Ala-Too Square

Address Chuy Avenue, Bishkek

The central square of Bishkek and the heart of the city. The marble-clad State Historical Museum sits on the north side, the towering Kyrgyz flagpole — guarded by an hourly changing of the ceremonial guard — on the south side, and a 26-metre statue of Manas the warrior at one end. Around the square sprawl the government complex, the Bishkek City Hall, and a wide expanse of fountains and benches.

The square's atmosphere depends on the hour. Mornings bring schoolchildren on field trips and pensioners reading newspapers; weekends, especially in summer, draw families and wedding parties posing for photos. On Kyrgyz Independence Day (31 August) and Constitution Day (5 May) it fills with parades, music, and food stalls.

things to do sight Listed by Journal of Nomads
A story
The bronze Lenin that dominated Ala-Too Square for fifty years was taken down in 2003 and moved to a quieter spot behind the State Historical Museum, where he now faces away from his old square. In his place stands Erkindik (Freedom), a winged woman holding the tunduk — the round wooden crown of a Kyrgyz yurt — that also appears on the national flag. In 2011 she was replaced by Manas, the hero of the Kyrgyz national epic.