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Chimgan-Beldersay area is an
attractive place for adventure and tourism lovers
Table of contents
- Location geography and
history
- Climate and seasons
- Tourism attractions and
abilities
- Private guesthouses
- Other accommodation
facilities
- Cultural attractions
- Accessibility
- Protected areas
- Physical and social
infrastructure
- Population and economy
- Local self-government
- Source
Uzbekistan Mountaineering
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Uzbekistan Mountain Rafting For the beginners we suggest
one day route along Uzbekistans part of the Ugam river from village
Humsan to Khodjikent water reservoir (6 km)
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Uzbekistan Mountain Hiking Many beautiful places in
Uzbekistan Mountains can only be reached by hiking, and enthusiasts
regard hiking as the best way to see nature.
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Uzbekistan Mountain Trekking General routes in
Uzbekistan Mountains near to Tashkent. Chimgan-Beldersay Area.
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Uzbekistan Mountain Canyoning Canyoning is traveling
in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include walking,
scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming.
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Uzbekistan Mountain Climbing The suggested route is a
traverse of three peaks (3A by Russian grade): the Greater Chimgan
(3309 m), the Kichkina (2879 m) and the Aukashka (3099 m). It will
take 4-5 days. Magnificent landscapes and challenge rock climbing.
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Uzbekistan Mountain Waterfalling Overnight route.
Backpacking to Qizilsuv waterfalls - the pictorial cascades that
flow at the sinuous river gorges of Qizilsuv Mountain River, about 9
km up-stream from starting point of the route.
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Rock Climbing Festival in Yangiabad Rock Climbing
Festival in Yangiabad, celebrating the enchanting rocks of
Yangiabad, Uzbekistan, will take place on April – May
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Uzbekistan Snowboarding & Snow-skiing
Chimgan-Beldersay is the main skiing area in Uzbekistan, which is
located in the mountains of Western Tien-Shan (90 km far from
Tashkent). Chimgan in the best way approaches for family leisure
with children, Beldersay is more appropriate for skilled skiers and
snowboarders.
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Heli-skiing Uzbekistan We invite you to join us and
see why the Tien Shan mountains are recognized for having some of the best
heli-skiing and snowboarding in the world! Our skillful and experienced
guides are experts at finding spectacular terrain to suit all levels of
skier.
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Uzbekistan Mountain Horseback-Riding Popular horseback
route in Uzbekistan Mountains near to Tashkent Horseback riding in
Chimgan Mountains.
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Location geography and
historyChimgan-Beldersay area is located in the
territory of Ugam-Chatkal National Park and is part of Bostanlyk
district (Tashkent region). Chimgan village is located 12 km from
Charvak reservoir, one of the largest artificial water reservoirs in
Uzbekistan. The area is intersected by Chimgan and Beldersay rivers.
Chimgan village is located in the mountain massive of dominant
Greater Chimgan peak (3,309 m) of Chatkal range at an altitude of
1,620 m. The nearest villages are Yusufhona/Galvasay (24 km; 1,000
inhabitants), Yubileyniy (8 km; 750 inhabitants).
Chimgan village
was settled 400-500 years ago, probably, by settlers from southern
Central Asia. Some experts see Chinese words in the name "Chimgan"
but others translate it as "sod" or "pasture abundant in water,
green valley".
Climate and seasonss
Climatic conditions in Chimgan are determined by the mountainous
part of the Ugam-Chatkal National Nature Park. The climate is
continental; there are seasonal and daily fluctuations. During the
day it is warm, the evenings are cool. Spring comes in April in the
mid-mountains; in the high mountains there is snow and cold until
midsummer. The highest temperature is in June-July and early-August.
Mean daily temperature of the warmest month (July) fluctuates from
20 to 35?C. Average annual precipitation is 650 mm. Heavy snowfall
is in winter, which allows ski tourism development. Snow cover lasts
for 4-5 months. The frost period lasts about 130 days.
Tourism attractions and
abilitiesThe wide variety of Chimgan and its
surroundings allows the development of landscape tourism. Mountains
(Small and Greater Chimgan Peaks), plains, Gulkama and Novotasha
waterfalls, and Charvak reservoir attract a lot of tourists from the
capital of Uzbekistan and abroad. There are fishing opportunities in
Chimgan, Beldersay, Nurekata, Gulkamsay, and Ishakkupriksay rivers.
The Black Waterfall (40 m) at the lower part of Greater Chimgan Peak
is a natural point of interest. Ugam, Pskem, Karjantau can be
observed from the mountains. Another attraction is the geological
features of Chimgan, such as the red color of hills containing iron
oxide of the neogenic period. There are lava remains as well.
Furthermore there is an interesting flora: juniper forests, flowers
including tulips, eremuruses (desert-candles), bushes and alpine
meadows. Argali, bears, marmots, eagles, partridges, owls,
nightingales and other fauna species inhabit in this area as well.
The Chimgan Mountains are attractive for adventure tourism lovers.
Sport and tourist infrastructure was constructed here in 1960s, such
as skiing tracks, hotels, life-saving stations, paved roads and
other facilities. Moreover, it became possible to develop ecological
and ethnographical routes, as there are all necessary resources
available.
Tourism in Chimgan is characterized by the following
data. Peak period: up to 80-85% of the visits are in summertime,
including late spring and early autumn. Winter has 15-20% of the
visits, that are mostly related to winter sports and celebrating New
Year.
Chimgan-Beldersay is the main skiing area in Uzbekistan, which is located in the mountains of Western Tien-Shan
(90 km far from Tashkent). Chimagan in the best way approaches for family leisure with children, Beldersay is more appropriate for skilled skiers and snowboarders.
There
are two double-chair ski lifts and some hoop lifts in Chimgan and
Beldersay (5 km from Chimgan).
Length of the chair lift road in Chimgan - 800 m.
Overfall of heights - 385 m.
Length of the rope-tow - 570 m.
Overfall of heights - 250 m.
Ski-tracks of Chimgan. Skiing resort Chimgan has several routes and type of complexities, a ski-track for beginning skiers, extended up to 1500 m has a rope-tow lift, considered as "blue" tracks long, flat, and easy.
The ski-track for slalom is extended up to 900 m and equipped with chair lift and classified as a "red" track of mid level difficulty.
The highest point of Beldersay ski-track is located at the height of 2880 m. The snow here lays little bit longer, than in Chimgan: from December till May. Ski-tracks of Beldersay basically are intended for skilled mountain skiers, but there are also good conditions for beginners. Sharp-continental climate of area creates extreme temperatures and plentiful snowfalls which promote a high-quality snow cover.
Descents are carried out from mountain Kumbel, which slopes in area of skiing have smoothed relief (steepness up to 30 degrees) without deep gorges and canyons. Archa and the deciduous woods grow on slopes alternating with open glades. Going up to the top of Kumbel mountain is carried out by chair lift road (length 2250 m) and further proceeds on rope-tow lift (length 700m). Ski-tracks for mass riding are laid out along the rope-tow and chair lifts. Free descents begin from the west side of Kumbel mountain directly from a crest of a ridge and come to an end in a vein of stream of Beldersay.
Width of slopes for free descents up to 1 km, length of descents up to 5 km.
Beldersay (Mountain Kumbel). Highest point - 2880 m.
Length of the ski-track - 3017 m.
Overfall of heights - 765 m.
Average bias of the ski-track - 27. Maximal bias - 52.1. Extension of the chair-lift
- 2250 m.
Overfall of heights - 565m. Extension of the rope-tow - 700m. Overfall of heights
- 200m.
Heli-skiing. Uzbekistan has the advantage over the other regions of Heli-skiing
on the territory of the former USSR (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Caucasus, Altay, and Camchatka) because of sunny, warm and fine stable weather.
Heli-skiers make descends from summits of Ugam, Pskem and Chatkal mountain
ranges (on the altitude 3000-4000 m.). The amplitude of descends 1,3
– 2 km; the length of the descending 5-10 km. Usually heli-skiers make
4-6 descends per day. The flight time from the hotel to the landing
place 5-30 min. Tourists are accompanied with 2 guides. Each tourist
must have his own special equipment (ski, beacons, first-aid medical
set). Helicopter grounds are located near the hotel. The best time for skiing – late January – March.
Congress-tours, seminars are in demand in spring and
wintertime for short periods.
In the village there are horses
for hire. There are other services including transportation, food
and accommodation services oriented to serve large-scale tourist
enterprises (Chimgan Oromgohi, tourist centre). There are people
that know foreign languages, such as English and German language
teachers. The local population speaks Russian well. In Chimgan area
picnics can be organized and local cooks can be invited for cooking.
Private guesthouses
CBT (community-based tourism) accommodation is based on home-stay
facilities. 18 houses can receive guests, 15 of these can receive
tourist groups. Houses are built mainly from local materials; some
of the houses are built from bricks. Some have basins and hot water.
All premises are provided with electricity. The guesthouse owners
guarantee security and safety of tourists' property.
Other accommodation
facilitiesThere are private recreation centres called
Sky Village and Edem, and comfortable tourist hotels like,
Beldersay Oromgohi and
Snow Leopard. Further details on these facilities are as
follows:
- Sky Village private recreation centre was
constructed in 2002 for VIP holiday-makers. It consists of six
cottages, satellite antenna, pool, playground, car parking place.
The centre is guarded.
- Snow Leopard hotel-restaurant began
working in January 2005. It consists of three-storied buildings and
includes 22 comfortable accommodations (standard, luxury, VIP),
restaurant with 60 seats, billiards, Finnish bath, as well as game
room for children.
- Beldersay Oromgohi hotel was built
during 1994-2000. Costs made up more than US$8 million. Payback is
estimated within 15-20 years. Beldersay is equipped according to
European standards, there is a heating and air-conditioning system,
and worldwide telephone communication. On the 40 hectares site there
are 16 cozy family cottages, helipad, and two tennis-courts. Nearby
there is start of the seat ski lifting that delivers mountain skiers
to the Kumbel track. The length of this track is more than 3,000
meters with an altitude difference of 765 meters. The centre has
been working since 2001 rendering restaurant, disco, sauna, summer
cafe, tennis-courts, and summer pool services. Cost per day is US$90
(standard) and up to US$252 (VIP). In cottages: standard is US$60
(four beds), up to US$350 for six people VIP.
On the left
bank of Charvak reservoir there is
Charvak Oromgohi recreation centre. Although it is not included
in Chimgan-Beldersay area it could be useful for establishment of
ecological routes in Ugam-Chatkal National Park. Three hotels
Charvak-Oromgohi were built in the form of pyramids having 222 rooms
of different classes including standard and VIP. Single room with
three meals a day for seven days costs US$200; double room for the
same period is US$360. Luxury rooms are from US$400 up to US$480,
VIP is US$798.
Other services such as horses and
transportation rent, guides and food are easy to get. There is a
sandy beach, 800 meters long, and not far from hotels, that provides
conditions for rest and recreation. There is a boating station,
which provides launches, water motorcycles, skis, etc. Guides
conduct excursions and tours in the surroundings. There are saunas,
business centers (Internet, fax, copier), and a conference room for
150 people.
Cultural attractions
Ancient houses still remain in Chimgan. The population is
traditional and keeps customs. Tailor work and other craftsmanship
are developed. Historical periods are reflected in legends and
songs. Folklore reflects national features of nomads. The synthesis
of Kazakh and Kyrgyz songs and music performance is noticeable.
Gastronomy is also mostly traditional, particularly use of local
mountain plants. Dishes are based on milk products (koumiss), eggs
and meat. Almost in every family there are production traditions
that are handed from one generation to the next, for example in
metal and wood processing, embroidery, food cooking, food
preservation and construction.
The village keeps traditions
of Moslem behavior and morality. Many Moslem holidays are
celebrated: Kurban-Hayit, Ramadan-Hayit and others. There are
traditions came from zoroastrizm, particularly spring holiday Navruz
(21 March). This day is celebrated with special course sumalak
cooking (wheat acrospires broth), and also sweets and pilaw (a dish
cooked from rice). Dances and songs are performed, sport games and
competitions among youth (needlework, crafts, cookery) are
conducted.
The village keeps Kyrgyz and Kazakh traditions and customs that stem
from a former nomad lifestyle. There is a folklore company
conducting the following activities:
- "Sunnattoy" holiday
together with "goat drawing" sport competition;
- "Boychechak
Bayram" snowdrop holiday;
- "Kok Samsa" and "Sumalyak" holidays;
- "Koumiss Murim" holiday - beginning of koumiss season;
- "Kyz
Kuru" holiday of worthy suitor selection - try to catch up a bride;
- Competitions, national games (beshik, shekem tash, etc.);
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Exhibition of national crafts wares, folklore;
- Harvest holiday;
- "Beshik Toy" holiday;
- "Sogym" holiday.
Accessibility
Chimgan is located 60 km from Gazalkent regional centre and 40 km
from Hojikent railway station. The closest airport having
international and local importance is in Tashkent, 100 km away. A
new expressway from Tashkent to Hojikent is paved with high-quality
pavement; in some places there is artificial illumination.
Chimgan is further reachable from Gazalkent by public bus (50 min).
There are bus routes Chimgan-Gazalkent (time of departure is 6:30
and 13:30) and Gazalkent-Chimgan (10:30 and 14:30). Private cars
including taxis can also be used to get there. The road is
accessible any time of the year, but in spring there can be
limitations because of landslides and mudflows. In winter avalanches
make the route dangerous. Alternative means of transportation are
helicopters (but their use is limited).
Protected areas
Within the territory of Tashkent region there is Ugam-Chatkal
National Nature Park occupying 576 sq km and Chatkal reserve
occupying 22,000 hectares of land. Ugam-Chatkal National Nature Park
is considered as a part of future West Tien-Shan Trans-Boundary
Biosphere Reserve.
Physical and social
infrastructureThere are two bridges across Chimgansay
River; roads are of average and poor quality. The village is
electrically equipped but during wintertime there are electricity
interruptions. Heat is generated from electricity and firewood, gas
is not supplied.
The village has outdated analogue telephone
stations. It is more effective to use mobile communication (cellular
operators). There is no Internet access available.
In Chimgan there are a kindergarten, library and school. There
is no village medical station or chemist's shop available and the
population has to go for medical care to other villages. Water pipe
system provides drinking water to 85% of the population. 90% of the
population has access to irrigation water.
The main sources
of information are television and radio broadcasts. Printed
materials (newspapers, magazines) are scarce particularly because of
high prices and delivery constraints.
Population and economy
The total population of Chimgan village is 2,230 (February 2005).
1,023 people are Kazakh (46%), 946 - Kyrgyz (42%), 132 - Tajik (6%),
85 -Uzbek (4%), 35 - Russian (2%), and less than 1% is
representatives of other ethnic groups. Chimgan is thus mainly a
Kazakh-Kyrgyz village with a corresponding way of living and
mentality.
The population is largely depending on natural
resources of the village surroundings, but some businesses have been
established that provide some employment. Surrounding lands are
important for producing fruits and vegetables, melons and gourds,
and fodder crop are cultivated as well. Families get an income
mostly from cattle breeding (50%); crop farming (26%); retail trade
(8%); or tourist services (16%).
Having cattle is of high
importance for families (both livelihood and capital source). 385
families have cows, 122 - horses, 300 - sheep and goats, 320
-poultry. 30 families do not have anything. These numbers of
domestic animals on the one hand emphasizes the agrarian orientation
of the village, and on the other hand causes extensive pressure on
the natural resources.
The local economy is based on three
sectors:
- Natural resource-based: production for own use (plant
cultivation, vegetables and fruits particularly), cattle breeding
for milk (cows), as well as horse breeding
and beekeeping;
-
Service sector-based: work in summer recreation children camps,
sanatoria, rest houses, tourist centers Chimgan Oromgohi and
Beldersay Oromgohi;
- Commerce-based: food, milk products sale
(koumiss, kurt, curdled milk), flowers and herbs, honey.
Local self-governmentIn Chimgan there is a local
self-government - a village community committee, which consists of
mahalla committees. It is a combination of a village community,
elders' authority, and representation of the governmental authority
at the local level. It has an element of democracy as the head of
mahalla committee is elected; decisions are taken collectively,
after considering interests of the village inhabitants.
Financing of socially important programs, payments and support of
population, cultural and educational policy is implemented through
mahalla committees. The community participates in public activities
such as building construction (school, workshops, local
administration, shops, etc.) and water pipes, roads paving, river
cleaning, agricultural activities, in other words those entities,
which are assigned for collective use.
Read more...
Source
Zulfia Rakhimova. Expert of ecotourism.
Traveller's
Association Rabat Malik
BVV Business Report
Newspaper
From the childhood of those who live in
Tashkent Chimgan is the place of their romantic gravitation. There
is some miracle at this place, which is avouched by the testimonies
of many of those who love Chimgan. One witnessed "When I have seen
Chimgan for the first time, I was 12. Then I thought that all this
beauty is unreal. Since then, Chimgan attracts me as magnet". Yes,
Chimgan is indeed worth of such love. This place is not only the
unique natural area, which has great number of opportunities for
sport and tourism, but also the place that known for its history.
Therefore our desire is to attract attention of those who hasten to
rush to other places of Uzbekistan to the quotes from the first-rate
article of
Zulfia Rakhimova, the expert of
ecotourism from "Rabat Malik"
Traveler's Association.
We
also appreciate very much that
BVV Business Report weekly newspaper
continues publication of such important information at their public
edition.
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