Three-Story Yurt, Osh

Just outside the Osh Regional Museum, next to the monument of Alymbek Datka, stands one of the most extraordinary structures in Osh – the Three-Story Yurt. Once celebrated as the «tallest yurt in the world,» it remains an impressive feat of Kyrgyz craftsmanship. While the Mongolian steppe dwellers recently constructed the world’s widest yurt, the Kyrgyz highlanders took on the challenge years ago to build the tallest. Originally erected for a festive occasion, this yurt initially stood proudly on Lenin Square. However, as time passed, it began to deteriorate, until a local official or entrepreneur had the brilliant idea to relocate it to a park and transform it into a quaint museum.

Although the Three-Story Yurt is intriguing by its very existence, the interior today primarily functions as a colorful gift shop, offering costumes for visitors who want to pose for photographs (for an additional fee). Alongside the souvenirs is a modest exhibition dedicated to the 19th-century Kyrgyz heroes, Alymbek and Kurmanjan Datka, providing a glimpse into their legacy.

Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of items, many of which aren’t even part of the exhibition but are souvenirs available for purchase. This combination of cultural display and marketplace gives the yurt a lively, albeit somewhat commercial, atmosphere.

An interesting detail to note is how the size of a yurt is traditionally determined by the number of wooden rods, or «hoops,» that form its structure. The largest standard yurts typically feature 120 hoops and can accommodate up to 8 people. This yurt, however, showcases an impressive 120 hoops on its second level alone, while the first level boasts a staggering 270! The smaller third-story yurt contains 60 hoops. To put it in perspective, a small yurt can be assembled by five people in about 20 minutes, while a larger one might take a couple of hours. In contrast, constructing this three-story marvel took over a month.