Jeti Oguz Rocks

Jeti Oguz, located approximately 25 km (15 miles) southwest of Karakol, is a striking sandstone formation named after its resemblance to «seven bulls.» These impressive red rocks, now a protected natural monument, have become an iconic symbol of the Issyk-Kul region.

Legend surrounds the origins of Jeti Oguz. According to the tale, a powerful Kyrgyz khan once abducted the wife of another khan. Seeking revenge, the wronged khan consulted a wise man, who hesitated to give advice but eventually suggested that the khan kill the woman and return her body to his rival, declaring, «Let him have a dead wife rather than a living one.» Acting on this grim counsel, the khan waited for a funeral feast where seven bulls were to be sacrificed. As the final bull was slain, he fatally stabbed his stolen wife. Her heart’s blood flowed through the valley, carrying the bulls with it, and where they came to rest, the rocks of Jeti Oguz were formed.

On the way to Jeti Oguz, visitors encounter another intriguing rock formation known as the «Broken Heart.» Local lore claims this rock symbolizes the heart of a beautiful woman who died from grief after her two suitors killed each other in a duel for her love. These two formations—the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart—have become cherished symbols, often captured in photographs and paintings.

Nearby, the village holds an ancient cemetery and burial mounds, or barrows, dating back to the 7th–5th centuries BCE. Originally towering higher, these mounds now measure between 16 and 28 meters (52 to 92 feet) in diameter and 1.7 to 3 meters (5.5 to 10 feet) in height.

Further up the valley, visitors find the Jeti Oguz Sanatorium, established in 1932. About 5 km (3 miles) south of the sanatorium lies the picturesque Valley of the Flowers (Dolina Svetov), which bursts into bloom with poppies and other vibrant flowers from May to early summer, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle.