Arslanbob National Nature Reserve

Many nature reserves of the country are a real find for tourists accustomed to enjoying the unique nature in its pristine form. In the river valley of Arslanbob you can find the national nature reserve of the same name, which includes a large number of walnut forests. International scientific expeditions have already managed to establish that these walnut forests are the largest in the world. The national park is surrounded by many legends   The total area of ​​the reserve is more than 600 thousand hectares. The maximum altitude of the reserve exceeds one and a half thousand meters. Many different legends are associated with this territory. For example, locals like to tell how the great commander Alexander the Great visited here with his army, returning after another successful Eastern campaign. He was so amazed by the local beauty that he decided to take with him some fruits and nuts as a souvenir, which he decided to cultivate in his homeland in Greece. Since then, traditional Kyrgyz nuts have been called “walnuts”. Another version of the spread of the “walnut” can be found in another legend. It tells of a hardworking, humble and deeply religious man. One day, the Prophet Muhammad asked him to find the best place for an earthly paradise. Fulfilling this request, the man was forced to travel a long way until he came to these places. Here he saw a truly beautiful valley, where a mountain river roared, but there was not a single tree here. The man immediately told the Prophet Muhammad about his find, who was very impressed by what he heard. Wanting to help the man, he sent him seeds of various fruit trees in a bag. Among this gift were walnut seeds. Wanting to sow as much of the valley as possible, the man scattered the contents of the prophet’s bag while on top of the mountain. Over time, all the seeds sprouted, forming a real garden, which the man took care of for many long years. The second most popular legend here is associated with the name of the national park. Local residents are sure that it acquired its name in honor of one of the heroes who was killed by enemies as a result of the betrayal of his own wife. The national park gives a good harvest Local authorities have taken care to develop not only ecotourism here, but also to collect good harvests. Official statistics say that almost 5 thousand tons of various food products are collected here annually:  

• Apples;
• Cherry plum;
• Pistachios;
• Nuts.

  It is worth noting that the farming process here is well thought out. Everything happens in strict compliance with environmental legislation. As a result, no harm is done to nature. The very name of the Arslanbob Reserve can be translated as “King of the Forests”, which fully reflects its essence. In a relatively small area, you can find a large species diversity of various flora samples. Speaking about the classic walnut, it is worth noting that scientists have managed to end a long-standing dispute about its origin. Today we can say with confidence that the nut began its victorious march across the planet in Malaysia. There is an assumption that walnut seeds got to the territory of ancient Kyrgyzstan during the Great Silk Road. The valley has many trees that are over a thousand years old. The height of such trees can reach 30 meters, and the diameter of the crown is up to two meters. As a rule, such trees grow at an altitude of 1 to 1.8 kilometers. Life is in full swing in the valley of the same name Speaking about the national park and valley of the same name, we should also stop at the settlement located nearby. According to official data, more than fifteen thousand people live here. From an ethnic point of view, the majority of people are Uzbek. In view of this, tourists are strongly advised to wear a very conservative style of clothing when visiting these places. The central part of the settlement is marked by a large lion monument and a recently built mosque. Also on the territory of the village is a well-known tourist base from the times of the Soviet Union. If desired, tourists have the opportunity to take a walk to one of the waterfalls, the Holy Lake, and so on. A statue of a lion has been erected in the central square of the village, a new mosque is nearby, and a tourist center has also been opened in the area. There is a representative office of the Public Tourism Network here. A little further on there is another waterfall with a Holy Lake, where walking and horseback one-day tours are organized. https://youtu.be/edNb1-O0oL4