A well-known cultural retreat in the mountains above Bishkek has been partly damaged by fire. Supara-2, an ethno-complex in Chunkurchak Gorge, caught fire on the evening of November 4, with flames first reported just before 10 p.m. Authorities believe the blaze started in a stove chimney.
The damage is significant but contained. Part of the kitchen building — somewhere between 350 and 400 square metres — burned down, along with a wooden yurt. Luckily the kitchen was empty when the fire broke out, and firefighters stopped the flames from reaching the forest that surrounds the gorge, a real risk given the site's setting.
The response was substantial: four fire and rescue crews plus an ambulance team worked through the night. The fire was brought under control by 1:15 a.m. on November 5, though crews stayed on site mopping up hotspots until mid-afternoon.
Three people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and were taken to the Emergency Medical Care Hospital in Bishkek. Two were released for outpatient treatment, and the third was admitted in satisfactory condition.
Police have opened an investigation and ordered a forensic fire and technical examination to pin down exactly what happened. Until that's complete, it's unclear when or in what form the affected parts of the complex will reopen.
For travellers, Supara is one of the most popular day trips from the Kyrgyz capital — a collection of traditional-style yurts and wooden buildings where visitors eat Kyrgyz food, drink kymyz (fermented mare's milk) and soak up mountain views without leaving the city's orbit. Chunkurchak Gorge itself is a favourite for hiking, horse riding and, in winter, skiing at the small Chunkurchak resort nearby.
If you have a trip to Bishkek planned, it's worth checking directly with the complex before booking, since the kitchen and at least one yurt are out of action for now. The wider gorge, its trails and the surrounding scenery are unaffected, and Bishkek has plenty of alternative ethno-café and mountain-tour options while the site recovers.
Report via Kyrgyzstan: 24.kg
