Another one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan, Kegety Gorge is located on the northern side of the Kyrgyz Ridge, 90 kilometers from the city of Bishkek. Its picturesque nature makes it very interesting and attractive for tourists. A turbulent river with the same name flows through Kegety Gorge, which has many tributaries. The largest of them is the right tributary Köl-Tor, which forms a very beautiful independent gorge, at the headwaters of which there is a lake with turquoise water.
The lake itself is located at an altitude of 2725 m and is the most attractive site for visitors. The river flowing from the lake, which shares its name, goes underground into a landslide that formed here many hundreds of years ago, and emerges from the ground in the forest zone, creating a beautiful cascade with crystal clear water.
The trail to the lake initially runs along the right slope of the gorge, covered with coniferous forests and dense thickets of rowan, honeysuckle, wild rose, and barberry, which are later replaced by juniper thickets. Those, in turn, transition to alpine meadows at higher altitudes.
Three kilometers above the lake are the moraines and large glaciers of Köl-Tor and Anastasia, which are clearly visible from the lake. Through the passes located here, one can reach the neighboring gorges of Tuyuk Shamsinsky and Kegety.
Kegety Gorge is more gentle than Köl-Tor and is surrounded by steep slopes. About 5-6 km from the ranger station, a small stream flows into the Kegety River from the left, which forms a beautiful 20-meter waterfall 100 m from the road. The waterfall cascades down from a limestone terrace and is located close to the road that runs through the valley, making it convenient for tourists. Further up, the road is periodically washed away by debris flows for 10 kilometers. The unique picture of the destructive power of nature is simply mesmerizing. Here is also the second major tributary of the Kegety River - At-Jailoo, located 11 km from the ranger station. The At-Jailoo gorge forms a beautiful area known for its now-abandoned mines.
The slopes of the gorge are mostly covered with steppe high grass meadows, as well as forest and shrub-type trees. Many useful medicinal herbs grow on the slopes of the gorge. These include herbs such as sage, succession, St. John's wort, marshmallow, medicinal thyme, and other beneficial plants. The mountain slopes are also rich in various forest berries. Here you can find strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and other berries.
This gorge, like other gorges in Kyrgyzstan, is not deprived of the most important feature – a waterfall. The presence of a waterfall always attracts tourists. The waterfall is located near the road that runs through the gorge, which is very convenient for tourists. Water cascades down from a limestone terrace located at the confluence of the left tributary of the Kegety River with the river in the main valley. The height of the waterfall reaches 20 meters.
Even during Soviet times, there was a road through the mountain in Kegety Gorge leading towards Kochkorka. Today, this road is impassable. Even in summer, landslides often occur there, making it very difficult to pass, even on horseback.
From Kegety Gorge, it is possible to reach the neighboring Köl-Tor Gorge and its namesake lake in two days of travel. This lake is a dead lake. From this gorge, you can further reach the Jailoo Bel-Saz to the Sharki Ratma waterfall and to the Weeping Cave of Kara-Unkur.
On the way to Kegety Gorge, 12 km from the city of Tokmak, there is a unique structure from the 10th-11th centuries called the Burana Tower. The height of the tower is 21.7 meters. The Burana Tower is part of an architectural museum protected by the state. It is a first-class monument of architectural heritage.
Useful Information: Recently, a mountain hut called "Kegety-Tur" was opened in Köl-Tor Gorge. The opening of the hut was the result of a collaborative effort between DNT (Norwegian Association of Hiking), the Tourist Union of Kyrgyzstan, and the travel company "MUZA Travel."
"Kegety Tur" is the first guesthouse in the mountains of Kegety Gorge – Köl-Tor, with a cozy homely atmosphere, which opened its doors in May 2010. The guesthouse offers magnificent views of the mountain landscapes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too from its windows. Visitors can stay for several days to relax and enjoy the surrounding nature, as well as take horseback and hiking trips to the waterfall and Köl-Tor Lake, wander through the coniferous forest, and hike to the glaciers.
Convenient access and a good dirt road will allow tourists to come here year-round in passenger cars and minibuses.
The distance from Bishkek to the guesthouse is 95 km. To reach the gorge, you need to turn right at the center of the village of Ivanovka (located at the 41st kilometer of the Bishkek-Issyk-Kul road). Approximately 35 km after the turn, a straight road across the bridge will lead to the main Kegety Gorge, and before the bridge, turning left for an additional 7 km will take you to the guesthouse.
The guesthouse – "mountain cabin" accommodates 30 guests. The hotel has 9 rooms, including one 8-bed room, three 4-bed rooms, three 2-bed rooms, and two improved 2-bed rooms. The price of accommodation includes breakfast, but tourists wishing to stay for several days can opt for full board at an additional cost.
Next to the guesthouse, there is a kumis meadow where mares are milked. Those interested can try kumis or, by arranging with suppliers, consume it regularly.
You can view photos of Kegety Gorge and Köl-Tor Lake in our photo gallery.
Source: time.kg