One of the most beautiful resorts in southern Kyrgyzstan is the Arslanbob region, known not only for its unique relict walnut forests, which are the only ones in the world, but also for its fairy-tale waterfalls created by mountain rivers rushing through rocky gorges.
One of the most famous of these is the Arslanbob waterfall. It consists of two waterfalls: the Small and the Big, so the name "Arslanbob Waterfalls" is more accurate.
The Arslanbob Waterfalls are located in the Jalal-Abad region, one and a half kilometers from the village of the same name, in the gorge of the Babash-Ata ridge, which cuts through the western and southern slopes of the Fergana and Chatkal ridges. In translation, Arslanbob means "lion's mouth," but you won't encounter the king of beasts here. This place is home to two beautiful waterfalls: the Big and Small Arslanbob Waterfalls.
The Big Waterfall is located to the north of the village. The waterfall resembles a long tongue sticking out from a crack in the rock. This narrow stream of water cascades down a sheer cliff from a height of 80 meters with a deafening roar – it is truly an impressive sight!
Firstly, getting to the waterfall is not easy; the approaches and slopes have quite slippery scree.
Secondly, it is impossible to get too close to the waterfall and see it in its entirety; it falls into an abyss like into a huge vessel, and you can only peek down by crawling because it is a bit scary. At the very bottom, it crashes onto a stone ledge, and what happens next is not visible due to the very narrow chasm.
The Small Waterfall is more popular than the Big one due to its location and easy accessibility. It is only 1.5 kilometers from the center of the village to the waterfall, and the path is straightforward enough to walk, however, there is also another way to reach the waterfall – by local transport, which can be rented at the main square. The Small Waterfall is wide and cascades from a height of only 25 meters; the stream that forms it flows very calmly, but at the cliff, it gains speed and rushes down the rocks as a powerful flow. You can enjoy the waterfall from the observation platform located opposite it and then descend to its base. The descent to the base is not difficult; there are several metal and stone stairs, which even inexperienced tourists can easily manage, but once you reach it, you can feel the power of its falling streams even more and get soaked by the water avalanche releasing billions of splashes. This is also fantastically beautiful! Keep in mind that your footwear should be comfortable with a non-slip sole.
Not far from the waterfall are prayer caves, one of which is called the "Cave of 40 Angels."
The waterfalls are not the only natural creation worth visiting in these areas; the unique relict walnut forests, the only ones in the world, are also quite popular and are associated with several ancient legends.
To see the waterfalls, you can arrive in the village in two ways: one is by personal car and the other is by public transport. If you are traveling by public transport, you need to get to the village of Bazar-Korgon, from which there are direct routes to the village of Arslanbob. Buses run regularly, with a frequency of one hour. The local population is friendly and gladly tells tourists the way to the waterfalls. The town itself is very cozy and calm, with several bazaars where you can purchase various souvenirs.
