SOME OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

Aflatun : Djalal Abad : On the South Eastern slopes of the Chaktal mountain range.

Ak Unkur : Djalal Abad : A cave by the river Bala Chichkan.

Ala Bell Pass : Djalal Abad : At 3184 m one of the major passes on the Bishkek Osh road at the top of the Chichkan gorge.

Ala Bulka : Djalal Abad : Near the town of Ala Bulka is the Shakh Fazil mausoleum dating from the 11th/12th century — remarkable for it's  internal decor — although it lacks external decoration. (see Safed Bulan).

Arkyt : Djalal Abad : The village village is well laid out, relatively well maintained and looks picturesque and is located within the boundaries of the Sary Chelek Zaprovednik (Bio-diversity reserve) and, as such, offers a good base for visitors to the region with wide views on the surrounding mountains; an attractive river running through it; animals grazing freely; almost no cars and traffic; friendly people; fresh local produced food available and is relatively cool in summer and protected in winter.

There is a museum is situated in a building next to the Zapovednik administration office which contains a topographical model of the Zapovednik, stuffed animals, insects and birds, and examples of different kind of trees and their timber. Labelling and descriptions are in Russian.

A Community Based Tourism project operates in the village offering homestays and other services.

Avletim : Djalal Abad : The Avletim valley has attractive gorges and forested mountains. There is a jeep track up an impressive gorge to a jailoo with extensive opportunities to explore the high mountain areas.

Chaar Tash : Djalal Abad : The Chaar Tash petroglyphs are in a remote region, North of the Naryn River, near the point where the borders of Djalal Abad, Chui and Naryn oblasts meet.

Chichkan : Djalal Abad : (= «mouse» in Kyrgyz)

The Bishkek-Osh road follows the Chichkan river between Suusamir and and the Toktogul reservoir, The river flows into the reservoir just West of the town of Toktogul on the northern shore. There is a nature reserve here, and off the tributary Bala Chichkan in the south of the Chickan valley is the Ak Unkur cave.

There are two highmountain lakes (at an altitude of over 3300 m), and one of them features a 60 m. waterfall.

There is a yurt camp and guest house run by a Bishkek based tour company in the valley.

Chunkurchak : Djalal Abad : In the Chaktal range, Esat of Lake Sary Chelek, — a collection of seven mountain lakes.

Djani Bazar : Djalal Abad : At the Southern extreme of the Chaktal valley the road from Djalal Abad and Tash Kumir swings North towards Talas and here lies the town of Djani Bazar. Nearby is the Idris-Paygambar mausoleum (dating from the 13th century) Several hundred Muslim pilgrims visit this site each year some from far away. A small basic hostel for pilgrims has been built near by.

Jylgyn : Djalal Abad : The village of Jylgyn lies in the «buffer zone» which surrounds the Sary Chelek Zapovednik (Biodiversity reserve) and lies 7km from the entrance to the park. The Sary Chelek Tourbaza (holiday camp) is found here. The tour base was established by the Federation of Trade Unions in 1974 and was the largest tour base in South Kyrgyzstan in Soviet times and was the most important source of tourists to Sary Chelek Zapovednik. It was deliberately established outside the reserve itself, to help reduce pressures on the park — and access was supposed to be strictly controlled — but apparently it wasn«t as strictly controlled as it was should have been.

Kalmak Kirchin : Djalal Abad : A small village about 60 km northeast of Djalal Adab, which is the starting point for a visit to Saimalu Tash.

Kambarata : Djalal Abad : The Kambarata Canyon lies to the South of the Naryn River, just before if reaches the Toktogul Reservior. With high, rocky cliff walls offering limited observation points, rapids and whirlpools — it is a popular spot for white water rafting.

Kara Jygach : Djalal Abad : Among the natural sights to the South of Lake Sary Chelek is Kara-Jygach, which is just one example of a beautiful geological feature, stone columns moulded by the forces of erosion and the Padysha Ata canyon which presents a picturesque view of an beautiful pristine mountain landscape — it is also a place of pilgrimage.

Kara Kul : Djalal Abad : A dormitory town for the workers at the main Toktogul power station, which is nearby. It is possible to arrange tours of the dam and power station, which is one of a series of five across the River Naryn through the gorge down to Tash Kumir.

The dam was completed after 14 years construction in 1976 — and it features on the 100 som note. Yet more dams are planned — but it is not clear when and if these plans will be implemented. As well as being a major producer of welectricity which Kyrgyzstan exports to neighbouring countires — it has also been the source of much dispute with Uzbekistan which lies further down the river — as Kyrgyzstan controls the flow of water which is needed for irrigation of cottong fields etc. in Uzbekistan. At one point the Uzbek armed forces apparently held exercises which looked suspiciously like a rehearsal for seizing control of the dam.

Just to the North, a «golden tiger» ornament was discovered.

Kara Suu : Djalal Abad : Two lakes at an altitude of 1998 m, set amongst fir forests and meadowland. There are a number of small villages along the valley with Community Based Tourism accommodation and other services. A jeep track leads 3 km above Kyzyl Kol which offers opportunities for trekking and horse riding over three passes to the northern and southern ends of Sary Chelek lake and to Arkyt in summer months. Other horse trails and trekking routes up the valley to Kara Kamych lake and on into the Chatkal valley through the Sary Chelek bio-reserve, thtough the beautiful Jarik Tash valley and to Toktogul are also possible.

The valley is populated, with many small farms along the river. Many of them have been established since 1999 and some even lack electricity. It has been described as «a cultural landscape where man is important but nature dominates».

Kara Tokoi : Djalal Abad : In the Chaktal Range, North of Lake Sary Chelek — an area with a great number of high altitude mountain lakes. Cliff paintings of wild animals (dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries) are found here at a height 3000 m.

Kazarman : Djalal Abad : Kazarman has the reputation of being a «Wild-West» type of town — possibly because of it's  connections with the nearby open-cast goldmining and refining facilities. It is located on the main road between Naryn and Djalal Abad and serves as a stopping point on this journey. The road is closed for most of the year — because the high passes are blocked by snow — and even when it is open — it takes about 18 hours and is not an easy drive (even if the scenery can be spectacular).

The Naryn river flows by, and the mountains that surround the town are. They are said to be good for hunting and fishing. To the South lies one of the access points for Sailaimu Tash.

There is a Community Based Tourism project based here which can organize accommodation and other services.

Koja Ata : Djalal Abad : The valley leads into the Sary Chelek Bio-reserve.

Kyzyl Unkur : Djalal Abad : (= «Red Cave» in Kyrgyz)

Fifteen kilometers from Arslan Bob. Situated in nut woods, there is a hunting reserve around the nearby Yassa river. There is a small holiday camp here.

Padsha-Ata : Djalal Abad : Not far to the north of Kerben . This is a gorge and fast flowing river up stream from Kashka-Suu. A road runs along the gorge to Karabashat village and Saint Padsha-Ata Mazar (18—19C).

A road runs along the gorge to Karabashat village and Saint Padsha-Ata Mazar (dating from the 18th and 19th centuries). A spectacular area with thick birch groves running along the course of the river. The valley narrows and the power of the water increases, turning huge stones loudly, in a white mist of water vapour. Passing through the gorge the valley widens and the sides are covered with thick Tien-Shan fir forests. White birches line the banks with other assorted shrubs. Several tributaries join the main river cascading through narrow canyons with walls upto 400 m high. After another gorge the river opens out at 2000 m to flood across a wide meadow with a beautiful fir grove. Snow fields and a small glacier with three mountain peaks over 4 km, are seen to the north.

Ortok : Djalal Abad : a village about 60 kilometers ANorthwest of Djalal Abad, set in one of the densest forest regions in Kyrgyzstan. — surrounded by mountains and mountain meadows. There is a wide variety of flora — trees, grasses and other plants — and fauna. About 6 kilometers outside the village is acliff with an extensive, labarinth, cave system

There is a Community Based Tourism group based in the village which can provide accommodation and other services.

Safed-Bulan : Djalal Abad : In the Moslem graveyard, on outskirts of the village of Safed-Bulan, between the villages of Ala-Buka and Kerben, is the brick mausoleum of Shah-Fazil, reputedly built by his son around 1050 AD and it is still an operating Sufi mosque and pilgrimage site. The central cupola is almost 16 m tall, and the interior is decorated with decorative panels, rosettes and relief inscriptions with Quranic texts and inscriptions in Farsi. Ibn-Nasir’s tomb stands in the middle surrounded by Islamic grave stones or kayrak. The site underwent major restorations in 1978 and 1996. People know the site as Safed Bulon, after a black maiden who is said to have lived in the area. Please note, the mausoleum is an example of living Central Asian Sufism, i. e. a site of religious significance — not a sterilized ’monument’ or ersatz culture, and so visitors should dress modestly when visiting.

Sargyr Pass : Djalal Abad : At 3100m this is the highest point on the 177 km road between Kazarman and Djalal Abad and clearly marks the distinction between a spectacular road clinging to the mountain side and fertile mountain valleys. The pass is closed for most of the year by snow.

Tash Kumir : Djalal Abad : A coal mining town which stretches for several kilometers on the side of the Naryn River below the Toktogul reservoir which serves as a starting point for trips into the Sary Chelek reserve. The Bishkek-Osh road between the reservoir and Tash Kumir passes through a spectacular gorge.

Nearby is Kara Suu where archaeologists have discovered the remains of a stone age settlement.

Toktogul : Djalal Abad : A small town located on the Norther shore of the Toktogul Reservior — named for it's  famous son — the akyn Toktogul Satilganov (1884—1933).

The reservoir was created in 1976 — after 14 years construction work on the Toktogul Dam was completed — when the Ketmentub valley was flooded. Some 26 communities were displaced and relocated along the main road which was forced to swing round the Eastern end of the rerviour when the valley was flooded, and archaeologists completed several excavations of barrows dating from the 8th and 9th centuries.

Uyum Tash : Djalal Abad : On the way to Sary Chelek — renowned as an ancient place of judgment. A person who had committed lots of sins would try to pass through he would get stuck, squeezed or crushed but a pure person would pass through unharmed. If someone was suspected of lying or stealing, they were asked to visit this place — and the fear this potential experience could inspire was sufficient to lead to full confessions

Uzun Akmat : Djalal Abad : In the Azun Akmat canyon there is a Forest reserve of 500 hectares, with a «hunting farm», and several historical monuments.