Two large and imposing mountain ranges – the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains – dominate Kyrgyzstan’s landscape and are an inextricable part of its culture. Known as the Land of Celestial Mountains, the country is home to some of the world’s highest peaks outside Himalaya. Anciently on the famous Silk Road that connected China to the Mediterranean, Kyrgyzstan’s rich history is still a part of its present. Visit the huge bazaar in the southern city of Osh if you have the time! Karakol, on the Issyk Kul Lake, is also worth a visit.