Arslanbob
Encyclopedia
Arslanbob is small town, sub district, valley, mountain range, and a large wild walnut
(Juglans regia) forest in the Jalal-Abad Province
of Kyrgyzstan
. Kyrgyzstan's first known export to Europe was the Arslanbob walnut. Two waterfalls are located in the area which attract tourists, pilgrims and other visitors during the spring and summer months.
The town of Arslanbob has around 1500 inhabitants; 77% of the population is Uzbek
, 22% is Kyrgyz, and less than 1% is Russian, Tatar, Tajik, or Chechen
.
descent as in that language, Aslan translates to "lion" and bab to "gate", while in Turkic languages
, ata means "father of". ergo "father of the lion gate". 'Bob', used as a suffix, is a traditional practice used in the Arslanbob which denotes "a traveler and explorer".
, and these formed the Europe
an plantations. It is also said that he exported the walnut plants to Greece
during his campaigns in Central Asia
. This is inferred from the usage of the word "Gretski", meaning "Greek" nuts for walnuts in Russian
. Hence, it is nicknamed as the Greek nut.
via Bazar-Korgon
. Kyzylunkyur
is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away, reachable via Oogon-Talaa, which is situated in the Kara-Unkur valley.
The walnut forest is within the 60000 hectares (148,263.1 acre) forest situated between the Fergana
and Chatkal Mountains. The walnut forest is located at altitudes varying between 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft) and 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) above sea level
on the Fergana range's south-facing slopes. At 11000 hectares (27,181.6 acre), the Arslanbob woodland is the largest walnut grove on earth.
Behind the town of Arslanbob are the Khrebet Babash-Ata Mountains. There are two waterfalls nearby. One measures 80 metres (262.5 ft) high and has a slippery scree
slope; it is situated in a cliff face north of the village. Another, to the east, is 23 metres (75.5 ft) in height and has two prayer caves, one of which is known as the Cave of the 40 Angels. Within walking distance is the Dashman Forest Reserve
, another walnut forest.
Arslanbob's grove produces 1500 tonnes of walnuts per year and is the largest single natural source of walnuts on Earth. It is considered a treasure of the southern forests of Kirghizia as the trees have a life span of about 1000 years and yield large amount of fruits known for its medicinal qualities as it contains "vitamins, microelements and other nutrients". It is a popular wood for making furniture and other crafts.
World Conservation Union
(IUCN) held a workshop in September 1995 at Arslanbob to specifically discuss "an exceptional botanical garden" of walnut fruit trees found in Kirghizia distributed over the two large forest ranges of Arslanbob Kugart and Khoja Ata running east west, which in the past covered an area of 630900 hectares (1,558,986.5 acre). However, over the decades of exploitation, the area under walnut trees was reduced. These forests are dense and large with particular species composition that have high economic value.
Subsequent to World War II
, in 1945, an experimental forest research station was reorganized at Arslanbob under the jurisdiction of the Forest Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the then USSR. The research was aimed at the establishment of commercial walnut plantations and maximizing production of fruit, valuable timber and other forest plantations. Reports indicated good results of walnut-fruit cultivation as a result of the joint research efforts.
Various wild forms of other fruit-bearing species including apple (Malus siversiana), pear (Pyrus korshinsky), and plum (Prunus sogdiana).
Fauna
Raccoons were introduced into the Arslanbob forest, now inhabiting an area of about 12000–15000 ha (29,652.6–37,065.8 ) in the western part of Achinsk district in Dzhalalabad region.
, now in ruins, is near the forest. The 16th century mazar
(shrine or tomb) to Arslanbob-Ata is near the center of the village. A new brick building, painted white, surrounds it and was built in the 20th century. The entrance to this tomb is made of a walnut wood door frame and decorated with ram’s horns. There is also a new mosque adjoining the tomb which has an impressive ceiling. The center of the tariqat of the indigenous Sufi order of the Hairy Ishans, and offshoot of Yasawiya is in the city of Arslanbob.
Legends
A legend has it that a disciple of Prophet Mohamed, on a voyage in search of a heavenly place on earth, found such a place in a scenic valley in Kirghizia. However, as the place lacked any kind of vegetation, he appraised Prophet Mohamed of the situation. The Prophet Mohamed then sent him seeds of many trees to plant there which included walnut. The disciple, Arslanbob, then went up a mountain and scattered the seeds which grew into a garden of trees which he tended. Because of this association with the Prophet Mohamed, Muslims consider this place as sacred. According to local legend, it is said that Arslanbob-Ata's wife "betrayed" him to his enemies which resulted in his death. It is also stated that his footprints, hand prints and bloodstains are also seen here.
Other legends include that Alexander the Great planted the first walnut trees in Arslanbob; and that he carried several sacks of walnuts with him which he had used to pay boatmen to ferry his troops.
Another legend attributes walnut distribution to the Silk Road
.
Other crops include maize, potatoes and sunflowers.
Visiting the walnut wood land by walking through the village up to the red cliffs is also a popular tourist attraction during the season.
There are two water falls which are frequented by visitors seeking holy blessings, magical and spiritual powers. The area around the falls is adorned with prayer flags and wish rags; one was frequented by a holy woman.
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
(Juglans regia) forest in the Jalal-Abad Province
Jalal-Abad Province
Jalal-Abad Province, also known as Jalalabat , is a province of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is the city of the same name, Jalal-Abad. It is surrounded by Talas Province, Chui Province, Naryn Province, Osh Province and Uzbekistan. The Jalal-Abad Province was established on November 21, 1939...
of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
. Kyrgyzstan's first known export to Europe was the Arslanbob walnut. Two waterfalls are located in the area which attract tourists, pilgrims and other visitors during the spring and summer months.
The town of Arslanbob has around 1500 inhabitants; 77% of the population is Uzbek
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
, 22% is Kyrgyz, and less than 1% is Russian, Tatar, Tajik, or Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
.
Etymology
Arslanbob is named after an 11th century figure, Arslanbob-Ata (alternate: Arstanbap-Ata). He may have been of ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
descent as in that language, Aslan translates to "lion" and bab to "gate", while in Turkic languages
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
, ata means "father of". ergo "father of the lion gate". 'Bob', used as a suffix, is a traditional practice used in the Arslanbob which denotes "a traveler and explorer".
History
The walnut Juglans regia is native to a wide region in Central Asia. By the time of Alexander the Great, the walnut forest was locally known for hunting. He took the walnuts from SogdianaSogdiana
Sogdiana or Sogdia was the ancient civilization of an Iranian people and a province of the Achaemenid Empire, eighteenth in the list on the Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great . Sogdiana is "listed" as the second of the "good lands and countries" that Ahura Mazda created...
, and these formed the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an plantations. It is also said that he exported the walnut plants to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during his campaigns in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. This is inferred from the usage of the word "Gretski", meaning "Greek" nuts for walnuts in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. Hence, it is nicknamed as the Greek nut.
Geography
Arslanbob is reached from JalalabadJalalabad
Jalalabad , formerly called Adinapour, as documented by the 7th century Hsüan-tsang, is a city in eastern Afghanistan. Located at the junction of the Kabul River and Kunar River near the Laghman valley, Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province. It is linked by approximately of highway with...
via Bazar-Korgon
Bazar-Korgon
Bazar-Korgon is a village in the Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan. The majority of its inhabitants are ethnic Uzbeks and the remaining 20% are predominantly ethnic Kyrgyz. The town has a large open air market and vibrant scene of small cafes and eateries...
. Kyzylunkyur
Kyzylunkyur
Kyzylunkyur is a village in Jalal-Abad Province, Kyrgyzstan. A road runs from here southwest down the Kyzyl-Ünkür valley 45 km or more to Bazar-Korgon on the main M41 highway near the Uzbek border. From the valley, a branch road goes northwest to Arslanbob....
is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away, reachable via Oogon-Talaa, which is situated in the Kara-Unkur valley.
The walnut forest is within the 60000 hectares (148,263.1 acre) forest situated between the Fergana
Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley or Farghana Valley is a region in Central Asia spreading across eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Divided across three subdivisions of the former Soviet Union, the valley is ethnically diverse, and in the early 21st century was the scene of ethnic conflict...
and Chatkal Mountains. The walnut forest is located at altitudes varying between 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft) and 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
on the Fergana range's south-facing slopes. At 11000 hectares (27,181.6 acre), the Arslanbob woodland is the largest walnut grove on earth.
Behind the town of Arslanbob are the Khrebet Babash-Ata Mountains. There are two waterfalls nearby. One measures 80 metres (262.5 ft) high and has a slippery scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
slope; it is situated in a cliff face north of the village. Another, to the east, is 23 metres (75.5 ft) in height and has two prayer caves, one of which is known as the Cave of the 40 Angels. Within walking distance is the Dashman Forest Reserve
Dashman Forest Reserve
The Dashman Forest Reserve is located in Bazar-Korgon District of Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1975 with a purpose of conservation of natural forests composed of walnut trees , apple trees , alycha and other species. The forest reserve occupies 5,000 hectares....
, another walnut forest.
Flora and fauna
FloraArslanbob's grove produces 1500 tonnes of walnuts per year and is the largest single natural source of walnuts on Earth. It is considered a treasure of the southern forests of Kirghizia as the trees have a life span of about 1000 years and yield large amount of fruits known for its medicinal qualities as it contains "vitamins, microelements and other nutrients". It is a popular wood for making furniture and other crafts.
World Conservation Union
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
(IUCN) held a workshop in September 1995 at Arslanbob to specifically discuss "an exceptional botanical garden" of walnut fruit trees found in Kirghizia distributed over the two large forest ranges of Arslanbob Kugart and Khoja Ata running east west, which in the past covered an area of 630900 hectares (1,558,986.5 acre). However, over the decades of exploitation, the area under walnut trees was reduced. These forests are dense and large with particular species composition that have high economic value.
Subsequent to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1945, an experimental forest research station was reorganized at Arslanbob under the jurisdiction of the Forest Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the then USSR. The research was aimed at the establishment of commercial walnut plantations and maximizing production of fruit, valuable timber and other forest plantations. Reports indicated good results of walnut-fruit cultivation as a result of the joint research efforts.
Various wild forms of other fruit-bearing species including apple (Malus siversiana), pear (Pyrus korshinsky), and plum (Prunus sogdiana).
Fauna
Raccoons were introduced into the Arslanbob forest, now inhabiting an area of about 12000–15000 ha (29,652.6–37,065.8 ) in the western part of Achinsk district in Dzhalalabad region.
Culture
A shrine (tomb) to Ibn Abbas`Abd Allah ibn `Abbas
Abd Allah ibn Abbas was a paternal cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is revered by Muslims for his knowledge and was an expert in Tafsir , as well as an authority on the Islamic Sunnah.-Family:...
, now in ruins, is near the forest. The 16th century mazar
Mazar
A Mazār is a tomb or mausoleum ; the word deriving from the Arabic verb zāra , 'to visit', whence also comes the noun ziyārah , 'a visit', or 'visiting the tomb of a saint for blessings.'. Though the word is Arabic in origin, it has been borrowed by a number of eastern languages, including Persian...
(shrine or tomb) to Arslanbob-Ata is near the center of the village. A new brick building, painted white, surrounds it and was built in the 20th century. The entrance to this tomb is made of a walnut wood door frame and decorated with ram’s horns. There is also a new mosque adjoining the tomb which has an impressive ceiling. The center of the tariqat of the indigenous Sufi order of the Hairy Ishans, and offshoot of Yasawiya is in the city of Arslanbob.
Legends
A legend has it that a disciple of Prophet Mohamed, on a voyage in search of a heavenly place on earth, found such a place in a scenic valley in Kirghizia. However, as the place lacked any kind of vegetation, he appraised Prophet Mohamed of the situation. The Prophet Mohamed then sent him seeds of many trees to plant there which included walnut. The disciple, Arslanbob, then went up a mountain and scattered the seeds which grew into a garden of trees which he tended. Because of this association with the Prophet Mohamed, Muslims consider this place as sacred. According to local legend, it is said that Arslanbob-Ata's wife "betrayed" him to his enemies which resulted in his death. It is also stated that his footprints, hand prints and bloodstains are also seen here.
Other legends include that Alexander the Great planted the first walnut trees in Arslanbob; and that he carried several sacks of walnuts with him which he had used to pay boatmen to ferry his troops.
Another legend attributes walnut distribution to the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
.
Economy
The economic activity of the town centers around the walnut. In the walnut season, which lasts for one month during September, the villagers of Arslanbob and other neighboring villages engage themselves in collecting the nut. For this purpose, they hire a small plot of land for a fee on a five year lease from the Forest Department. They collect the nuts, fruits and the wood. It is also an occasion of social rejoicing. Walnuts are priced high as they are a source of "oil, protein, anti-oxidants and omega 3 fatty acids." The walnut has served as barter trade in exchange for essential services. The barter practice is still observed in some cases in the villages here to pay fees to the teacher or to travel by bus.Other crops include maize, potatoes and sunflowers.
Tourism
Tourism is being developed in and around the Arslanbob city. While trekking is a fairly well established activity to the nearby hills and valleys, skiing as an adventure sport is under initial stages of development near the Jailoos mountains.Visiting the walnut wood land by walking through the village up to the red cliffs is also a popular tourist attraction during the season.
There are two water falls which are frequented by visitors seeking holy blessings, magical and spiritual powers. The area around the falls is adorned with prayer flags and wish rags; one was frequented by a holy woman.