Issyk-Kul History Museum
Archaeology, nomadic life and Issyk-Kul history at Cholpon-Ata’s city museum.
- 1979Museum opened
- Archaeology/daily lifeHistory museum
- 45–60 minFor the museum collections
- Cholpon-AtaIn the city centre
What to see
5 stops in visiting order
The list on the left follows the chapters as you scroll. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
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Museum façade
A low museum building beside a city street. The spring view was photographed in April 2024.
Next: Leather bottle → -
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Leather bottle
A worn leather bottle with a narrow neck and handle stands on a display base. Its seams are clearly visible near the bottom.
Next: Leather vessel → -
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Leather vessel
A leather vessel with a handle and spout stands behind glass. Its surface is decorated with a raised floral pattern.
Next: One-rouble banknote → -
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One-rouble banknote
A one-rouble note: large letters, a coat of arms and a fine border pattern show how old money was designed.
Next: Hundred-rouble banknote → -
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Hundred-rouble banknote
One hundred roubles: different symbols flank the denomination, while the number 100 repeats along the edges.
Next History in 4 dates ↓
History
History in 4 dates
- 1979Museum opened
The museum was set up in an old school building. Its founder, Kenjekan Ysmanova, assembled the collection piece by piece.
- 1993Museum reserve
The resolution of 9 March records the conversion of the city’s local history museum into a historical and cultural museum-reserve.
- 2002Museum association
An association was created around the museum-reserve to protect the region’s open-air archaeological sites too.
- 2014Exhibition on protecting culture
The exhibition “The Roerich Pact: history and the present” opened on 2 July.
Seasons
Issyk-Kul History Museum: four seasons
How the place looks at different times of year.
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Spring
March–May- March
- April
- May
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Based on a photo by Photo User:Zenwort, CC BY-SA 4.0, modified Summer
June–August- June
- July
- August
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Based on a photo by Photo User:Zenwort, CC BY-SA 4.0, modified Autumn
September–November- September
- October
- November
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Based on a photo by Photo User:Zenwort, CC BY-SA 4.0, modified Winter
December–February- December
- January
- February
Where it is
- Location
- Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul Region
- From the centre
- ≈700 m from central Cholpon-Ata
- Elevation
- 1,630 m
- Coordinates
- 42.65° N, 77.09° E
Plan your visit
Walking directions, opening times and etiquette
Getting there on foot
≈0.5 km as the crow flies
From the centre: Cholpon-AtaOn foot or by taxi
Address
Cholpon-Ata, city centre
Allow enough time
- Time needed
- 45–60 min
Etiquette
- Protect the exhibits. Do not touch museum objects and follow staff instructions.
Check in advance
- Opening hours
- Admission fee
- Visitor admission after renovation
- Room order and current exhibitions
- Photography rules and entrance accessibility
Check on site
- Whether indoor photography is allowed at the entrance
- Whether the museum has reopened after renovation and its opening hours for your visit date Museum staff member
- Tickets, tours and photography rules Museum ticket office
- Entrance accessibility and toilets Museum staff member
What to bring
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Keep planning
Guides and ready-made itineraries
Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.
Routes and programmes
All photos
Issyk-Kul History Museum in photos
Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.
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- 13.04.2024
- 13.04.2024
Nearby
Nearby and where to go next
Base · Cholpon-AtaCholpon-AtaA summer base beside Issyk-Kul: the town’s shore and trips to Semenov Gorge and Kyrchyn.
Cultural site · ≈2.7 km as the crow fliesCholpon-Ata petroglyphsAncient animals and hunting scenes on boulders at the foot of the mountains.
Route · ≈1.5 km as the crow flies“Goluboy Issyk-Kul” beachA walk through tree-lined avenues to a sandy shore