Sulayman Mountain

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View of Osh seen from the Sulayman Mountain
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View of Osh seen from the Sulayman Mountain

The Sulayman Mountain, Sulayman Rock or Sulayman Throne is located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and was once a place of Muslim pilgrimage. The rock rises abruptly from the surrounding plain landscape in the Fergana Valley and is a popular place among locals and visitors.

Sulayman is a prophet in the Qur'an and the mountain contains a shrine that supposedly marks his grave. Women who ascend to the shrine on top crawl though an opening across the holy rock will according to the legend give birth to healthy children. The mountain is full of trees and bushes that are draped with "prayer flags", small pieces of cloth that are tied to them. The mountain is still a popular place for local Muslims, with stairs leading up to the highest peak where a small mosque is located.

The rock also contains a museum that was carved during the Soviet era, which can found in one of its the caves, showing archeological findings from the area and its history. At its lower parts the mountain is surrounded by a cemetery.