Waterfall "Maiden's Tears" for Family Happiness
Located in the Jeti-Oguz gorge, about thirty kilometers east of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, it attracts the attention of mountain tourism enthusiasts with its clear waters and beautiful views that open up from the trails leading to it. The waterfall can be reached from the city of Karakol, the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region.
The Maiden's Tears waterfall (the variant "Maiden's Braids" is rarely used) is a beautiful natural feature located on one of the mountains framing the Jeti-Oguz gorge from the west.
The height of the waterfall is just under 40 meters (while it is located at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level). It is not the most water-rich waterfall in the Issyk-Kul region, but it is probably the most famous and visited. The journey to "Maiden's Tears" will be appreciated by mountain tourism lovers – there are trails leading to the waterfall that offer excellent views of the gorge. However, after rain, it can be difficult to pass on such a trail with tourists coming towards you, as the paths are narrow in some places and located at a high altitude. The road to the waterfall is tough, but it's worth it!!
Like many other natural monuments in Kyrgyzstan, the waterfall is associated with several legends and beliefs.
According to one of them, the waterfall represents the tears of a girl who did not marry due to the death of her beloved. According to another legend, all unmarried girls should wash themselves in these waters to quickly find family happiness.
This waterfall is extremely popular with tourists, so during the peak season, quite a few excursions are brought to it.
