Our City
Iyık Janyl is the spiritual capital of Irad. The city grew around the Church of St. Janyl, built in 1727 on Cathedral Hill above the river Naryn, where the Naryn leaves its gorge through the foothills of the Fergana Range. The church and the ruins of Old Iyık Janyl are on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2004).
About 310,000 people live in the city. It is a city of governorate significance, about 347 km from Talas by State Route 1 through the Otmek tunnel and over the Ala-Bel pass.
Parts of the City
| Quarter | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower Town | The western flats of the Naryn: the old bazaar centre, Soviet blocks, orchards and walnut groves. Most of our people live here. |
| Cathedral Hill | The old town and the cathedral precinct with the seminary, library, archives, pilgrim hostel and the Irad Palace of Art. Reached by the Cathedral Hill road from State Route 1. |
| Shahr-i Khunuk | Summer and dacha quarter upriver on Khunuk Creek. Teahouses. |
| Diz-i Safid | The Kara-Khanid citadel on its knoll in the middle of the city, now a park. |
| Jogorku | The upper quarters on the slopes: Kara-Jar, Tash-Kyya and Chong-Say. |
Climate
Hot summers (July up to 34°C) and mild winters (January down to -5°C). Most rain falls in spring.
Bazar Street 1, Lower Town