Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Language

The official language is Kyrgyz, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kazakh, Turkmen and Turkish. Any attempt by a foreigner to speak Kyrgyz will be greatly appreciated. In deference to the large Russian population of Kyrgyzstan, Russian is also protected under law. In 1993, the government undertook to replace the Russian Cyrillic Alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile, most people can speak Russian, and do so, especially in the north. English is widely spoken by those involved in tourism. Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik and various other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.

Area

199,900 sq km (77,182 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 6.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard.

Population

5.4 million (2008).

Population Density

25.3 per sq km.

Capital City

Bishkek (called Frunze from 1926 to 1991). Population: 824,900 (2008).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov since 2009.

Head of State

President Rosa Otunbajewa since 2010.

Religion

The major religion is Islam with the majority of Kyrgyz being Sunni Muslim with Christian and Russian Orthodox minorities.

Recent History

In July 2005 Kurmanbek Bakiyev won a landslide presidential victory, ousting Askar Akayev after demonstrations against alleged party interference in elections and high levels of poverty. Manas International Airport was used by the US military until January 2009 when Bakiyev terminated the agreement. At the same time Kyrgyzstan accepted US$2 billion of financial help from Russia.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +996. International calls should be made from a telephone office which will usually be found attached to a post office; they can also be made from some hotels by asking at reception. All international calls from Kyrgyzstan have to go through the operator. Local calls (within the city) are free of charge if made from private telephones; hotels sometimes levy a small charge. Direct-dial calls within the CIS are obtained by dialing 8 and waiting for another dial tone and then dialing the city code followed by the number.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited.

Internet

There are Internet cafes available in Bishkek and Osh, with limited access elsewhere.

Post

Letters to and from Western Europe and the USA can take anything between two weeks and two months. Stamped envelopes can be bought from post offices. Mail to recipients within Kyrgyzstan should be addressed in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and, lastly, the person's name. Visitors can also use post offices located within some major hotels.Mon-Fri 0900-1800.

Press

The Bishkek Observer, Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, Times of Central Asia and Zaman Kyrgyzstan are published weekly in English. The main dailies are published in Bishkek and include Kyrgyz Tuusu (both in Kyrgyz), and Delo No, Slovo Kyrgyzstana and Vechernii Bishkek (in Russian). The main dailies are published in Bishkek and include Vecherniy Bishkek, MSN, ResPublica. Weeklies include Delo No and Obshchestvennyy Reyting.

Radio

Kyrgyz National TV and Radio Broadcasting Corporation runs two networks. Private stations include Almaz and Europa Plus.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
21 Mar Nooruz (Krygyz New Year)
1 May Labor Day
5 May Constitution Day
9 May Victory Day
31 Aug Orozo Ait (end of Ramadan)
31 Aug Independence Day
7 Nov Kurban Ait (Feast of the Sacrifice)

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
21 Mar Nooruz (Krygyz New Year)
1 May Labor Day
5 May Constitution Day
9 May Victory Day
1 Aug Independence Day
19 Aug Orozo Ait (end of Ramadan)
25 Oct Kurban Ait (Feast of the Sacrifice)
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Orozo Ait, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Orozo Ait itself. Orozo Ait and Kurban Ait may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Ministry of Tourism

Ulitsa Togolok Moldo 17, 720001 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Tel: (312) 220 657.
E-mail: gatiskr@bishkek.gov.kg

Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the UK

Ascot House, 119 Crawford Street, London W1U 6BJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7935 1462.
Website: www.kyrgyz-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800; 0930-1230 (visa section).

Kyrgyzstan Information and Destination Guide

Website: www.kyrgyzstan.org

Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA

2360 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 338 5141.
Website: www.krgyzembassy.org