mountain pass
Too-Ashuu Pass
A 3,586 m pass on the Bishkek–Osh highway pierced by a summit tunnel at 3,100 m; the south side drops into the vast green Suusamyr Valley in a cascade of hairpins.
52 km · about 60 min drive
AsiaKyrgyzstanChuy Region
Kara-Balta
Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan · Asia
About Kara-Balta
Kara-Balta sits on the route: 25 minutes from Kaindy, 55km from Ala Archa National Park.
Kara-Balta is in Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan, with about 48,000 people. The nearest town is Kaindy, about 14 km away.
Kara-Balta (; Dungan, Russian and Kyrgyz: Кара-Балта; lit. 'Black Ax') is a city and municipality on the Kara-Balta River, in Chüy Region, in northern Kyrgyzstan, the capital of Jayyl District. Its population was 48,278 in 2021.
Kara-Balta is located on the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, in the western part ofRead more
Chüy Region, 62 km (39 mi) west of the capital of Bishkek. The road continues west through Kaindy toward Taraz, Kazakhstan. Another road goes south through the Töö-Ashuu Pass and then splits, one branch going west to Talas Province and the other south and then east through the Suusamyr valley to Balykchy on Lake Issyk Kul. It has a temperate climate. The terrain is flat, with a slight slope downwards from the south to the north. As one drives from Bishkek and enters Kara-Balta by the main road, a large monument of Jayil Baatir - one of the city's main attractions - greets the driver on the right-hand side.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kara-Balta?
Within an hour or so of Kara-Balta: Too-Ashuu Pass (52 km), Ala Archa National Park (55 km).
Are there any good drives near Kara-Balta?
The nearest famous roads are Too-Ashuu Pass.
Where is Kara-Balta?
Kara-Balta is in Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan, about 14 km from Kaindy.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 48,278
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Kyrgyzstan
- Region
- Chuy Region
- Timezone
- Asia/Bishkek
- Coordinates
- 42.8142, 73.8481
Tags
Worth the detour from Kara-Balta
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Ala Archa National Park
A stunning alpine gorge just outside Bishkek with glaciers, waterfalls, and trekking routes in the Tien Shan range.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Kara-Balta
- 52 kmToo-Ashuu PassA 3,586 m pass on the Bishkek–Osh highway pierced by a summit tunnel at 3,100 m; the south side drops into the vast green Suusamyr Valley in a cascade of hairpins.
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