The vast territories of fruit and nut forests in the Arslanbob valley are the largest in the world. The area of the forests exceeds 600,000 hectares, and Arslanbob itself is located at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level. Locals tell a legend that Alexander the Great once brought his troops to these lands while returning from his campaign to the East. Leaving this amazing land, he took with him fruits and nuts from the local forests to Greece. Thus, Kyrgyz nuts made their way to Greece, where they became known as "walnuts."
Every year, up to 1,500 tons of nuts and up to 5,000 tons of apples, pistachios, and plums are harvested in the Arslanbob valley. People are grateful for these gifts of nature and take all possible measures to preserve these natural complexes. For many years now, Arslanbob, which translates from Kyrgyz as "king of the forests," has been a national reserve. Like other types of nuts, walnuts are rich in nutrients, and walnut wood is used in furniture production. It is said that the Arslanbob valley was named after a hero of the age who met his death here, betrayed by his own wife to his enemies.
Arslanbob Reserve, Kyrgyzstan There is another version that tells of a humble and hardworking Man whom the Prophet Muhammad tasked with finding the most beautiful and convenient place for paradise on earth. The Man traveled for a long time in distant lands until he stumbled upon a picturesque valley with a foaming mountain river, but without a single tree. He told the Prophet about this place. Inspired by the Man's story of the wonderful valley, the Prophet sent him a bag of seeds of various fruit trees, including walnut seeds. The Man climbed to the top of the mountain and scattered the seeds throughout the valley, which eventually turned into a vast garden that the Man tended for many years.
Scientists have determined that the historical homeland of the walnut is Malaysia. It is possible that they were brought to Kyrgyzstan during the heyday of the Silk Road. Today, in the Arslanbob valley, there are giant trees that are up to 1,000 years old. Powerful, 30-meter tall trees with dome-shaped crowns topping thick trunks that are two meters in circumference grow on the slopes of mountains and along riverbanks at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 meters above sea level.
Arslanbob Reserve, Kyrgyzstan In the Arslanbob valley, there is a village with a population of about 15,000 people. The village's population represents a traditional, predominantly Uzbek community, so travelers in these areas are advised to dress conservatively. In the central square of the village, there is a statue of a lion, and nearby is a new mosque. Since Soviet times, there has been a tourist base in the village area. There is also a representative office of the Public Tourism Network. A little further away is another waterfall and the Holy Lake, where one-day hiking and horseback tours are organized.