Postcard from Bishkek

Back in 1983, 18 April was endorsed as The International Day for Monuments and Sites by UNESCO.

The aim of this special day is to raise public awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as drawing attention to its vulnerability.

It was proposed by ICOMOS, (the International Council on Monuments and Sites – an association of something like 10,000 professionals around the world),which is dedicated to promoting the application of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and archaeological heritage.  

Here in Kyrgyzstan, we have only one site which is listed by UNESCO as being of Historical and Cultural significance and being granted the status as a World Heritage Site- Suleyman Mountain in Osh.  There are a number of other monuments – the Burana Tower, the Archaeological Complex in Uzgen, the Manas Mausoleum in Talas,  the Shah Fasil Mausoleum at Safed Bulan and so on …

The government has a list of important sites in the Kyrgyz Republic which are considered to be of specific Historical or Cultural importance, and which come under state protection, with nearly 600 entries.

They include sites considered to have specific historical importance, or artistic value – such as statues, Buildings of architectural significance, Archaeological sites as well as others which are not so easily classified.

Here is an excerpt taken from that list of the monuments and sites in Bishkek … 129 of them … although I have changed the order.   In the official list the sites have been given an ordinal number – the order is, (almost), alphabetical, according to the Cyrillic alphabet, but I have arranged them according to their location (based on their address) … so that they can be more easily identified.

 One site seems to have been listed twice (The Technical College on Prospect Chui), and one has no annotation as to why it is considered important. A few of the sites lie outside the city boundaries – and could possibly have been included in the section for the Chui oblast.

Bishkek

No.	Monument / Site	Dates	Region	Address
Prospect Chui
104	Prospekt Chui	1920’s to 1980’s	Bishkek	Chui From Sovietskaya to Molodaya Gvardia
83	Monument to the Martyrs of the Revolution	1978	Bishkek	Chui SovietskayaIn Oak Park
53	The Ala Too Cinema	1938	Bishkek	Chui 187
45	“Friendship House” – Dom Druzha – formerly the Government House of the Kyrgyz Autonomous SSR and formerly the Historical Museum.	1929	Bishkek	Pushkin 78
49	Government House – The White House - now the home of the Parliament	1984	Bishkek	Chui 209
47	Union House	1959	Bishkek	Chui 297
61	The Technical College	1962	Bishkek	Chui 215
121	Technical College	1962	Bishkek	Chui 215
42	Building of the State Tax Inspection	Late 1950’s – Early 1960’s	Bishkek	Chui 219
115	“Dietsky Mir” (Children’s World) Building – now the United Nations Building	1960’s	Bishkek	Chui 160
38	Marie – Bishkek Town Hall	1957	Bishkek	Chui 166
64	The Kyrgyz Promstroi Bank Building – formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and before that the Philharmonia	1958	Bishkek	Chui 168
4	Philharmonia Building	1981	Bishkek	Chui 253
5	Sculptural Complex Statues of Manas, Kanykei, Bakai Busts of Manaschi (Balykov, Dzapiev, Orozbakov, Karaliev)	1981	Bishkek	Chui ManasOutside the Phiharmonia
65	The International University of Kyrgyzstan	1956	Bishkek	Chui 255
40	Building of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic	1959	Bishkek	Umetalieva 101 Chui
3	National Academy of Sciences Complex	1960	Bishkek	Chui 265 Chui 267 Pushkin 156
79	Monument to the Kosomol Heroes of the 1920’s and 1940’s	1963	Bishkek	Chui Molodaya Gvardia
78	The Alley of Heroes	1975	Bishkek	Molodaya Gvardiya
12	Bust of the Hero of the Soviet Union T Vegeldinova	1948	Bishkek	Moldaya Gvardiya Moskovskaya
	Oak Park
127	Oak Park, laid out by agricultural / horticultural students	1890 – 1898	Bishkek	Tynystanova Pushkin Razzakova Abdumomunova
123	The Russian Drama Theater	1982	Bishkek	Tynystanova 122
37	Artists Union Gallery – formerly St. Nicholas’s Church	1878	Bishkek	Oak Park
6	Monument to the Martyrs of and the the Civil War against the enemies of Socialism and the Eternal Flame in memory of the fallen in the Great Patriotic War (WWII)	1918 – 341957 – 70	Bishkek	Oak Park
85	Open Air Museum of Sculpture	1984	Bishkek	Oak Park
	Ala Too Square
25	The State Historical Museum Building	1985	Bishkek	Ala Too Square
82	Monument to the Friendhip of Peoples (Druzhba) – erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Assumption of Kyrgyzstan into the Russian Empire	1974	Bishkek	Ala Too Square Chui
46	Artists House – Gallery of the Union of Artists.	1947	Bishkek	Chui 108
	Central Square
106	Central Square	1933 – 1938	Bishkek	Razzakova From Abdumomunova to Pushkin
94	V. I. Lenin – Statue	1984	Bishkek	Central Square
44	The house of Terentiev,  (the first Mayor of Bishkek) which in 1917 housed the first Trade Union, and then the Chui administration, and was the first government building of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR.	1910	Bishkek	Abdumomunova 203 In the Old Central Square
33	Chui Oblast Administration Building and Ministry of Foreign Affairs	1936	Bishkek	Abdumomunova 205 In the Old Central Square
74	The Parliament Building – Jogorku Kenesh – formerly the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Part and Council of Ministers in the Kyrgyz SSR … it’s actually now the Government House.	1951 – 1955, 1965	Bishkek	Abdumomunova 207 In the Old Central Square
57	The State Drama Theater	1970	Bishkek	Panfilova 273
11	Bust of I. Razzakov – Politician and Statesman	1995	Bishkek	Pushkin Central Square
8	Bust of S. Ibraimov – Politician and Statesman	1998	Bishkek	Pushkin Central Square
10	Bust of V. Mambetov – Politician and Statesman	1998	Bishkek	Pushkin Central Square
1	Alley of Statesmen	1996	Bishkek	Pushkin Central Square
9	Bust of T. Kulatov – Politician and Statesman	1998	Bishkek	Pushkin Central Square
	Panfilov Park
102	Panfilov Park	1879 – 1880	Bishkek	Panfilov Frunze
20	Entrance Arch to Panfilov Park	1949	Bishkek	Panfilov Park
95	I. Panfilov - Statue	1942	Bishkek	Panfilov Park
Erkindik
103	Boulevard Erkindik – laid out by Fetisov	1883	Bishkek	Erkindik From Jibek Jolu to the Railway Station
50	Railway Station	1938	Bishkek	Erkindik 1
97	M. V. Frunze - Statue	1967	Bishkek	Erkinidik Opposite the Railway Station
51	The Geological Institute of the National Academy of Sciences	1936	Bishkek	Erkindik 30
68	Union of Theatrical Activities	1930’s	Bishkek	Erkindik 36
66	The Consitutional Court Building	1941	Bishkek	Erkindik 39
29	House	1950’s	Bishkek	Erkindik 41
32	The former Central Telegraph Office	1930’s	Bishkek	Erkindik 44
13	Bust of the National Poet J. Bokonbaev	1948	Bishkek	Erkindik Moskovskaya
14	Bust of the Hero of Soviet Labour E. Kainazapova	1975	Bishkek	Erkindik Manaschi Sagymbaya
70	The Erkin-Too Building – home of Kyrgyzstan’s first Kyrgyz language newspaper – formerly the “House of Printing” – durinig the Great Patriotic War (wWII) it served as a barracks	1930’s	Bishkek	Erkindik 45
87	The Ak Suu Pavilion (built in honour of the mineral water Ak Suu)	1949	Bishkek	Erkindik 53a
86	Freedom Obelisk	1998	Bishkek	Erkindik Oak Park
39	Building of AKB Kyrgyzstan (Bank) – Pervomaiskaya Branch	1926	Bishkek	Erkindik 59
7	Bust of the Revolutionary – A. Ivanitsin	1957 – 63	Bishkek	Erkindik Ivanitsin
Frunze Street
77	Victory Monument	1985	Bishkek	Victory Square
58	The Circus	1976	Bishkek	Ivanitza 119 (Frunze)
108	Cashier’s Building (“Oberkassa”)	1930’s	Bishkek	Frunze Sovietskaya
76	The Frunze Museum	1967	Bishkek	Frunze 364
111	The Children’s and Youth Sports School of Martial Arts and Acrobatics	1950’s	Bishkek	Frunze 501
112	National Olympic Committee Building	1950’s	Bishkek	Frunze 503
55	Building of the Kyrgyz State National University (at the time of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) this served as a Hotel)	1938	Bishkek	Frunze 547
92	Shabdan Baatyr – Statue	1999	Bishkek	University Square
125	The memorial zone in the Cemetery reserved for people of Science and Culture	“The Soviet Period”	Bishkek	Ala Archa Cemetery
Isanova
99	M. Gorky – Statue (in “Gorky Park”)	1981	Bishkek	Isanova Riskulova
Jibek Jolu
35	Eastern Bus Station	1962	Bishkek	Jibek Jolu 263
113	Orthodox Cathederal	Beginning of the 20th Centhury	Bishkek	Jibek Jolu Togolok Moldo
36	Western Bus Station – Building	1981	Bishkek	Chimkentskaya 1
114	Local Administration Building of the Pervomaisky region	1960’s	Bishkek	Jibek Jolu 346
Kievskaya
91	A. Pushkin – Russian Poet – Statue	1999	Bishkek	Kievskaya 43
Lev Tolstoy
69	Pishpek Railway station	1927	Bishkek	Lev Tolstovo 61
Logvinenko
116	Dom Kino – The House of Cinema	1950’s	Bishkek	Logvinenko 13
Manas
43	Building of the State Gold Company – KyrgyzAltyn	1960’s	Bishkek	Manas 55
110	The Architecural Union building and the Mountain Metalurgical Institute – Formerly the Kyrgyz Town Planning” building	1950’s	Bishkek	Manas 40
Mederova
98	K. Skryabin - Statue	1982	Bishkek	Mederova
107	Agricultural Building	1935 – 1978	Bishkek	Mederova 68
Michurina
26	Pioneer’s Palace	1939  – 51	Bishkek	Michurina 118
Prospect Mira
	Bishkek Free Economic Zone
17	Exhibition of  Kyrgyz Economic Achievements	1947  – 74	Bishkek	Bishkek Free Economic Zone
18	National Exhibition Center Main Pavilion (ВДНХ – VDNK)	1974	Bishkek	Bishkek Free Economic Zone
19	Memorial to Lenin	1980	Bishkek	Bishkek Free Economic Zone
84	Mosaic – “The Friendship of Nations”	1964	Bishkek	Mira Aeroflot
30	Kyrgyz Airlines Building	1966 – 1967	Bishkek	Mira 1
2	Administration building of the Champagne Factory	1953	Bishkek	Mira 48
73	Bishkek Technical University	1954	Bishkek	Mira 66
Moskovskaya
54	The Bishkek Central Mosque	1995	Bishkek	Moskovskaya 25
15	Bust of M. Kurenkeev	1961	Bishkek	Moskovskaya Panfilova
105	Togolk Moldo Square	1950 – 1951	Bishkek	Moskovskaya Koenkozova
16	Bust of Togolok Moldo	1962	Bishkek	Moskovskaya Togolok Moldo Square
62	The Panfilov Museum building	1969	Bishkek	Moskovskaya 132
100	Fuchika Park – laid out by the workers of the Interhelper Project	1935 – 1936	Bishkek	Moskovskaya Fushika
Panfilova
120	The Musical School named after Kurenkieva, in which the Kyrgyz Film School was started.	1939	Bishkek	Panfilov 162
Pushkin Street
59	The building of the State Co-operative Association	1949	Bishkek	Pushkin 50
109	The “Potrebsoyuz” Building	1950’s	Bishkek	Pushkin 50
Razzakova
124	Building of the Composers and Musicians Union	1939	Bishkek	Razzakova 50
Sovietskaya
88	Statue of A. Tokombaev – Kyrgyz Artist	1995	Bishkek	Sovietskaya By the Museum of Fine Arts
89	Statue of B. Beishenalieva (the ballerina, Bubusara)	1997	Bishkek	Sovietskaya Theater Square
96	T. Satylganov (Toktogul) – Statue	1974	Bishkek	Sovietskaya Theater Square
126	Kychana Djakypova Park	1890 – 1895	Bishkek	Sovietskaya Kurenkieva Mychuinna
52	The Opera and Ballet Theater	1953	Bishkek	Sovietskaya 167
60	The KABAR (State news agency) building	1940	Bishkek	Sovietskaya 175
67	The Bayalinova Children’s Library	1914	Bishkek	Ogonbaeva 242
119	The Fine Arts Museum	1977	Bishkek	Sovietskaya 200
90	A. Osmonov – Kyrgyz Poet	1997	Bishkek	Sovietskaya 208
75	The place where stood the building in which the first meeting of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR was held	1927	Bishkek	Svietskaya Frunze
41	National Library Building	1984	Bishkek	Svietskaya 208
27	House of N. Terentiev, (once occupied by M. N. Frunze) … sadly seriously dilapidated although there is talk of its reconstruction being undertaken.	End of the 19th Century	Bishkek	Sovietskaya 230
Togolok Moldo
34	Republican Eye Clinic	1939	Bishkek	Moskovskaya Togolok Moldo
28	The Sports Palace (named after Kojomkul)	1974	Bishkek	Togolok Moldo 40
63	The Museum of Sculpture and Research Department of the Artists Academy	1966	Bishkek	Togolok Moldo 50
72	Bishkek Commercial College	1953	Bishkek	Togolok Moldo 58
48	The State Committee for Tourism Sport and Youth Policy Building	1954	Bishkek	Togolok Moldo 17
Tynystanova
118	Building of the Army Engineers – named after V. V. Kuibshev – Formerly the building of “Learning”	1941 – 1945	Bishkek	Tynystanova 120
122	Aman Bank Buidling – Formerly the Ministry of Trade	1930’s	Bishkek	Tynystanova 249
Achunbaeva
101	Ataturk Park	1957 – 1958	Bishkek	Achunbaeva
93	Memorial to the fallen in the Afghan War	1996	Bishkek	Ataturk Park
71	The Tuberculosis Institute Buiding	1949	Bishkek	Achunbaeva 90
56	The State Institute of Physical Culture Building	1955	Bishkek	Achunbaeva 97
Further Afield
117	Airport Manas	1980	Bishkek	28 km North-West of the city limits
21	Site of the Kluchevkoye settlement	8th – 12th Centuries	Bishkek	9th January Street Ochakovskaya (To the West,)
31	The Hippodrome	1947	Bishkek	Termichikova 1
129	The Large Chui Canal – (Bolshoi Chuisky Canal – Be-Ch-Ka )	1940’s	Bishkek	Chui Valley
81	Grave	5th – 3rd Centuries BC	Bishkek	Vacha To the South of the city
23	Site of Kyzyl Askiya settlement	7th – 8th Centuries	Bishkek	Western part of  town
24	Site of the Shish Debe	5th – 7th Centuries	Bishkek	Western part of town Shish Debe Street
128	Karagachevaya Rosha – laid out by A. Fetisov	1883	Bishkek	South East part of the city
80	Grave	5th – 3rd Centuries BC	Bishkek	Muromskaya To the South West of the city
22	Site of the Kusnechnoaya Fort settlement	8th – 14th Centuries	Bishkek	North Eastern part of town

 

 

 

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