Chunkurchak

Only twenty five kilometers from Bishkek, this tiny gorge lies to the east of the village of Tash Dobo. It is the home of the Chunkurchak State Biological Reserve – created to protect the sites where rare varities of tulips grow – such as the Craig Tulip (“King Tulip”), which can grow heads as wide as 15-18 cms, and the Zinaida Tulip which sports bright red flowers with green veins on the outside and yellow-gold intside. The flowers usually bloom in April and May. The gorge itself is very narrow at the mouth and not easy to find. Once inside it opens out to form a wider Tahr valley, which boasts 200m cliffs towering over a rushing stream. It is famous for the Pigeon’s waterfall. That is good place for rock climbing.