Kyrgyzstan – 124th Country

Kyrgyzstan – 124^th Country. To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Kyrgyzstan is my 124^th country.

Check out the best 193 travel books to read!

Kyrgyzstan was born into existence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and it became an independent nation. Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian, landlocked nation. The Kyrgyz people have a history that dates back over 2,000 years and has been part of different empires over the centuries as part of the Silk Road. The Kyrgyz have traditionally been a semi-nomadic people with the horse playing an essential role in this mountainous area.

I spent time in the two largest cities in the nation; the capital, Bishkek, and the second largest city in the south, Osh. Both cities were worth a visit, yet the highlight was attending the World Nomad Games. The WNG is an event held near Issyk-Kul Lake which included athletes from over 70 countries competing in traditional nomad sports from Kok-Buri to archery. This was an awesome multi-day event.

Check out my overview of the World Nomad Games

Faces of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan – 124^th Country