admission being really affordable, this museum is not tourist-friendly unfortunately. Most of the information is in Russian so it’s not helpful if you want to know more about certain things at the museum.

Come here if you have the time but don’t fret too much if you can’t.

The variety of things in Karakol to see or do will keep you entertained during your time here.

I am sure there are more interesting things to see or do in Karakol – if you have been to Karakol and know of some cool things to see or do, let us know some of your recommendations in the comments below.

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