BAZAR

The Osh bazaar is the most impressive in Kyrgyzstan, and is certainly up there with the most attractive in Central Asia. It wakes up every day at 7am, when the smoke from the first chachlyks begins to fill the aisles, between which, in summer, tarpaulins are stretched to provide shade. The traders have a bite to eat before setting about meticulously staging their wares. Like all Central Asian markets, the Osh bazaar is divided into several sectors: a few tourist souvenir stores as you come in from Alisher Navoi street, followed by textiles, fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, spices, meat, kumiss, textiles, boots and accessories for horses, yurt-building materials... You can get lost in the maze of aisles, navigating between stalls at a glance while avoiding being jostled by the cart pushers (" osh !osh!"). The bazaar is such an important part of daily life that a small prayer room has been set up here. The bazaar is such an important part of daily life that a small prayer room has been set up here. You can also enjoy a meal here on a very modest budget, either by sitting down in one of the chaikhanas, or by sampling the various ready-to-eat products on sale (salads, dried fish, kuruts...). You'll find everything you need to fill up on victuals if you're going to Tajikistan, where supplies are more random, as well as local specialties such as Uzgen red rice or Arslanbob pistachios.