Saimaluu-Tash is the largest collection of petroglyphs in Central Asia and one of the largest in the world. It is located on the eastern slope of the Fergana Range in the Jalal-Abad region and has the status of a national park. The complex is situated at an altitude of 3000 meters.

The literal translation sounds like “Patterned Stone” and accurately characterizes this area. The complex consists of alpine meadows and huge boulders scattered across the territory. They serve as natural canvases on which more than 90,000 drawings are depicted, made at different times. The oldest of them date back to the 3rd-1st millennia BCE, while the latest ones date from the 1st-8th centuries CE. This is a historical testimony to the changing epochs and methods of applying drawings to stones.

The themes of the rock paintings are diverse, ranging from religious to everyday and natural motifs. There are animals, birds, humans, various symbols, and other drawings that are quite difficult to explain. Visiting the complex is only accessible in the summer – during other months, the stones are covered with a thick layer of snow.

To get to Saimaluu-Tash, click here.