Museum of Petroglyphs
Museum of Petroglyphs
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4.0
164 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
59
Average
42
Poor
11
Terrible
3
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Marina K
Moscow, Russia8,246 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The open-air petroglyph museum, often called the stone garden, is located 3 km from the center of Cholpon-Ata on the outskirts of the foothills. We walked from Cholpon-Ata to the museum. But there was absolutely nothing to see on the way (dull residential buildings), so we called a taxi back (it was quick and no problem). The museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is a large stone plateau with an area of 42 hectares, which is dotted with hundreds of boulders with ancient rock carvings. The oldest of them date back to 1 thousand BC. The territory is fenced. At the entrance there are several benches, a small kiosk (ticket office and souvenirs), and a toilet. Entrance 80 som. Tickets are not given in person. We were here ten years ago and noted the innovations: we created routes around the territory, three of them of different lengths (from 800 meters to 3 km), but only one, the shortest (blue with arrows), is marked, indicated by tourist navigation signs. Usually all tourists use this route. Each rock image now has information in three languages (Kyrgyz, Russian, English). The most common petroglyphs are images of mountain goats. But there are also hunting scenes, drawings of hunters and deer. You can also see the ruins of an ancient settlement and burial mounds. I advise you to go further after the marked route. It is very picturesque there: many beautiful boulders and blocks - multi-colored with mosses and thorns. An unusually atmospheric landscape. And from here from the foothills there is a beautiful view of Lake Issyk-Kul. At first, from 14.00 to 15.00, we were completely alone, wandering among the picturesque boulders in solitude. Wonderful! And after 15.00 tour groups began to arrive. It immediately became noisy, a crowd on the path. And we left.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bittermelon2015
Europe277 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Very interesting place,especially if you have a guide or have been documenting on the subject. The area with petroglyphs is very big, they discovered about 200.000 in all the area, from hunting scenes to dancing samans, goats and archery scenes. From temple ruins to older and newer glyphs i think this place is extremelly interesting but needs more written info for individual travellers who do not have access to a lot of info
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexey K
Moscow, Russia5,077 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
It’s not exactly a museum, but an area with a lot of stones, some of which have petroglyphs. Entry costs symbolic money, I don’t even remember how much. There are no hints of civilization - only a "ranger" booth charging an entrance fee. This is perhaps for the best.
Some petroglyphs, it must be said, look somewhat artificial, some are not visible at all.
Overall, it's worth a visit.
Some petroglyphs, it must be said, look somewhat artificial, some are not visible at all.
Overall, it's worth a visit.
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abdulwahab Baghdadi
Bakuriani, Georgia384 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Nice history museum for the lake and around
gi e you good idea about land and local pepole
worth visit if you are around
gi e you good idea about land and local pepole
worth visit if you are around
Written 4 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon K
Frederick, Maryland967 contributions
Aug 2017
This garden of petroglyphs is not far outside the town. It can be reached by a 30-40 minute walk or a (cheap) taxi ride. The carvings date from 1500 BC to the first century AD and stones range in size from about 12 inches to several yards. Carvings include goats, deer, dogs, solar symbols, ibex, and hunters. The site also includes several tombs and balbals. It's a good place to stroll on a nice day...especially if you have young ones who don't want to be cooped up in a regular museum. The site would certainly benefit from a brochure with a map.
Written 4 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zambrosia
Auckland86 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
We visited early in the morning, had site to ourselves. It's an extensive site, no shade and by the time we left it was getting hot. Lots of interesting petroglyphs, easy to view as there's a good walking track, probably one of the more accessible petroglyph sites in Central Asia.
Written 15 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
navyfenton
Melbourne, Australia257 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
If you have travelled you must spend an hour or two at this ancient site.
The Petroglyphs are a wonderful record of the ancient peoples of central Asia.
some of the Petroglyphs are just fantastic
Really enjoyed 2 hours visiting this site.
The Petroglyphs are a wonderful record of the ancient peoples of central Asia.
some of the Petroglyphs are just fantastic
Really enjoyed 2 hours visiting this site.
Written 31 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TC0241
Lautrec, France1,265 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
Visited this place on a tour of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Anywhere alse in the world it would be surrounded by fences and restrictions but here you can walk right up to them and take all the photos you want.
It is really an open field covered with mostly smooth stones.
The Petrographs are marked for the most part but spmetimes take a little squinting to work out what they are.
You will also see locals passing through with their shopping an da few local wags have scratched their names so addind to the historical nature
As Isaid if you get this far you could hardly pass by although ii is not on the main road you have to turn up the hill a little.
Anywhere alse in the world it would be surrounded by fences and restrictions but here you can walk right up to them and take all the photos you want.
It is really an open field covered with mostly smooth stones.
The Petrographs are marked for the most part but spmetimes take a little squinting to work out what they are.
You will also see locals passing through with their shopping an da few local wags have scratched their names so addind to the historical nature
As Isaid if you get this far you could hardly pass by although ii is not on the main road you have to turn up the hill a little.
Written 10 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AliceFromWonderland
Hong Kong, China1,387 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
It is amazing to see these petroglyphs from the high mountains by glaciers many years ago and there are so many of them. It is worthwhile to see some primitive art en-suite.
Written 25 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WesM767
Philadelphia, PA15 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
The better pieces have been removed to museums. It is interesting to see how many rocks have the petroglyphs. Most are so faint that it takes guessing as to what they might be.
Written 18 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ennelta
Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Как дойти (доехать) до музее потроглифов из Чолпон-Ата? Есть автобусы? И сколько времени это займет? Спасибо!
Written 21 April 2016
На сайте в качестве контактного телефона указан номер Моего личного телефона!!!!почему??? Это вообще нормально?
Written 24 May 2015
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