Shamsi gorge (North)

The northern gorge of Shamsi is located 85 km from Bishkek and allowed caravans to cross the Kyrgyz Alatoo range and thus created a link between the city of Balasagun in Kochkor. Archaeological excavations have also revealed a Buddhist cemetery and a unique golden mask dating from the 4th to the 5th century AD. The Shamsi mask is embellished with three tree patterns created by a series of perforations highlighted with white pigment. Two of the trees cover the cheeks while the third was placed all over the nose and the middle of the forehead. Legend has it that the mask belonged to the princess named Shamshi.

The fauna and flora is very rich despite intensive breeding, the steep slopes of the valley are home to many wild animals: snow leopards, Turkestan lynxes, wolves and foxes, ibex and argalis, hares, weasels and many others. Also the valley is also a sanctuary for different species of birds.

The house built to accommodate the Shah of Iran in the 1970s has now been transformed into a wildlife protection center and houses an education center for rangers.