Sulaiman-Too Mountain: A Visiting Checklist
Sulaiman-Too is the heart of Osh both geographically and metaphorically. In the local beliefs and traditions, the mountain has been a sacred place for thousands of years. The city of Osh was literally built around Sulaiman-Too and it played a central role in the city’s development. Your exploration of this site will incorporate beautiful panoramic views, shrines, and architecture.
Visiting and ascending to Sulaiman-Too mountain isn’t challenging for an average person. Yet, there are some seasonal, infrastructural and cultural moments, considering which will make your exploration easier, comfortable and fully complete. Here is a complete checklist.
1. Choose your visiting time wisely
You can visit Sulaiman-Too all year around, no matter of heat, rain, or snow. However, exploring the sight might be overwhelming during the scourging heats of summer. Considering that tourist season’s peak falling on summer, you will most likely to come to Osh from June-September. Thus, aim to visit this sight in the morning (start at least at 9 am) or in the later afternoon (strart around 4 pm). But don’t go too late, as the cave museum wraps up around 5.30 pm. Speaking of cave museum, consider it as another point in your checklist.
2. Visit the cave museum
Built inside the cave in 1978, the cave museum of Sulaiman-Too is one of its kind. Besides the interesting construction which blends the local landscape with Soviet constructivism, the museum offers an interesting insight to Osh’s spiritual past, flora and fauna, and amazing panoramic views from its balcony.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday being a day off for sanitation and cleaning purposes. So don’t get surprised and upset showing up on Monday and not being able to get in there. Also, the cave is shut when the lights are off.
3. Ascend from the south-western entrance
Mountains being mountains — you have to climb a bit to get on top. But climbing Sulaiman-Too from the south-western entrance makes it way easier. From this entrance, the route is smooth and gradually elevates to the top, while the eastern entrance will lead you through the steep side. Besides difficulty factor, starting at the south-western entrance makes it logically and chronologically correct. But how to find it?
Let me leave you coordinates if you’re planning to walk or drive by yourselves (40.52725627555953, 72.78111944480281). If you are planning to go by taxi, which will most likely be yandex, insert Gapar Aitiev 67. If you go with a freelance taxi tell him to take you to the entrance near Cheremushki, or where the white mosque named Sulaiman-Too is, orsimply say the intersection of Aitiev and Rustavelli streets.
4. Climb higher to the caves
So, there is the main trail which leads you to the top. But if you want to get go higher for better views and more experience, leave the main trail right after the ladder of the cave museum. As a result, you will access to Eshen-Unkur and Chilten Caves. And again, consider the summer heat, slippery soil after the rain and basic safety measures like reliable footwear.
5. Healing rituals
Sacred sights tend to have the shrines and ritual sites where local perform their rites. There are several such spots on the mountain. One being the beshik-ene stone (women hold and hang up on it asking for children). Another is bel-tash where people slide believing that the stone cures of back-pain, weak legs and even infertility. Let me hightlight that these are purely local rituals, not embedded in traditional Islam.
6. Architectural Ancestor of Taj-Mahal
The route’s final destination on the top has a small prayer room, built by Muhammed Zahriddin Babur – future founder of Mughal Dynasty in India. Indeed, one of his descendants (Shahjahan) was the one who’s built Taj-Mahal in India. It is a small, yet important for the locals building that reminds the locals about the great achievements and contribution our ancestors made in the past.
7. Join our guided tour
Most tourists coming to Osh visit Sulaiman-Too themselves and enjoy the basic things it can offer. Yet, only the local experts can share the stories, facts, and impressions which can’t be found in guide-books. Neither they are known by foreign guides, tour leaders and even locals. Thus joining our entertaining and educational tour will leave you the life long memories and impression about the major sight of Osh. So check and join our next group to Sulaiman-Too Tour.
