Some historians argue that Tash Rabat may have been a Christian or Buddhist monastery before it was turned into a caravanserai, but there is little evidence to support this theory. Plan your perfect itinerary. The cost for taxi from At-Bashi to Tash rabat and back will be about 2500 som and from Naryn 3000 som. There are several versions and legends about the origin of the architectural complex, but it is most likely that it was built in the 15th century and served as an inn for merchants traveling along a nearby trade route. There are also yurts here that you stay in for the night. But Tash Rabat doesnt only sound like the end of the world. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In my free time I enjoy watching films and hiking. Travelers who reached Tash Rabat have already crossed the dangerous Torugart Pass, giving them the chance to recharge their energy for the next leg of the journey through the Tian Shan Mountains, to pray for a safe passage and to restock on food and water. From Tash Rabat westwards the road had two branches: One leading to Issyk Kul and the other towards Ferghana valley. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 66 countries5564 inspiring stories124518 referenced places. No purchase necessary. They catered for both the humans and the animals that were travelling along the Silk Road and, as well as having accommodation and food facilities, often provided some opportunities for trade and religious rituals. The place is so amazing. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you wish to overnight in Tash-Rabat i, n the summer there are a lot of choices to stay in yurt camps. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I just saw the episode myself and I remembered what it was like to be there. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful part of the world and this site was really special. thank you. 2022 Atlas Obscura. A blog writing service knows how to spark a persons eye forr your services and products, that will drive increased traffic and cauyse higher revenues for your organization. Just watched Joanna Lumley when she visited Tash Rabat so just had to look it up. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Wandering through the dark chambers of the building, I find it hard to glean any hints from them. We hadnt really considered this Silk Road area. Silk Road caravanserais can still be found all along the former Silk Road from Central China to the Mediterranean Coast. Tash Rabat is what is known as a caravanserai, the name given to a sort of roadside inn where travellers could stop for the night or a few days to rest. A Biblically notable site over the ruins of an ancient city that is now a protected World Heritage site. It is a fascinating place and it was so nice to see it on the television. It is located in a picturesque gorge of the Tian Shan Mountains, by the river Tash Rabat, 110 KM away from Naryn city and not far from theChinese borders. I am Gulzat, from Kyrgyzstan. Locals. Please keep it up. That's why these vast landscapes and lack of other tourists, can make the visitors feel themedieval atmosphere and reflect on how hard it was to travel back then. Tash Rabat. That its so empty now makes it even more special to see. As they were building cupola on the roof, the son heard a caravan coming from afar. After the silk road trade gained momentum, traders might have made use of the remote structure. By using this site, you agree to our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy and our Terms and Conditions. Its not clear what it was once used for.

And the time you spent to go to a place where mankind has spent, literally, some thousand years plus passing through, well this is a wonderfully poetic thing Before long, we will all be dust. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. To a time when a group of audacious merchants connected Asia with Europe. Tash Rabat has 31 dome-shaped rooms made of crushed stones with clay mortar and with gypsum mortar for sealing the joints. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Localsfrom nearby villageswill come and set up yurts and offer meals as well if requested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/runnerone/153 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kpi/237882205/. Fascinating. There are many trekking and horseback routes around Tash Rabat organized by the tour operators and you can visit for example the Tash Rabat Pass and lake. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2022. The father asked him to stay so they could finish the work. This was further supported by the fact that inhabitants were Buddhist in that time period. It is basically unadorned stones held by simple clay and gypsum mortar. Burana Tower is part of Kyrgyzstans Silk Road World Heritage Site, One of the mnost interesting Silk Road sites in the country. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The origin of this sinisterly shaped forest is rooted in mystery. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. And some are in ruins. And quiet. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. What makes Tash Rabat stand out among the myriad of caravanserais, is its isolated location in a meditative landscape, which gives a good sense about how difficult and dangerous travel along the remote parts of the Silk Road must have been. Nancy Truman. This article about a building or structure in Kyrgyzstan is a stub. Interesting for me. That being said, I am not an archaeologist, and I guess I am in no position to judge the outcome. The Silk Road is still alive, just in a different way here at Tash Rabat. Spices, silks, and precious stones all that and more were carried over thousands of kilometers along the famous Silk Road. This romanticized portrayal conceals the real dangers that the journey included, since the Silk Road crossed some of the most inhospitable regions imaginable, and many travelers died en route. Mary Edwards Walker and the Queer Suffragists Who Changed History, The Archivists Who Rediscovered 700 Years of Irish History. Square shaped, built entirely with stones, it has 34 rooms and is lightened only by the holes on the roofs. Tash Rabat has 31 dome-shaped rooms made of crushed stones with clay mortar and with gypsum mortar for sealing the joints. Tash Rabat is a well-preserved 15th century stone caravanserai in At Bashy district, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan located at an altitude of 3,200 meters.

Follow me along on social media: A massive list of the top tourist attractions and places to see on the island of Madeira. Once inside, a corridor leads to the central hall where small holes have been cut in the ceiling letting the daylight in. Thank you Michael for taking the time to do your write-up for this Tash Rabat article. Hello. Snow blocks the road, which connects it with the nearest settlement, At-Bashy, for up to eight months a year. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Altitude sickness is another threat, which should not be taken lightly, since the caravanserai is located at a height of 3,500 meters. The museum ward told me, after a bit of prodding, that shepherds used to lock their cattle inside Tash Rabat before the Russians restored it. Caravansaray Tashrabat is located about 114 km northwest fromNaryn,434 km fromBishkek, and 92 km from the current Chinese border. Its location, in the centre of the Tian Shan Mountains, helped travellers from Qashqar, Fergana, and Chuy regions to meet., There are still many caravanserais from the Great Silk Road times. My wife and I are retired and do travel a bit. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 12 days. There are many trekking and horseback routes around Tash Rabat organized by the tour operators and you can visit for example the Tash Rabat Pass and lakeChatyr Kul. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. The nearest main city is Naryn but even that is more than two hours drive. She cleans the caravanserai and also sells the tickets. Get more! There is a dome in the centre of the structure - probably the main place where visitors would eat and have religious rituals., Contrary to what its name suggests, the Great Silk Road wasn't that smooth at all. All other rooms except the main hall are quite dark with only small holes providing light inside. Travellers are not nearly as common these days as they were when the Silk Road was in full operation. Thank you. It was pretty much empty when I visited too and I spent much of the time inside the structure by myself. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The setting in a valley is some of the finest landscapes youll see in this part of Kyrgyzstan. What makes Tash Rabat stand out among the myriad of caravanserais, is its isolated location in a meditative landscape, which gives a good sense about how difficult and dangerous travel along the remote parts of the Silk Road must have been. These days, the Tash Rabat caravanserai is in the middle of nowhere Kyrgyzstan and, its so empty around, its hard to imagine a thoroughfare of commerce passing through here once upon a time. Doorways in different directions beckon me. Kras , Melbourne, Aus. If one is careful to not offend, create or she could generate a large number of new readers. With the basic facilities a night will cost only around 500 som (It might be cold in the night time so request for heating when necessary). They believe the location was used as a resting place for traders from about the 1400s but theres also evidence that a Christian monastery may have been there from as early as the 900s. To the south are Lake Chatyr-Kul and Torugart Pass. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Thanks, after reading your article it has made me interested in finding out more about this fascinating area . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Maybe it started out as a monastery in the 9th century AD. A single lady lives in a simple house and her few cows about 200 meters away. Probably never will so I am grateful for the first hand sharing. You wont regret having some extra time to go hiking in the region. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Archaeologists find the layout of Tash Rabat mysterious, as the layout is unusual for a caravanserai, and reminds more of a monastery.