Ghost town Engilchek

Kyrgyzstan

Once a lively village with 5000 inhabitants, now an abandoned ghost town in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Engilchek was gradually abandoned due to rising unemployment after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The town is located near the Chinese border in a remote, hard-to-reach area with numerous raw material deposits. Abandoned buildings and wall paintings are witnesses of a long gone time. Only the remaining 30 families who call Engilchek home give the place a breath of life.

In 1980, under the leadership of the Soviet Union, the Mine Engilchek where, among other things, tin and tungsten were mined. The newly created jobs represented an opportunity that workers from all surrounding regions did not want to miss. Entire families migrated to Engilchek in the hope of building a life and a future in the burgeoning city. In its heyday, the city had 5000 inhabitants and lacked for nothing, from hospital to schools to a small airport. As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, a large part of the city's population was forced to leave their homes and look for work elsewhere. Thus, life gradually faded from Engilchek and the substantial buildings that were once part of a vibrant society were left to the tide. Nowadays, only 30 families live in the ghost town, some only for a few years. Their goal is to bring life back to the village and to attract tourists from all over the world to come to Engilchek.

Although the town is abandoned, there is plenty to see and do here. Meet the residents of Engilchek, wander through the abandoned streets and be impressed by all the remaining details of a bygone era. Immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere that this unique place exudes. Just outside are also the Kara-Tash hot springs, which are perfect for a relaxing bath thanks to their pleasantly warm water.

Engilchek is not connected to public transport and is reached mainly by car via the Ashuu Pass. This is one of the highest roads in the country and accordingly an experience in itself. In the winter months, accessibility to the village can be limited due to the large masses of snow on the unsecured roads. Since Engilchek is located within the border zone with China, it is imperative to obtain the proper permit for the stay before arriving.

You want to see Engilchek with your own eyes without having to do all the preparations yourself?
Check out our Kyrgyzstan trip during which we will visit not only the ghost town but also other unique places in Kyrgyzstan.

Fun Fact

According to rumors, a UFO crashed not too far from Engilchek in Shaitan Mazar ("Devil's Grave") in 1991. The unidentified flying object was tracked by Soviet Union aircraft soldiers to the Kyrgyz mountains before the mission had to be aborted due to unexplained technical malfunctions.

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