One of Kyrgyzstan’s biggest and most beautiful museums, carved directly into the Suleiman-Too Scred Mountain.
The National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman (Russian: Национальный Историко-археологический музейный комплекс «Сулайман-Тоо») is is certainly one of the most unique museums in Kyrgyzstan and one of the main sites in the Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain. It was established in 1949 as “Osh Regional Museum”.
The present museum building was completed during the Soviet era in 1978 to celebrate the 3,000th anniversary of the city of Osh. It was carved inside the Sulayman Mountain, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The structure represents a glassed concrete arch that closes the entry to the cave.
The architectural choice for the attraction is controversial, but it is undeniable by all that the big windows on the second floor provide a gorgeous view of Osh.
The National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman is one of the largest museums in Kyrgyzstan. The collections include more than 33,000 pieces of archaeological and ethnographic facts, works of handicraft, paintings, sculptures and graphics.
The museum has a very impressive collection of religious artifacts from the multiple religious beliefs present in the country. The second floor of the museum is the highlight of this attraction. With a panoramic view of the city of Osh and the museum walls that blend with the mountain rock you will be impressed by the uniqueness of this attraction. Even if you are not impressed by the outside looks of the museum, it is guaranteed that you will be awed by the inside.
The museum located in the cave is made up of two separate levels. Visitors enter through the lower level, which is entirely made of manmade caves. The artifacts displayed here are related to different religious practices, from shamanism to animism, to some of the major world religions. The second floor, made of a natural cave, opens through the front facade to a panoramic view of Osh.
At the base of the mountain is another museum, called the Silk Road Museum, this one dedicated to the fact the Sulayman Too is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site completely in Kyrgyzstan. Here one can find even more information about the region, its nature, and its history, through ancient manuscripts, coins, household items, felt products, books, and photographs.
