KYRGYZSTAN

If you ever find yourself in Osh city, Kyrgyzstan, don’t miss the chance to visit the Sulaiman-Too Museum – not just for what’s inside, but for where it is. Opened in 1978 to mark Osh’s 3.000th anniversary, the museum is literally built inside a natural cave in the Sulaiman-Too Mountain.

The mountain itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site – believed by many to be the resting place of the Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) and revered long before Islam arrived in the region. The architecture of the museum is striking: part brutalist Soviet structure, part mystical shrine.

Inside, you’ll find over 35.000 artifacts – from ancient coins and textiles to Soviet-era posters and a quirky but fascinating collection of regional fauna exhibits. The animal exhibits show species that once roamed these lands and those still found in the region today, giving the museum a natural-history twist. 

After visiting the museum, don’t miss the climb up to reach Babur’s House, a small stone building near the summit. It was originally built in 1497 by Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, who once ruled Osh. The current structure is a 20th-century reconstruction – but the view is timeless. From the top, the city of Osh stretches out below, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the southern Tien Shan mountains. Locals and visitors tie prayer flags to trees, touch sacred stones and follow rituals that have survived for generations. 

The story of Sulaiman-Too, with its blend of legend, pilgrimage, art and everyday life gives a depth and soul – and this is why it remains one of the most memorable places you’ll visit in Kyrgyzstan.