According to sportsqna, the village of Kyren is located in the Tunkinskaya valley in the east of Buryatia. It is the administrative center of the Kyrensky district of the republic. The main attraction of the village is the datsan “Tushite” (Buddhist temple). The spread of Buddhism in the Tunka Valley began in the 18th century by Tibetan monks, 100 years later, in 1817, the first datsan, the Tushite datsan, was built here. For a long time it was the main Buddhist temple responsible for spreading the teachings in the Tunka Valley, and at present it is the main temple of the Buddhist community of the Tunkinsky district.
The village of Kyren is the starting point for trips to the National Park “Tunkinsky”. It was created in 1991 to protect biodiversity, cultural and historical monuments of the Tunka Valley and part of the mountainous regions adjacent to it. The area of the park is 1.2 million hectares. Most of it is covered with forests. 43 species of plants that were listed in the Red Book of Buryatia grow here, and such rare animals as red wolf, snow leopard, reindeer, Siberian mountain goat, black stork, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, snowy owl, hawk owl and taimen live. The main water artery of the park is the Irkut River. Healing mineral waters are the pearl of the Tunkinsky National Parkon the basis of which medical and health resorts were built. Near the village of Zhemchug, springs come to the surface with a water temperature of +39 and +56 degrees. The water in them is siliceous, bicarbonate-sodium, slightly alkaline with a different content of organic carbon. Its use contributes to the treatment of osteochondrosis, radiculitis, rheumatism, osteomyelitis, chondrosis, arthritis, polyarthritis, lumbago, eczema, skin ulcers, neurodermatitis, furunculosis, thrombophlebitis, phlebitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, gynecological inflammatory diseases, infertility and cerebral atherosclerosis.
Resort Arshan local carbonic-sulfate-bicarbonate-magnesium-calcium low-ferrous waters, rich in microelements, and sulfide silt muds are used for treatment. The waters of the local sources are low-mineralized and have an outlet temperature of +11 to +45 degrees. In Arshan, diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, liver and biliary tract, metabolic diseases and functional diseases of the nervous system are prevented.
Siliceous radon springs were discovered in the Nile Desert, which help in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system and skin diseases. It should be noted that the mineral waters of the Tunkinskaya Valley are not inferior to the Caucasian mineral waters in their composition and healing properties.
There are also healing springs beyond the Tunkinskaya valley, deeper in the mountains – in the Oka valley. This territory does not belong to the National Park, although recently many projects have been proposed for the expansion of the Tunkinsky National Park at the expense of the adjacent protected areas of the Okinsky district. Shumak springs are located in the mountains of this region at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. These are the youngest mineral springs on the planet and one of the most inaccessible springs on earth. You can get to them on foot or by helicopter. Here, more than 100 sources with thermal carbonic waters come to the surface, which are dominated by calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, as well as gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and radon. Such waters are effective in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary systems, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urolithiasis and diabetes. The Khoyto-gol springs are also interesting in the Okinsky district. These are three hydrogen sulfide sources with water temperatures from +30 to +40 degrees. Baths were installed on them. It is believed that the waters of Hoyto-gol help to cure diseases of the joints.
In addition to healing springs in the National Park “Tunkinsky” there is a mountain non-freezing river Kyngyrga. It flows in the gorge and forms more than a dozen waterfalls up to 7 m high. The bottom of the river is composed of smoothly polished pinkish-yellow marble to a shine. The park has very beautiful Hobok and Koymor lakes. The most courageous travelers can go to the Valley of Volcanoes. There are about 9 extinct volcanoes here, the life of which stopped about 2 million years ago. The craters of the lava hills of the volcanoes Talskaya peak and Khurai-Boldok reach a diameter of 70-100 m. Podgorny, Kovrizhka and Ulyaborsky volcanoes are also distinguished.
On the territory of the Tunkinskaya valley there are several sacred places, the most significant of which is considered Burkhan-Baabay. It is located near the resort of Nilova Pustyn and is run by the Tushite datsan. According to legend, it was here that the hero Shargay-Noyon descended from heaven, who helped the locals in the fight against the Mongols. The lamas of the “Tushite” datsan erected a high pillar here with a barrel on its top, in which Buddhist books, relics and silver coins were placed. The barrel is raised to a height so that the Buddha can see everything that is in it. This religious building is called “Zhalsan”. In addition to it, there is a Buddhist datsan, a shaman sanctuary, a bunhan (chapel) and an altar.
In the southwest of the Tunkinsky park, on the border with Mongolia, rises the highest point of the Sayan Mountains – Mount Munku-Sardyk (3491 m). Mongolia to Lake Khubsugul. This is the largest body of water in Mongolia, which is often called the “little brother of Baikal”. It is located at an altitude of 1645 m above sea level near the Russian-Mongolian border. So far, the infrastructure here is poorly developed, so the tour will be of interest to lovers of hiking with minimal amenities and lovers of fishing, because grayling, lenok, taimen and whitefish are found in Khubsugul.
