Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan and it is located in the Chui valley. Known for lush greenery and gorgeous nature; as the city is famous for its position and greenest city in the world. It has number of parks and gardens which makes it a must visit place in summers to enjoy the bliss of its true essence. Ala Archa National Park is one such precious destination to visit in Bishkek.
Ala Archa National Park is just 40kms away from Bishkek. It is a one stop destination for trekkers, picnickers, hikers, skiers as well as mountain climbers. Established in 1976, the park is located in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The park surrounds the gorge of the Ala Archa River and the mountains around it. It spread over 200 square kilometres with 20 small and large glaciers and approx. 50 mountain peaks within the park. There are two small rivers too: the Adygene and the Ak-Sai which originate from glaciers.
To reach the park it is would be best to hire a taxi from Bishkek. Otherwise you can take a Marshrutkas (number 265) from Osh Bazaar which leaves at 0800 and 1050. As from the park entrance the trailhead is another 12kms, commuting through taxi becomes a more comforting option. But if you don’t mind walking 12 km, you can skip the vehicle part and just start trekking your way through it. There is a chargeable fee for entering the park: 80som/person and 200som for vehicle but it is worth it!
Upon reaching the main point of the park, a guesthouse and some small cafes will be seen where you can rest for few minutes if you have walked down all the way through the main gate. The trail has a very informative display which includes the descriptions and directions for the hikers. The information is also present in English which will guide you to two itineraries. One is a 3.75km trail to the Ak Sai waterfall and other is additional 2kms to Ratsek Hut. The river trail moves along the Ala archa river basin which passes through an Alpinist cemetery.
Ala Archa has range of trails of various levels of difficulty which has something to offer to everyone. The journey through the mountains will surely bring closer to yourself and will make you stronger to deal with various difficulties and challenging circumstances. If you go alone it is possible that you might return back with lots of new friends. This place is a must visit if you travel to Bishkek and you will return with lots of good memories and stories to tell. I hereby recommended you the best of Bishkek Tour Packages for family, group or individual traveller by TravelsMantra.com from India.