Lake Issyk-Kul. Be careful who you upset.
In the northeast of our country, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lies Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest mountain lake in the world. At some point, on almost all our tours, you will come to this beautiful lake with clear blue water.
There are several legends about its origins, and this is one of our favourites. It is about the young woman who sacrificed her life for her loved one.
How it started
It is said that in ancient times there was a city that belonged to an old and powerful Kahn. He heard about this young woman who was said to be beautiful, but poor. He decided he wanted her. However the girl loved someone else. Her loved one had to travel far away, but before he left he gave his ring to her. He told her never to take off this ring for as long as she wore the ring nothing could happen to her; and he left and promised to return soon.
The Kahn makes his move
As soon as he had gone the Kahn’s deputies arrived laden with gifts, but the young woman refused to go and said she loved another man. She left for the mountains and hoped to find her lover there. Suddenly she noticed that the ring was missing, she cried and decided to return home. Unfortunately along the way she was ambushed by the Khan’s armed horsemen who took her to his castle.
The Kahn showered her with gifts and expensive jewelry, but still she refused his advances. Ultimately the Khan decided to make her his bride by force. When he walked up to the young woman to grab her, she ran to the open window and leapt out with a loud scream.
Never upset a lady
At that moment the walls shook and the granite arches of the castle collapsed. Torrential water flowed from all the gorges, it rose higher and higher, the Kahn’s castle disappeared and the valley filled with water. And so Lake Issyk-Kul was create