Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan, with 235,000 inhabitants. It sits in the Ferghana Valley in the country's south and is ranked among Central Asia's oldest cities.

A Touch of History

Since the 8th century, Osh has been known as a silk production hub. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, found much to admire in this city. Indeed, numerous accounts penned by the prince attest to Osh's excellence. He built a mosque atop Sulayman Mountain as a place to meditate on his future.

In 1876, the city was occupied and annexed by the Russian Empire during a colonial confrontation with Britain, nicknamed the "Great Game." It became the administrative center of Osh Oblast in 1939.

During the 1960s, Osh and other southern cities began rapid industrialization, fueling the city's development. However, in 1990, the city experienced severe inter-ethnic clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities. The violence left approximately 1,200 wounded and over 300 dead. Similar tensions flared again briefly in summer 2010.

Osh Today

Osh is a vibrant place defined by its sprawling open-air market stretching along the historic Silk Road. The celebrated Osh Bazaar showcases diverse local products—fresh fruits, vegetables, and textiles. The bazaar is the ideal spot to experience local life and connect with residents. The city boasts several monuments worth visiting, including the statue of Queen Kurmanjan Datka to the south and remnants of Lenin monuments. Near the bazaar stands the country's largest mosque and Rabat Abdul Khan, a 16th-century mosque of historical significance.

Cap your visit with Sulayman Mountain. This is Osh's only UNESCO World Heritage site—a sacred place that once served as a major pilgrimage destination for Muslims and held significance in pre-Islamic times. A museum occupies one of the mountain's cavities, housing archaeological and geological collections alongside information about local fauna and flora. From its peak, you'll enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Osh and the surrounding landscape.

Chinese sleeper buses depart from the Osh bus station. Services run Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 8 p.m. Book tickets the day before departure. The ticket office operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a lunch break between noon and 1 p.m.

Shared taxis are available from Bishkek. If traveling to Osh in winter, confirm the road is open beforehand.

You can also reach Osh by air.