The largest of Bishkek's bazaars and the city's working market — a sprawling labyrinth of canvas-roofed alleys selling everything from sheep heads and fresh kurt (dried yoghurt balls) to felt slippers, kalpaks (the traditional white-felt hat), counterfeit Adidas, and household plastic. The food halls are at the heart, with butchers, bakers, and stalls of dried fruit, nuts, spices, and Uzbek pilaf. The textile section is good for cheap Uzbek-print fabric.
The bazaar can feel intense if you have just arrived; it is fine to wander, and traders are friendly to outsiders so long as you are willing to bargain a little. Watch your bag in the dense crowds. The west end of Chuy or Toktogul streets, by marshrutka, is the easiest approach.