Safid-Bulan
This was once the name of the village of Gulistan, located fifteen kilometers from the village of Ala-Buka — the center of the Ala-Buka district in the Osh region. In the IX-X centuries, an urban settlement emerged here, which became a developed medieval city in the XI-XII centuries. Today, there are not many ancient structures to see, but the mausoleum of Shah-Fazil, built at the turn of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, has been preserved. Built on a rock, this mausoleum is unique in its architectural design and decorative embellishments among other architectural monuments of Central Asia. The mausoleum sharply contrasts with the Uzgen one, as it has a complete absence of external decoration. The interior, however, is extremely richly decorated: stucco carvings with pale yellow and blue underpainting, graphically executed geometric and floral motifs, inscriptions.
On the territory of the ancient settlement, you can still touch the past today by drinking water from a medieval hauz paved with burnt bricks. The later constructions, dated to the XVIII-XIX centuries, include the Kyrgyk mosque and adobe mausoleums.
A more serious transformation is required for the system of mountain-recreational tourism. Alongside the existing tourist bases "Arslanbob" and "Sary-Chelek," which currently operate only in the summer season, it is advisable to create a large ski complex "Kyzyl-Unkur" in the eponymous gorge. Oriented towards year-round operation, it will be able to accommodate tourists from nearby areas of Southern Kyrgyzstan, as well as neighboring Andijan and Kokand regions of Uzbekistan. Considering the global interest in skiing, it can be confidently said that the complex will also attract foreign tourists. The principles of operation and planning of the complex are fundamentally the same as those in the Issyk-Kul basin.
The tourist bases "Arslanbob" and "Sary-Chelek," located in unique natural corners of Southern Kyrgyzstan, maintain a relatively independent operation.
The "Arslanbob" base is located in the picturesque eponymous area of the Fergana Range, whose gentle slopes are covered with relic walnut-fruit forests. Alongside walnuts, there is an abundance of apple and pear trees, cherry plum and cherry, rosehip, sea buckthorn, and barberry. Near the village of Arslanbob, there are two of the largest waterfalls in Kyrgyzstan. One cascades from a height of 80 meters among the rocks, while the other is smaller, at 30 meters. The Arslanbab mausoleum — a 16th-century tomb considered sacred by Muslims — also attracts tourists. Nearby is a cave that is of interest to spelunkers.
Staying at the "Arslanbob" and "Sary-Chelek" tourist bases can be diversified not only by mountain hiking, horseback riding, and other types of tourism, but also by educational activities. A strict adherence to all environmental protection measures is a prerequisite for their operation. After visiting the protected area, everyone should carry a micro-reserve in their soul.
The third direction for the development of tourism in Southern Kyrgyzstan is hunting tourism. The main goal of developing this type of recreation is to generate foreign currency. This may astonish the reader: is hunting compatible with conservation? But here is the testimony of researcher Yu. S. Lynov: "In hunting farms, a person 'cuts off' the peaks and troughs of the sinusoid, intensifying hunting pressure at high populations and excluding ungulates from economic use during their population depressions."
Tourists can be offered the "Aflatun" zone, located 220 km from Osh, where the Aflatun hunting area is abundant with wild boars, ibex, chukars, chamois, and trout. The "Kara-Suu" zone is located 200 km from Osh, where the same animals as in the "Aflatun" zone can be found. To reach another zone — "Kyzyl-Unkur" — one must travel 170 km. Here, in addition to the animals typical of other areas of the Osh region, porcupines can be found. The last zone — "Yassy" — is located 150 km from Osh. All these zones are priority areas for development, and they all operate independently and autonomously, as they are far from Osh. In this case, Osh serves as a transport and transfer hub.
For organizing hunting tours, it is planned to retrofit and reconstruct the existing shelters "Kyzyl-Unkur" and "Salam-Alyk" (Yassy) into homes for hunters and fishermen. In addition, the creation of two completely new homes for hunters and fishermen — "Aflatun" and "Kara-Suu," located in the eponymous gorges, is planned. The operation of the hunter's homes, as mentioned earlier, will contribute to generating the foreign currency that is so necessary for the republic.
The region is also favorable for the development of auto tourism. For this category of tourists, the creation of two campgrounds is planned, located at the busiest road intersections. The "Kara-Kul" campground, with 150 places, is planned to be located near the city of Kara-Kul on the "Bishkek — Osh" road. The service area of this campground includes the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve, picturesque mountain gorges with the well-known Kara-Suu lake, the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, and historical sites associated with the name of Toktogul Satylganov.
