File:Osh_mosque.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Osh
Also known as Ush, Uš, Oš
300px|thumb|Detailed French map of 1882, showing position of Osh (here spelled "Osch", slightly right of centre, beside the Uzbek city of Andijan|"Andidjâne") in the [[Fergana valley]] Osh (, , ) is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country. It is often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country (estimated by UNESCO to be more than 3,000 years old) and has served as the administrative center of Osh Region since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of 322,164 , comprising Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Ukr
AI overview
Osh is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan and the oldest in the country, estimated by UNESCO to be more than 3,000 years old, located in the Fergana Valley in the south. It serves as the administrative center of Osh Region and is often called the "capital of the south" due to its historical and regional importance.
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Place details
- Locality
- Ош шаары
- Region
- Ош шаары
- Country
- Кыргызстан
- Population
- 322,164
- Timezone
Travel guide
Understand
thumb|300px|Panoramic view of Osh Osh (Kyrgyz: Ош) is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It's in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south". It has served as the administrative center of Osh Province since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of about 322,000 (2021), about 46% Uzbek, 43% Kyrgyz and several smaller ethnic groups.
The city is more conservative and Islamic than rest of Kyrgyzstan, as is typical of cities in the Fergana Valley.
Osh was famous for its outdoor bazaar, the largest and most crowded in Central Asia. Sadly this was heavily damaged by flooding in 2024 and then inexplicably bulldozed by the city. A modern replacement was constructed outside of the city, but it of course lacks the original's historic vibes. As of 2026, there is talk of rebuilding the original market as a tourist attraction. For now, it is an empty lot.
Get around
Taxis are cheap, a ride from the city to the airport is about 300 som.
Buses are 10–15 som, and marshrutkas are 15 som per person.
See
The city has several monuments, including one to the and one of the few remaining statues of Vladimir Lenin, and the largest mosque in the country.
Drink
Alcohol is perhaps more elusive in Osh than in the capital, but there are nonetheless a few good bars in the city. The national beer is "Arpa", and really quite good, even by international standards. 80 som for a pint is fairly standard.
Sleep
thumb|Sulayman Too, Mount Sulayman
Go next
Arslanbob – An Islamic village popular with local tourists and famous for its picturesque walnut tree forest. Chon-Alai – Chon-Alai is a region Southwest of Osh containing the Lenina peak, the highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan.
Travel guide from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0)
~11 min read
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Overview
- Administration
- Population
- History
- Early history
- Imperial Russian and Soviet rule
- 1990 riots
- 2010 ethnic violence
- Geography
- Climate
- Cityscape
- Notable people
- Twin towns - sister cities
- See also
- References
- External links
300px|thumb|Detailed French map of 1882, showing position of Osh (here spelled "Osch", slightly right of centre, beside the Uzbek city of Andijan|"Andidjâne") in the [[Fergana valley]] Osh (, , ) is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country. It is often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country (estimated by UNESCO to be more than 3,000 years old) and has served as the administrative center of Osh Region since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of 322,164 , comprising Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Koreans, and other smaller ethnic groups.
==Overview== Osh has an important outdoor activity bazaar which has been taking place on the same spot for the past 2,000 years and was a major market along the Silk Road. The bazaar, along the Ak-Buura River, was demolished by the city in 2025 and moved to a modern facility a few kilometers north. The city's industrial base, established during the Soviet period, largely collapsed after the break-up of the Soviet Union and has only recently started to revive.
Gallery (16)
On the map
5 mapped locations