Karakol , the capital of the Issyk Kul region about km from Bishkek, is the best spot to base yourself when exploring the area and though the town is nothing to write home about, it is the unique vibe of the place and the experiences to be had in vicinity that will blow your mind. At least they all blew mine and here are some of the highlights from the five days and four nights I spent there. I like the nightlife and I like to boogie — if only for one night — and glory be that during the time spent in Karakol I got in two pretty solid party sessions.
Sorry about that. The second night was a little less wild on our end, but still pretty bonkers to experience in the deep east of Kyrgyzstan. Fat Cat is the most popular and most written about — for good reason. The other one I really like was just a few blocks away, Karakol Coffee. As a half Russian gal, I was pretty excited to feel the spirit of half my ancestors in Karakol. The town became a Russian military outpost back in the late 19th century and as well a favorite Central Asian stop off of the famous Russian explorer and geographer, Nikolay Przhevalsky.
Around Karakol you can also find some really cute Russian-style homes but to be honest a lot of them are not in great shape and in need of restoration. Like Lenin. Another thing that totally intrigued me, blew my mind, was the Chinese influence found around here — and in ways that I never imagined.
This funky Dungan Mosque in Karakol was designed by Chinese architects in the beginning of the 20 th century and though it is made of wood, it was built without using any nails which is mind blowing. Almost as mind blowing as the fact that it is a mosque and not a temple. Same as the one below in Yrdyk. In general, the food in Kyrgyzstan completely blew my mind.
After I took a bite of my first laghman in Bishkek, I was already prowling the web to see where I could find a restaurant that serves it from Los Angeles to Prishtina. Karakol is unique in that a few culinary experiences have been developed for you to not only sample all the best bits of its incredibly varied cuisine, but also get involved. Essentially a noodle dish that can be fried or served like a soup my fave , laghman arrived in Kyrgyzstan with the Uighurs from western China in the 19 th century.
