Sulayman Mountain

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

For a site located in Balochistan, Pakistan known by the same name, see Takht-e-Sulaiman
For a site in West Azarbaijan, Iran known by the same name, see Takht-i-Suleiman

The Sulayman Mountain, Sulayman Rock or Sulayman Throne is located in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan and was once a major place of Muslim pilgrimage. The rock rises abruptly from the surrounding plains of the Fergana Valley and is a popular place among locals and visitors, with a splendid view.

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 and crawl though an opening across the holy rock will, according to legend, give birth to healthy children. The trees and bushes on the mountain are draped with numerous "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 built by Bobur in 1510 is located. It is said that for Central Asian Muslims this site is the third holiest place after Mecca and Medina. [1]

The rock also contains a museum that was carved during the Soviet era, showing archeological findings from the area and its history. The lower slope of the mountain is surrounded by a cemetery.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Osh. Fantastic Asia Ltd. Retrieved on March 6, 2006. “For Central Asia Muslims Taht-I-Suleiman is the 3rd sacred place after Mecca and Medina. On the top there is an ancient mosque which operates till the present time and was built by Bobur in 1510. There is also unique museum in a natural cave.”


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