Burana Tower

An 11th-century minaret — the surviving fragment of the medieval city of Balasagun, founded by the Karakhanid dynasty in the 9th century.

Burana Tower is the most striking surviving fragment of Balasagun, a medieval city founded by the Karakhanid dynasty in the late 9th century. Originally rising over 45 metres, the brick minaret was shortened to its present 25 metres by a 15th-century earthquake; you can still climb to the top via a tight internal spiral stair. At its base lies an open-air museum of carved stone balbals — anthropomorphic Turkic memorial stelae from the 6th–10th centuries gathered from all over the Chuy valley. The site sits on the foundations of a 12th-century mausoleum and the remnants of a citadel; aerial views show the outline of the medieval city walls. About 80 km east of Bishkek, Burana is a half-day excursion combining cultural depth with a memorable view of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. EcoNomad includes Burana on day trips from Bishkek and as a lunch stop on routes returning from Issyk-Kul.