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Myths and Legends of Lake Issyk-Kul
It is difficult to find a region in Kyrgyzstan that can match Issyk-Kul in terms of beauty and the richness of its legends. Every village in this land holds its own unique history.
Santash Pass and the Legend of Tamerlane
The road to the Karkyra jailoo passes through the village of Santash, a place shrouded in ancient tales. One of them is linked to Tamerlane, the famous conqueror whose domains stretched from Bukhara and Samarkand to the eastern Tien Shan.
According to legend, his army struggled to cross a mountain pass, facing fierce resistance from the local tribes. For 26 years, he attempted to subdue these freedom-loving people, but they knew the terrain well and retreated into the mountains, avoiding direct battles.
One day, Tamerlane ordered each of his soldiers to collect a stone and place it in a pile. On their return journey, they were to take one stone back. By counting the remaining stones, he realized the true scale of his losses. This gave the place its name, “Santash,” which translates from Turkic as “counting stones.”
However, archaeological studies in the 1970s revealed that beneath the piles of stones lay the remains of an ancient caravanserai, a resting place for travelers before they crossed the difficult mountain pass. Excavations uncovered rooms, a kitchen, and even a gathering hall. Interestingly, the size of the boulders suggested that the people who once inhabited this place were of remarkable height and strength.
Karkyra – The Land of Cranes
The Karkyra Valley stretches across more than 60,000 hectares. Its name is associated with migratory cranes, which, like the merchants of the Great Silk Road, used this place as a stopover during seasonal migrations.
The region encompasses the valleys of the Karkyra, Zhylyuusu, Kegen, Taldy-Suu, and Santash rivers. The epic Manas mentions that this very area was the site of the funeral commemoration for Khan Koketei, a close friend of Manas. Despite Koketei’s instructions against holding a grand ceremony, his son invited numerous guests, including both allies and enemies.
The Legend of Lake Issyk-Kul
Lake Issyk-Kul has long been considered a mystical place, enveloped in secrets and legends. One story tells of a cruel ruler who fell in love with a girl of unparalleled beauty. When she did not return his affections, he ordered her to be kidnapped. However, her heart belonged to another—a simple shepherd.
Her beloved came to her rescue on a magical horse, but the ruler sent his warriors after them. The girl was captured and brought back, yet unwilling to live in captivity, she leaped from the palace window to her death. Soon after, the mountain waters flooded the entire city of the tyrant, submerging it beneath what is now Lake Issyk-Kul.
Interestingly, underwater explorations have confirmed the existence of ancient structures at the bottom of Issyk-Kul. The remains of a monastery and other buildings suggest that this area was once a crossroads of different religions, including Shintoism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
