Burana Tower

Burana is what remains of Balasagun, a city of the Karakhanid period that sat on the Silk Road until it declined and was abandoned. The minaret, originally around forty-five metres and now roughly twenty-five after earthquakes took the top, stands alone on the plain with the Tien Shan behind it, and a narrow internal spiral stair can be climbed to the truncated top for a view over the site and the fields. Around its base is a collected field of balbals, carved stone figures placed by nomadic peoples at burial sites, along with petroglyphs and grave markers gathered from across the region. A small museum holds finds from the excavation of the city, whose mounds are still visible in the surrounding ground.

What you actually see

• The minaret climb - a steep, dark internal spiral stair to the truncated top.
• The balbal field - collected carved stone figures around the tower.
• Petroglyphs and grave markers - gathered stones from across the region.
• The city mounds - the outline of Balasagun visible in the surrounding land.

When to go

April to October; the Chuy plain is hot in midsummer and cold in winter. The tower and mountains together photograph best in the morning. It is an easy half-day trip from Bishkek.

Honest expectations

The internal staircase is steep, narrow and unlit, with a genuinely awkward exit at the top; it is not for anyone uneasy with confined spaces or heights. The site is small and the visit short. The balbals were brought here from elsewhere rather than standing where they were placed, which is worth knowing.

Nearby

Tokmok is nearby; Bishkek is around an hour and a half west.