Festival of Manas and Nomad games in Talas region

Talas region is the smallest oblast of Kyrgyzstan, located in the northwestern part of the country.
It occupies the Talas valley and the slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains. It borders on Kazakhstan (Zhambyl Oblast) in the north and west, Jalal-Abad Oblast in the south, and Chui Oblast of Kyrgyzstan in the east.
In Soviet times, the territory of Talas oblast was part of Chui oblast, although transportation between them is difficult. In winter, contacts are possible through the territory of Kazakhstan from the valley of the Talas River, which is the main water artery of the oblast, as well as through the Otmok Pass, which connects the oblast with the Suusamyr valley and the Bishkek-Osh highway.

The battle of 751 AD, in which the interests of powerful medieval states – Tang China and the Abbasid Caliphate, supported by the Turgesh Khaganate – clashed, is mentioned in all collections of great world battles.
The only Arab-Chinese battle in the history of mankind took place on the Talas River near the city of Atlakh, which was part of the encirclement of the cities of ancient Taraz, one of the major centers of the Great Silk Road.
In 749, the victorious Chinese commander of Korean origin Gao Xian-chzhi took Tashkent (Shash), executed there the Turkic ruler Mohedu and retreated with his 30,000-strong army to the Talas Valley. Mohedu’s son brought to the rescue an Arab detachment of Yemeni cavalry under the command of Ziyad ibn Salih, sent by the Caliph’s viceroy Abu Muslim Abd al-Rahman al-Khurasani al-Marwazi. They were joined by Sogdian and Turkic tribes who had previously fought with the Arabs. The task of the detachment also included the defense of the Arab garrison in Taraz besieged by Chinese troops. Gao Xian-zhi moved to the rescue, pulling up his cavalry of Yabgu Karluks, vassals of China.
At Atlakh, near the Talas River, on the 30th day of the month of zu-l-hijja according to the Muslim calendar (this is July 751), the combined army of the Abbasid Caliphate and the Turgesh Khaganate met with the army of Tang China. At the head of the Arab forces was the viceroy Abu Muslim, at the head of the Chinese forces was Gao Xian-zhi. From various written sources it is known, that from both parties there were from 30 to 50 thousand soldiers, by measures of that time it is considerable military forces. Historians differ somewhat in the assessment of military forces, as well as in the course of the battle itself. According to one version, the fierce battle lasted five days, according to another – four days the armies stood against each other, not daring to enter into battle, and only on the fifth day there was a battle. But it is known for sure that, in the end, in the rear of the army Gao Xian-zhi suddenly struck Karluks, who betrayed their suzerains, and at the same time the Arab cavalry attacked. Imperialists were defeated by head and turned into flight. Gao Xian-zhi, which convoy with difficulty made his way among the panic-stricken warriors, fled to China. The Arabs took a huge number of prisoners, up to 20 thousand, and rich booty.
As a result of the Battle of Talas, the Karluks established their independent state and the Uyghurs restored their state in East Turkestan. One of the important consequences of the battle was the beginning of paper production in Samarkand, because among the captives were Chinese masters who knew the secrets of making silk paper, which had been kept in the strictest secrecy in China until then.

TRIP ESSENTIALS
Tour Type: auto/cultural
Total Duration: 3 days
Best Season: mid-June – end of September
Level of Difficulty: medium
Maximum Altitude on the Trip: 3 500 meters ASL
Start and End Point: Bishkek
Transport: jeep/minivan/minibus depending on the size of the group
Best group size: 2- 12 persons

Day 1
02 August

In the morning leave Bishkek for Suusamyr valley via Too-Ashuu pass following the Bishkek – Osh road then turn in right to Talas region, arrive in Talas for late lunch, accommodation and dinner will be at guesthouse in Talas.

Explore the city.

Day 2
03 August

Today you will participate in Festival of Manas and Nomad games that takes place in “Manas Ordo” historical park. Lunch at the festival. After festival ends dinner and accommodation will be at guesthouse.

Day 3
04 August

Today you will see the Talas battle show that occurred in 571 AD. The battle of 751 AD, in which the interests of powerful medieval states – Tang China and the Abbasid Caliphate, supported by the Turgesh Khaganate – clashed, is mentioned in all collections of great world battles.
The only Arab-Chinese battle in the history of mankind took place on the Talas River near the city of Atlakh, which was part of the encirclement of the cities of ancient Taraz, one of the major centers of the Great Silk Road. Lunch, after the show ends you will be transferred back to Bishkek. Arrive in Bishkek end of the tour.