Place to see: Burana Tower, Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

About this place:

Burana Tower, located about an hour east of Bishkek near the city of Tokmok, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagyn, once the thriving capital of the Karakhanid Empire. Apparently, at its height, the city manufactured exquisite glass and ceramics, had an elaborate city-wide irrigation/plumbing/sewer system built with fired-clay pipes, was home to scholars, poets and numerous religions (although in its later years it became a Muslim city), it was home to fierce warriors – male and female – and it was a major stop on one of the Silk Road routes (from the Torugart Pass out of China, past Lake Issyk-Kul through what is now Bishkek before heading further westward. Numerous spectacular archaeological finds have been uncovered at the site, although unfortunately, most were taken to museums in Russia during the time of the Soviet Union. The small museum which remains on the site houses only small fragments of artifacts, which are interesting, although somewhat depressing. Apparently, the entire site has yet to be excavated. There is a large hill, under which (supposedly) are the remains of an ancient mosque. However, there is no money for excavations.