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Talas is a little known town in a valley of the same name. It is cut off from the rest of Kyrgyzstan by the mountain ranges and the “easiest” route is via Kazakhstan – involving the need for a transit visa. It is, however, possible to reach the valley by following the Tuu Ashuu pass and then turning North off the main Bishkek-Osh road after skirting the Suusamyr Plain.
This is known as the Land of Manas, reputedly it is the birthplace of the legendary hero, and has his mausoleum a few kilometres outside the city itself. In the grounds of the mausoleum is a museum dedicated to the story of the epic and built as part of the Manas 100 celebrations in 1995. It is overshadowed by a mound, which was used as a lookout post by the sentinels whose duty it was to protect the valley. Archaeologists have made some interesting discoveries here and it appears that the mound may well be man-made – which, if true, is no mean feat.There are other signs of ancient fortifications at the site.
There are a number of mausoleums in the Talas valley – many of them seem to be modeled on this one.
There are two different traditions relating to the origin of the gumbez – one says that his son Semetei carried the body here (to the village of Ahhyrtash , near the mouth of the Kenkol river, and built the mausoleum here for him. The other say that it was built by his wife, Kanykei, and his friend and counselor, Bakai – and that to prevent despoliation by his enemies they placed an inscription over the door that it was the mauisoleum of a young girl.
The gumbez itself is a typical, Central Asian, single chamber mausoleum – built on a square base with an octagonal pyramid roof. It features on the reverse of the 20 som note. The brickwork shows signs of complex decoration.
This area marked the greatest extent of the Chinese empire - as in 751 the Chinese army was defeated by an Arab, Kyrgyz and Tibetan combined force at the Battle of Talas. For some time, China had been under the T'ang dynasty – and they had succeeded in recovering lands that had been previously lost and stabilized the position on the Tibetan border. In the 740's they gained control over Kabul and Kashmir . As they moved North and West, their forces under the Kao Hsien-chih (who led the army to victory in Gilgit and the Ferghana) they encountered the combined army and were defeated in the only battle between Arab and Chinese forces. The battle actually took place on the banks of the river Talas nearer the city of Taraz (Djambul) in Kazakhstan . It was more than just a military defeat for the Chinese, however, because amongst the prisoners rounded up after the battle were many experts in the manufacture of paper and silk – two closely guarded secrets by the Chinese – and their secrets soon found their way Westward to Europe. The Arabs were also well placed to extend the influence of Islam throughout Central Asia – and along the Silk Road , even if they didn't pursue the Chinese back into China .
In about 1275 Nestorian missionary, Rabban Sauma, traveled West along the Silk Road , and eventually met with many important dignitaries. At Talas, in North Western Kyrgyzstan , he met with Kjaidu Khan, cousin of the great Kublai Khan. In Europe he visited the Vatican , and met with the English king Edward I in Bordeaux , France .
An atlas drawn up by Abraham Crescas in Palma de Majorca, in Catalonia , in 1375-77 contains a map of Kyrgyzstan , which depicts Issyk Kul and cites the cities of Jerusalem and Talas as “holy cities” for the jews.
The area has been settled since about the 9 th century, but when the Russians seized the settlement in 1864, it was little than a village. The modern town was founded in 1877, as the village of Dmitrovskoye . At first there were about 100 houses built the settlers, who were mainly engaged in agriculture. The most significant building was a church built of brick in the 1920's.
There is a picturesque wooded park in the centre of the town, on the banks of the river and a large main square.
In the neighbourhood are some good examples of rock drawings and petroglyphs. Not far (about 20 km ) to the north-east of the city are three sites : Kulan Sai, Terek Sai and Kurgan Tash.
To the South of the City is the spectacular Besh Tash (Five Stones) Valley – just one of many valleys awaiting the more adventurous traveller.
The region also boasts the birthplace of the best known modern Kyrgyz author – Chinghiz Aitmatov – in Sheker, a small village near the Uzbek border.
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