Gulcha: Hotels and Accommodation

Gul’cha was Kurmanjan Datka’s headquarters and the de facto capital of the Alay region she ruled. The Kurmanjan-Datka Historical and Ethnographic Museum is dedicated to the life and era of the Kyrgyz historical figure Kurmanjan Datka.

Culture and History

The Historical Museum of Alay District, named after Kurmanjan Datka, opened in 1990 to mark the 180th anniversary of Kurmanjan Datka. The exhibitions at the Kurmanjan-Datka Historical and Ethnographic Museum cover Kyrgyz life, personal belongings of Alymbek and Kurmanjan Datka, and digitized photographs of the two historical figures. The Kurmanjan Datka Museum of History and Ethnography is housed in a yurt-shaped building on the outskirts of Gul’cha.

In the Alay travel region, there are kurak quilts, terme textiles and embroidery by local female artisans, as well as silverwork by local artisans.

Getting Around

Gul’cha is located on the regional highway route connecting Osh, Sary-Mogol, Daroot-Korgon and Karamyk. Gul’cha can also serve as a rest stop on the way to Erkeshtam.

The five-day Truly Nomadic Land Horse Trek begins after travelling from Osh to Gul’cha along the Pamir Highway. It includes four nights in yurts with Kyrgyz host families. The trek also includes a demonstration of milking and making dairy products from horse and cow milk.

Accommodation

Clara’s Guest House Alay can accommodate up to 10 people in four rooms. A large garden yurt is used for dining and relaxation; there are also indoor washing facilities and a separate toilet building.

Ainura’s Guest House Alay offers four indoor sleeping places and 16 places in two outdoor yurts. The house is located near Gul’cha. It is decorated with artwork by the host’s mother-in-law, a Kyrgyz artisan.

Those wishing to book a hotel in Gulcha can then continue their accommodation search. For comparison with other places in the same area: Sarytash, Ak-Terek, Shankol.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Osh Region.