Jalal-Abad

Jalal-Abad (also spelled Dzhalal-Abad, Djalal-Abat, Jalalabat) is a city in the Ferghana Valley of Kyrgyzstan.

Understand

Jalal-Abad is a convenient transport hub between Bishkek and Osh. It is significantly safer and easier to get to than Osh or destinations further southwest.

Get in

• Bishkek – Any marshrutka or shared taxi running to Osh goes by Jalal-Abad. The price to Jalal-Abad might be as much as to Osh though.

• Osh – Shared taxis from Osh run from the New Bus Station (Novy Avtovokzal), somewhat out of town. A taxi from the bazaar in Osh to this station is 150 som (Jun 2017). The price for the ride between Osh and Jalal-Abad is 250 som (Jun 2017).

• Naryn – The entire journey could take 10 hr. First, by taxi to Kazarman (which even the CBT in Naryn quotes at an exorbitant 5,000 soms) which can be negotiated to 3,500 soms, which itself is a 4.5 hr ride. Then from Kazarman, hopefully there's a marshrutka to Jalal-Abad. If there's no marshrutka, a shared taxi might be possible. There's a man speaking English who organizes (?) shared taxis to Jalal-Abad in Kazarman, quoting an outrageous 1,000 soms a seat, even changing his mind to 2,000 soms. Ignore him and negotiate with the driver personally. From Kazarman to Jalal-Abad, the ride is roughly 4-4.5 hr.

Hitch-hiking from Naryn is a feasible and probably much cheaper option. But better to have a tent with you or know where you can make an intermediate stop. Hitch-hiking is very easy in Kyrgyzstan, see Kyrgyzstan#By autostop. Or alternatively, take the Kochkor - Kyzyl-Oy route towards Toktogul, and to Jalal-Abad from there, see Issyk Kul and the Tian Shan#Get in

Get around

See

• Padysh-Ata Nature Reserve. Spreading an area of about 300 km², this park was founded in 2003 with the main goal of preserving the juniper forests. The latter is the attraction of this park, besides the true alpine feel of the reserve. And if you are lucky, you might even see a snow leopard. (updated Mar 2019)

Do

• Enjoy and take a stroll through this authentic Ferghana Valley city

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next

• Arslanbob – An Islamic village popular with local pilgrims and famous for its picturesque walnut tree forest.
• Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve – One of the highlights of Kyrgyzstan with a beautiful lake, excellent hiking, diverse flora and fauna, picturesque mountains and much more. On the way between Toktogul and Jalal-Abad.