Karagachovaya Rosha – Elm Grove
Bishkek is renowned for being a “green” city, with more trees per head of population than any other city in Central Asia. It owes this distinction to the Russian Army Engineers who drew up the plans for the city when it became the regional headquarters towards the end of the nineteenth century, and to individuals who planted trees to provide shade from the heat of the summer sun. Locals and visitors alike can be found ambling through the parks and the avenues in the central part of town – taking it easy and soaking up the atmosphere. In the centre itself, many of the open areas merge one into the other and it is not always clear where one park ends and the next begins. Some of the parks may appear a little dishevelled – but that doesn’t mean that they are not cared for. The outlying districts have fewer trees, but do have some parks and open areas.
One of those parks is Karagachovaya Rosha (Elm Grove). It lies to the North of the Grand Chui Canal, a litte distance to the East of Sovietskaya. Created out of swampland by Alexei Fetisov in 1881 this park is criss-crossed by concrete walkways beneath the trees and is especially attractive in Autumn and Winter – but because it is not in the city centre, it attracts fewer visitors than it’s size might merit.
There are two small lakes – still called Pioneer and Komsomolskoye – where children swim during the summer.
The paved road which bisects the grove used to be the main Vernoe (Almaty) post road.
It has over 50 species of trees and shrubs and houses dendrarium and a branch of the botanical gardens.
The park reminds me of open spaces like Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath … and offers a great place to walk during the hot summers, in the cool of the shade provided by the trees. It is a popular spot for picnics and also plays host to a number of events during the course of the year such as, an Orienteering competition and the Tatar festival Sabantui.
During the Soviet period there were a number of attractions staged in the park, but there are few now.
The trees next to Komsomol Lake, however, have recently become home to a new attraction which, albeit modest in size, might well increase the number of visitors and should prove extremely popular: “Extreme Heights“. This is basically an obstacle course set high in the treetops … rather like a military training course. Between the trees are ropes, rope ladders, swings, rigging nets and the like. Actually, there are three different courses spread among the twenty odd trees … one simple or easy, for “first timers” and beginners (… or just the plain scared? – like me), an intermediary course and a more difficult one. They have safety equipment and staff top accompany people who want to “give it a go” and swing through the trees like Robin Hood, or Tarzan.
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Bishkek