The History of Karakol

Karakol, the fourth-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, was founded in 1869 by Russian military engineer Alexander Kaulbars. On May 31, 1869, a military-scientific expedition led by Kaulbars departed from Verny (modern-day Almaty) to Issyk-Kul. They were tasked with selecting a site for a future city that would serve as a stronghold for the eastern defense line of Semirechye and introduce Russian culture to the Tien Shan wilderness. Officially, Karakol’s foundation date is July 1, 1869, when the first streets, courtyards, and defensive barracks were laid.

Despite his youthful age—only 25—Kaulbars executed his mission with the confidence and experience of a seasoned explorer. Within three years, the settlement had grown to include 80 houses and 52 shops, inhabited by military personnel and settlers from Russia, the Volga region, and Ukraine.

The city is also closely associated with the renowned traveler Nikolay Przhevalsky. On November 1, 1888, Przhevalsky died of typhoid fever here en route to another Central Asian expedition and was buried on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. His dying wish was to be buried by the lake with a simple inscription: «Traveler N. M. Przhevalsky,» wearing his expedition attire.

Karakol underwent multiple renamings in honor of Przhevalsky, reflecting a unique tendency in the Russian Empire, especially in Turkestan. From 1922 to 1939, it was known as Karakol before briefly becoming Przhevalsk again and finally reverting to Karakol in 1992.

In 1897, the population of Przhevalsk was a diverse mix, with Russians making up 36%, Sarts (Uzbeks) 27%, Kyrgyz 17%, Chinese (likely Dungans) 11%, and Tatars 7%. Today, Kyrgyz constitute 69% of Karakol’s population, with notable minorities of Russians (18%), Uighurs, Uzbeks, Tatars, and Dungans.

The old part of Karakol, with its quiet streets and one- or two-story wooden houses painted in white with blue trim, feels like a quaint corner of provincial Russia, complete with daisy-filled lawns. Most of these houses were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the 1889 earthquake, offering a glimpse into a bygone era.

The Trinity Church stands out as a remarkable structure, rebuilt after the 1889 earthquake with the support of the Maslikov merchants. Its architecture remains largely unchanged, preserving its historical significance.

Karakol’s Soviet-era architecture also deserves attention, with residential buildings from the 1950s featuring interesting details like wooden verandas, metal balconies, and stucco ornaments. However, these Soviet structures have not aged as gracefully as their older counterparts.