Osh is the second largest city in the country. It is located at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the Fergana Valley. It has the official status of the “Capital of the South” of Kyrgyzstan.
The history of the city is about 3000 years old. In 2000 the city's 3000th anniversary was celebrated with the participation of representatives from the UN, UNESCO and OSCE.
Osh is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. One of the branches of the Great Silk Road, which connected the trade routes between East and West in the Middle Ages, ran through the city.
Many legends connect the origin of the city with the names of the prophet Suleyman (Solomon) and Alexander the Great. Legend has it that the king once led his army and drove a pair of oxen with a plow in front of him. When the ox reached the famous mountain, Solomon said, "Hosh!" I mean, “that's enough”. This is why some people believe that the name of the city comes from here.
In the Middle Ages, trade in Osh was known for its caravanserais and bazaars. And the main bazaar was a classic example of the eastern covered market - Tim.
Today, Osh is the administrative and cultural center of the Osh region and a city of national importance. The modern city has kept its unique charm and the mystery of the East.
The city's main attraction is the famous Suleiman-Too Mountain, which legends say can cure all ailments of pilgrims. In 2009 it was recognized as a World Heritage Site. At the foot of the mountain are the city's most famous mosques: Asaf-ibn-Bukhriya mausoleum (11th-17th centuries), Ravat-Abdullakhan mosque (17th-18th centuries), Muhammed-Yusuf-Baykhoja- Oglu Mosque (1909).
