Manas is the hero of the Kyrgyz epic of the same name, a hero who united the Kyrgyz people. The epic of Manas is the longest in the world: it is twice as long as the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, more than the Tibetan epic about King Gase.
The monument "Aikol Manas" in Bishkek is dedicated to the main character of the work. It is installed on Ala-Too Square and is a bronze statue depicting a national hero riding a mighty horse. The height of the monument together with the pedestal is 17.55 meters.
The opening of the monument (August 31, 2011) was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence. Initially, it was planned that the batyr would hold a naked sword in his right hand, but later it was decided to sheathe the sword. Now Manas the Magnanimous holds out his hand in a welcoming gesture, which is symbolic, because one of the main features of the inhabitants of Kyrgyzstan is hospitality.