Last Updated on: 9th August 2026, 12:18 am
Looming over Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, is a jagged mountain known as Sulaiman Too – easily the area’s top highlight. But describing the visiting experience isn’t that simple.
The mountain has been inhabited since Neolithic times, and it’s considered sacred even today. But nowadays, Sulaiman Too is a ticketed attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it features a museum and various walking paths. So think of this as a part outdoors, part cultural experience.
In the following guide, we’ll also be covering some of the other things to do and see around Osh – which isn’t much, to be honest. You can also learn more about reaching Osh and where to stay at the end of the article.
Exploring Sulaiman Too
Getting to Sulaiman Too is easy with the Yandex Go app. But rather than the main entrance, I’d recommend getting off at
Sulaiman-Too Mosque.
That way, you can take a look at the beautiful mosque (constructed in 2012) before walking over to the entrance. As the exit path will have you come down via the opposite side of the mountain, doing things this way will save you time and energy.
Also, be sure to bring water with you in advance. Despite this being the city’s most popular tourist destination, I didn’t come across a single vendor or shop selling drinks in the scorching summer heat.
At the time of writing, entrance to Sulaiman Too costs just 70 Kyrgyz som – under $1 USD! And after having experienced dual pricing almost everywhere else in Central Asia, I was surprised to see foreigners and locals being charged the same price here.
But as we’ll cover shortly, you’ll need to pay an additional 70 som to enter the Cave Museum.
Past the ticket counter, you’ll start walking up a paved pathway which takes you to various landmarks around the base of the mountain. The first one is known as Osh Settlement, the site of a former Bronze Age settlement.
Supposedly, there used to be replica houses here, but I found the area under the scaffolding completely empty.
According to the on-site signage, archaeologists discovered 14 residential terraces in the area which belonged to the ancient Chust culture.
And before long I arrived at the entrance of the unique Cave Museum which, as mentioned, costs an additional 70 som to enter. But what, exactly, is it?
Think of this as an ethnographic, archaeological, and historical museum situated inside a large cave. Well, a manmade one carved out in Soviet times to house a restaurant.
The museum provides an insightful overview of not just Sulaiman Too, but the region as a whole.
For example, you’ll find a reconstruction of an ancient Kyrgyz grave from the 7th-10th centuries AD, along with info on traditional Shamanic practices.
In addition to shamanism, Zoroastrianism was also practiced in pre-Islamic Kyrgyzstan. And you’ll find an ossuary from the 7th-8th century AD which was used to hold bones following the ancient custom of ‘Sky Burials.’
Accordingly, you’ll also find a fragment of the Avesta, the ancient Zoroastrian holy book. A sculpture of the Buddha, meanwhile, reminds visitors of the region’s Buddhist past.
As informative as it is, everything on display at this museum, it seems, is a replica.
A staircase then leads visitors to the upper floor, which doesn’t contain a whole lot besides written information. You can, however, walk out to the terrace to enjoy great views of the city below.
But for the best views, you’ll have to climb to the top of the mountain itself.
A descending staircase from the terrace takes you back to the main visitor’s path. But soon you’ll have to make a choice.
You can either stick to the flat and paved pathway, or take an ascending dirt path higher up the mountain. Curious as to what I might find, I chose the latter option.
Spotting a large cave up ahead, I made my way up the steep hill to check it out. According to the sign, it’s known as Chiltenkhana Cave.
While locals believe that Sulaiman Too’s various caves possess special healing powers, it’s unclear which ailment this one might cure. In any case, the views were fantastic.
After taking a break in the shade, I then decided to go and explore the trails further, seeing what else I might find. On that note, those interested in hiking up the mountain should be sure to wear appropriate shoes.
But why, you may still be wondering, is this mountain known as Sulaiman Too? Sulaiman is the local name for none other than King Solomon of the Old Testament, who’s also regarded as a prophet in Islam. (‘Too,’ meanwhile, means ‘mountain.’)
According to local legend, Solomon himself once came to this very mountain. And some indentations in a rock are believed to have been left by his hands and knees during prayer.
Similarly, a cave near Samarkand, Uzbekistan is said to contain a handprint of David, Solomon’s father.
But a quick look at a world map reveals how implausible it would’ve been for Old Testament characters to have made it out to Central Asia.
As discussed, this mountain has been considered sacred dating back to Neolithic times, while the region has a rich history of Zoroastrianism and shamanic practices.
But these stories are examples of how pre-Islamic holy places and legends later became ‘Abrahamized’ following the Islamic conquests.
With that said, as we’ll cover shortly, there’s plenty around Sulaiman Too from the Islamic era as well.
I walked along the paths, enjoying the views in different directions. I also walked up to one of the mountain’s highest peaks. But after that, I figured it was time to head back down and continue along the designated tourist path.
Near the end of the route, you’ll pass by multiple caves which are believed to have curative properties. It’s unclear how seriously modern-day locals take these claims, however.
Among the most famous is a small cavern known as ‘Ene Beshik.’ Supposedly, this cave is meant to aid infertile women. But that didn’t stop plenty of local men (and myself) from attempting to squeeze inside!
A nearby rock named Bel Tash, meanwhile, is believed to aid with back pain, though it’s unclear how.
At the end of the route, you’ll encounter a tiny mosque known as Dom Babura. The mosque was originally constructed in the 16th century and then restored in 1989.
But originally, a prayer room was established here by Babur (1483-1530) when he was just fourteen years old!
For those unaware, Babur was the founder of the Indian Mughal Empire. But he was originally born in nearby Andijan, Uzbekistan. And though he was meant to inherit the local throne there, he’d eventually have to flee due to the invading Uzbek Shaybanids.
Confusingly, according to one of the on-site signs, this small mosque is also said to be the spot where King Solomon once prayed. But unlike that story, the Babur legend is entirely plausible.
Past Dom Babura, you’ll pass a descending staircase taking you down to the base of the mountain. But instead of the southwest section where the ticket gate is located, you’ll end up over on the northeast.
From there, be sure to walk south for a bit, where you’ll encounter a series of fascinating Neolithic petroglyphs (8th-3rd millennium BC).
Some resemble animals, while others appear as abstract geometric shapes – almost like hieroglyphs. Sadly, some of them have been damaged by modern graffiti.
Also near the southeast corner of the mountain is a medieval structure known as the Mausoleum of Asaf-ibn Burhiya. According to local legend, it belongs to none other than the vizier of King Solomon.
We already discussed the implausibility of that, however, and historians believe that it belonged to a former prominent member of the local community – likely during the 17th century.
Nearby Sulaiman Too
Just east of Sulaiman Too, you’ll find a tranquil green park containing a sculpture of Alymbek Datka (c. 1799–1862), a prominent Kyrgyz statesman and military commander.
Though I didn’t step inside, the park is also home to the ‘Sulaiman Too Information Centre,’ a unique hybrid of a traditional yurt with a modernist glass structure!
Just next to the park is the Sulaiman-Too National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex, which costs 70 som to enter and is open daily except Mondays.
But if you’ve already been to the cave museum described above, it’s hardly essential.
While this museum is quite spacious and modern, English information is mostly lacking from the exhibits.
On top of that, I had to contend with the staff blasting loud TikTok videos from their phone speakers! Despite being the only visitor at the time, I could barely focus.
Anyway, regarding subject matter, you’ll find objects discovered at the nearby Uzgen Architectural Complex, information on Timur and his empire, and displays of traditional clothing along with a replica yurt.
The museum then concludes with an additional section on the Soviet era.
In regards to museums in Kyrgyzstan, you’ll be fine just sticking to the National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. It’s an excellent and comprehensive museum that was recently refurbished in 2021.
As for other things to do in Osh? Not a whole lot, honestly. But within walking distance of Sulaiman Too is Brio Cafe, one of the city’s trendiest.
It was packed with foreign tourists during my visit – likely those who’d either finished or were just about to embark on a journey along the Pamir Highway.
Having just been to a few other countries in Central Asia, Kyrgyz restaurants seemed especially cheap at first. But given the 10-15% typically added to the bill, along with relatively small portion sizes, the initial restaurant prices can be a bit misleading.
All in all, however, Kyrgyzstan is still very much a budget-friendly country.
With the afternoon free, I made the long walk over to Toktogul Park, home to a large Lenin monument – or at least it used to be. I arrived to find the park empty, only to learn that the Lenin statue had recently been relocated.
Those with an interest in local bazaars may want to instead take a Yandex car to the Osh Bazaar, situated to the west of the city. As I’m not a big fan of bazaars, I decided to return to my hotel instead.
While Sulaiman Too can be explored within a few hours, history lovers may also want to give themselves another day in town to visit the Uzgen Archaeological-Architectural Museum Complex – a destination we’ll be covering in a separate guide. But one could perhaps see everything in a single yet rushed day.
Additional Info
In Osh I stayed at Asia Hotel, which was probably my best accommodation experience in over a month in Kyrgyzstan. At the time, I was also relieved to finally sleep in a proper hotel room following plenty of awkward homestay and guesthouse situations throughout Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. All in all, I paid less than $20 USD per night here.
Though the location of Asia Hotel is not very central, it’s right by restaurants and a supermarket. And you can get around Osh easily enough with the Yandex Go app.
While my room was mostly fine, reading the reviews, not all the rooms seem to be equally maintained.
For around the same price, Ave Hotel is a highly-rated option, while those on a slightly bigger budget should consider Sultan Saray or Ocean Hotel – both centrally located.
And those looking to splurge should consider the Kaganat Boutique Hotel, situated at the foot of Sulaiman Too.
FROM ANDIJAN, UZBEKISTAN:
In Andijan, look for the place called ‘Andijon avtovakzal’ marked on Google Maps.
You’ll want to look for a bus for Dostlik, though it may only be written in Cyrillic (дўстлик). A taxi driver told me that no buses to the border existed, but of course, that was a lie.
I just paid around 10,000 Uzbek som for the ride which lasted a little over an hour. The border crossing was pretty smooth, but I was asked for my hotel registration cards by the Uzbek immigration officer. Fortunately, I had them.
Conveniently, Osh is located so close to the border that you can simply hail a Yandex Go car once you’re there. If you don’t have an eSIM-compatible phone, there are plenty of SIM card vendors once you cross.
FROM WITHIN KYRGYZSTAN:
The nearest major destination from Osh is the town of Arslanbob. I traveled onward there from Osh, and the shared minivan from the bus terminal lasted about four hours.
Coming the other way, it would be wise to ask around in the town center or at your hotel about departure times. As is common in Kyrgyzstan, if you can’t find a shared minivan, you’ll likely be able to arrange some kind of informal shared taxi.
If you were to come to Osh directly from Bishkek, it’s said to be a rather grueling journey that could take up to 13 hours. Kyrgyzstan lacks any trains or even coach bus companies, so shared taxi is going to be the most likely option.
