Burana Tower and Song Köl Lake

Our first trip from Bishkek took us to the Burana Tower and then to the mountain lake Song Köl. It took us two days to cover the distance. Not because it was so far, but because the winding mountain roads of Kyrgyzstan can hardly be driven faster than 90 km/h. However, the journey was more than worth it.

The Burana Tower is the remnant of an old minaret that once belonged to a trading center on the Silk Road. An earthquake partially destroyed it, leaving only the stump standing today. Around the tower, stone sculptures, known as Balbals, were erected. They were established throughout the Tien Shan region to honor deceased princes and warlords and also served as protective beings.

The Song Köl Lake lies at about 3000m altitude, right in the middle of the Kyrgyz steppe. There is hardly any tourism there; instead, the herds of nomads graze on the summer pastures. The landscape appears untouched, peaceful, and almost timeless. At night, the stars could be seen incredibly clearly, but it was also bitterly cold. In the morning, we were greeted right in front of our tent by a herd of sheep that was being driven back to pasture :)