Jyrgalan valley

Jyrgalan valley, also written as Zhargalan, is an amazing mountain valley located in the eastern part of the Issyk-Kul region, next to the border with Kazakhstan to the East and beyond that, China. The valley is 60 kilometers east – southeast from the city of Karakol. There is a village named Jyrgalan as well situated at 2500 meters above sea level and being one of the most remote towns in the Northeast part of Kyrgyzstan. The village is circled by high mountains from all directions but Northwest. Perhaps due to the isolated location, it has recently started to attract many tourists.

The coal mine operations in the area began in 1932 and stimulated a new economic force in the region that was before totally nomadic. The families started to settle in Jyrgalan in the hopes of jobs and better quality of life provided by the new Soviet way of life which mostly overcame the old nomadic lifestyle. Jyrgalan developed during the Soviet times a lot due to the successful mining in the area but with the fall of the Soviet Union the prosperity also collapsed fast as after Kyrgyzstan’s independence the local industry could not replace the need for coal that was steadily provided by the open borders of the union. 

Following independence, residents began to leave Jyrgalan for better opportunities. The younger generations mostly left in search of a better life to Karakol or Bishkek. Today the coal mine is still in operation just on a much smaller scale and most of the old mining equipment is lying down in the nature slowly decaying next to the old mine shafts. Gradually, Jyrgalan almost got emptied, and today there are just a small number of families left. Rather than mining coal again, they chose to exploit their valley’s other great natural resources. They desired to attract tourists here to enjoy the magnificent landscapes and the beautiful scenery and to create new economic opportunities for themselves and for the future generations of Jyrgalan.

Jyrgal translated from Kyrgyz “Pleasure” the name is truly reflected in the unique valley of the central Tien Shan. In summer, visitors come for kymyz treatment centers and for outdoor recreation. In winter, off-piste skiing and snowboarding lovers gather here. Although there is no ski resort in the valley, it is covered with snow from November to March, due to the relative proximity of Lake Issyk-Kul and the lack of wind blowing through the valley. As there is no cable car available many use the all-terrain vehicles which can deliver mountain extreme enthusiasts to the slopes. 

In summer the valley is covered with a carpet of flowers, and at the beginning of the autumn season you can pick up mushrooms, which grow under huge fir trees. USAID has supported the destination management organization that aims to develop economic opportunities. Additionally, infrastructure in Jyrgalan is gradually improving in the hopes of boosting tourism in the area. Nowadays a lot of tourists come to enjoy the calm atmosphere of the area and to walk around in the paths or to trek further and using the Jyrgalan as a base. Several horse treks are available to most of the trekking destinations from Jyrgalan as well.