Talas

Talas is a town of approximately 230,000 inhabitants. It is located in the northwestern region of Kyrgyzstan. The Talas valley is cut off from other Kyrgyz regions by an imposing mountain range, and benefits of a wonderfully well preserved natural landscape.

Back in history

Talas is famous for being the birthplace of the legendary hero Manas. The Talas Valley was also the ground of the 751 battle between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Tuegesh Kahanat against the Tang Chinese army. This important battle took place on the banks of Talas.

In 1877, Talas city was only a small village, named Dmitryevskoye, founded by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants. Initially, there were about 100 houses of settlers, who mainly lived from farming and agriculture.

Talas’ most remarkable building is a brick church, built in the 1920s.

Visiting Talas nowadays

Talas, often called the “heart of Kyrgyzstan” is considered to be the cradle of cultural tourism. Go there to understand the history and culture of Kyrgyzstan.

The city has many sacred places, and mainly the Kumbez-Manas mausoleum (14th century), dedicated to the Kyrgyz hero Manas, admired around the country as the founder of Kyrgyzstan and the symbol of patriotism.

You can also visit a museum dedicated to the Kyrgyz people’s history, which is located behind a hill that was formerly used as a sentinel lookout. The museum exhibits a few secrets about the local hero Manas, as well as information on local architecture and medieval history.

Talas is also a praised destination for those who fancy extreme sports. The region is great for hiking. Nearby, you can find the Besh-Tash national park. The region also counts nearly 70 alpine lakes and many waterfalls.

How to get to Talas?

From the Western bus station in Bishkek, you can take a collective taxi to Talas. You can also rent a car with a driver for your trip.

Climate

The climate in Talas is cool and moderate. The highest temperatures are recorded in July, hitting 15 to 25°C, while the lowest temperatures are recorded in January, usually from -14 to -6C.