Talas, Kyrgyz Republic

Talas is a small town in northwestern part of the Kyrgyz Republic, located in the Talas River valley between two imposing mountain ranges. Its geographical location is 42.51667°N, 72.23333°W and its population is 32,886 (as of 2009). It is the administrative headquarters of Talas Oblast. The town was founded by East Slavic settlers in 1877. To the south is the Besh-Tash (five rocks) valley with the Besh-Tash National Park.

Overview
Its economy traditionally oriented towards the ancient city of Taraz (once named Talas and Dzhambul) in present day Kazakhstan, the Talas valley has suffered severely from the imposition of rigid border controls by Kazakhstan following the demise of the Soviet Union, as transport and trade links to the rest of Kyrgyzstan are now constrained by the formidable mountains separating it from the Chuy Valley and Bishkek. The only motorable road to Bishkek and the rest of the country rises to a height of more than 3500 m above sea level over the Ötmök Pass (closed in winter) before descending in many turns to the Chuy Valley and Bishkek.

Manas
The mythical Kyrgyz national hero, Manas, is said to have been born in the Ala Too mountains in Talas oblast. A few kilometers outside Talas lies a mausoleum, supposedly that of Manas, called the Kümböz Manas. However, the inscription on its richly-decorated facade dedicates it to "...the most glorious of women Kenizek-Khatun, the daughter of the Emir Abuka". Legend explains that Manas' wife Kanikey ordered a deliberately false inscription in order to mislead her husband's enemies and prevent the desecration of his body. The building, known as "Manastin Khumbuzu" or "The Ghumbez of Manas", is thought to have been built in 1334. It now contains a museum dedicated to the epic. A ceremonial mound also lies nearby.

Sports
The town has a bandy club.