Kyrgyzstan Photo Gallery

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan. This photo gallery presents images of Kyrgyzstan. There are photos from writer Chingiz Aitmatov’s life, including of his hometown in the foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, as well as of the country itself. There is also a gallery of pictures from Azamat Altay’s life both in and outside of Kyrgyzstan. Best to read my book Have the Mountains Fallen if you want to understand the photos!

Aitmatov’s Kyrgyzstan

  • Horse wrestling, Issyk Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
  • Susamyr Valley, Kyrgyzstan
  • Susamyr Valley, Kyrgyzstan
  • Yurt camp, Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
  • Dacha community outside Bishkek
  • Statue to the victims of Stalin’s purges, Chong Tash Memorial Complex
  • Torekul Aitmatov’s grave at Chong Tash Memorial Complex
  • Chingiz Aitmatov’s gravesite at Chong Tash Memorial Complex, 2013
  • Statue to Chingiz Aitmatov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Aitmatov’s home village of Sheker

  • Entrance to Sheker, Talas Province, Kyrgyzstan
  • Classroom with scenes from Aitmatov’s stories on the wall
  • Kurkuroo River, Sheker
  • Path in Sheker
  • First Teacher, statue garden, Sheker
  • Farewell, Gulsary, statue garden, Sheker
  • Mankurt, statue garden, Sheker
  • Scene from Plakha, statue garden, Sheker
  • Japarbek Dosanaliev, Chingiz Aitmatov’s first cousin, Sheker, 2007
  • Nightfall near Maimak Station, Talas Province
  • Two poplar trees, statue garden, Sheker

Altay’s life

  • Altay with friends at his house in 1972, Queens, New York
  • Altay with his boss at Columbia University, Robert Karlowich
  • Aitmatov at Altay’s house in Queens, NY, 1975
  • Altay and Aitmatov, 1975
  • Aitmatov and Altay, Munich, 1989
  • Aitmatov and Altay at ribbon cutting ceremony, 1995, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Altay and his wife Saniye with Chingiz Aitmatov’s son Askar, left, 1990s, New York
  • Altay with Muratbek Imanaliev, Queens, New York, 1990s
  • Altay’s gravesite, New York, 2006