Arslanbob

Arslanbob is a vast walnut forest nestled in the mountains of Jalal-Abad Province, situated along the Fergana and Chatkal Ranges at an altitude of 1,700 meters. Arslanbob is not only the largest walnut forest in the world, but it is also a protected area in Kyrgyzstan, renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity.

This ancient forest has existed for millions of years, with some scientists estimating its age to be over 50 million years. Spanning an impressive 700,000 hectares, the forest is home to an array of trees, including walnut, pistachio, almond, wild plum, pear, and many others—around 130 different species of plants thrive here. Some of the walnut trees are over a thousand years old, and each tree produces between 150 to 400 kilograms of walnuts every year.

Beyond the forest itself, the region offers a variety of other attractions. Visitors can explore several waterfalls, such as the Big Arslanbob Waterfall, which stands at 80 meters, and the smaller Arslanbob Waterfall, at 35 meters. Though the trek to the big waterfall is long, most tourists opt for the shorter hike to the smaller one.

There are also several lakes in the reserve, with the most revered being Kol Mazar, considered sacred by the locals. This holy lake is a popular pilgrimage site where people come to pray, camp, and perform rituals like sheep sacrifices. For those interested in a more adventurous journey, the community-based tourism (CBT) office in Arslanbob offers guides and porters for the challenging three-night trek to Kol Mazar from Arslanbob.

This walnut grove is regarded as the oldest in the world, with some trees dating back over a thousand years. It is the walnut forests that have made Arslanbob famous. According to legend, it was here that Alexander the Great first tasted the walnut, bringing its seeds back to his homeland, where the nut later became known as the «Greek walnut.» Alexander did indeed reach the Fergana Valley, where he founded the city of Khujand, originally naming it Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest).

There is another legend about Arslanbob’s name, which translates to «Lion’s Gate,» though this is likely an allegory. According to the tale, Arslanbob was a disciple of the Prophet Muhammad. One day, the Prophet selected Arslanbob to deliver his teachings to a young man in the Turkic lands, along with a sacred amanat (a symbolic object meant to be safeguarded)—a piece of persimmon from his table. With the amanat tucked in his cheek, Arslanbob wandered the earth for centuries, searching for this disciple, while becoming a great warrior in the process. In another version of the legend, Muhammad sought a volunteer from among his disciples for this task, and when Arslanbob stepped forward, the Prophet revealed that the disciple would not be born for several centuries. He then asked Allah to grant Arslanbob 500 years of life. That disciple was none other than Ahmad Yasawi, the most revered Turkic saint, often likened to an apostle of Islam. Yasawi’s colossal mausoleum in Turkestan was built by none other than Tamerlane. According to the Kazakh version of the legend, Arslanbob passed away after completing his mission and was buried in ancient Otrar. Yasawi’s unfinished mausoleum repeatedly collapsed until someone realized that they first needed to build a mausoleum for the master before completing the one for the great disciple. In the Fergana version, Arslanbob remained immortal (though not invulnerable!) and retreated to the warm forests of Kara-Unkur, where he lived until the 20th century. Most likely, this story refers to a dynasty of wise preachers who became immortalized in legend as a single figure.

Reaching Arslanbob is easiest via Bazar-Korgon, located on the Bishkek-Osh highway, where shared taxis depart every 30 minutes to an hour, taking passengers up the gorge to the village of the same name. The village of Arslanbob itself is more like a large town, with a population primarily consisting of Uzbeks who still adhere to traditional ways of life. The village’s central square is split by the swift-flowing Kara-Unkur River. In the heart of the village square stands a statue of a lion (a fitting tribute to the village’s name, which translates as «King of the Forest»). Nearby is the mausoleum and mosque of Arstanbap-Ata, adorned with intricately carved walnut doors that date back to the 15th century.

Three key attractions lie close to the village—the two waterfalls and the walnut forest. Though each is just 5 to 7 kilometers from the village, they lie along different roads, requiring a return to the village to visit each one.

For first-time visitors to Arslanbob, the legendary walnut forests are a must-see. According to legend, the village was named in honor of a righteous man to whom Allah granted eternal life as a reward for cultivating the walnut groves. The village is also home to the mazar (tomb) of this revered gardener, now regarded as a saint, and a mosque that attracts pilgrims from across Central Asia.

There is another version of how the village got its name. According to local lore, in the 11th century, a hero named Arslanbob lived in these lands, but was betrayed by his wife. Unable to forgive her treachery, he died near the walnut forests. To this day, it is said that traces of his blood, along with the imprints of his hands and feet, can still be found among the trees.