Five chapels
For coexistence.
Firespeaker — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sergey Sukhinin — CC BY-SA 3.0
A cultural complex and open-air museum on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Cholpon-Ata, whose name means «centre of the spirits». Founded by Tashkul Kereksizov in 2002 and first opened in 2007, it spreads over 4.5 hectares of gardens and lawns facing the lake. Its best-known feature is a set of five small white chapels of matching design, each standing for one of the world's major faiths, as a call for tolerance and coexistence. Statues and sculptures of figures from history and literature, including the famous Kyrgyz writer Chinghiz Aitmatov, dot the gardens. A marble terrace runs out over the water with views of the lake and mountains, alongside buildings with tent-shaped roofs, traditional yurts and spaces for exhibitions and crafts. Festivals, tourism fairs and displays of traditional games are held here. Tickets are 400-500 som, per visitor guides, and it is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm in summer and until 5 pm in winter. Come just before sunset, when the light glitters on the lake.
For coexistence.
Over the water.
Facing the lake.
On the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, Cholpon-Ata
A cultural complex and open-air museum on Issyk-Kul's shore, best known for five small chapels standing for the major faiths; tickets are 400-500 som, per visitor guides.