The Resort of “Arshan”

"Arshan” in translation from the Buryat language is « curative water ». This word was borrowed the Sanskrit "rashiani” meaning “nectar, a drink of gods”. A mineral or a warm spring with curative properties also used to be called so. In the past the Buddhists attributed the properties of arshan to some fresh springs attaching to them curative value and consequently all springs with cold fresh and pure water began to be called so. This name of springs is widely spread in Mongolia, China, Central Asia, Altai and in Eastern Siberia. The attitude to arshans is special. The places where mineral waters emerge on the surface, are considered to be sacred, so cult constructions and “obo" are built there and prayers are arranged.

The settlement with such name is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Sayan mountains, where the river - Kyngyrga rises in the hills. The name of the river-Kyngyrga is translated from the Buryat language as "drum". This mountainous river runs in the narrow gorge, forming a number of turns and beautiful falls.

The report about the mineral spring in this place was made first in 1894 by Afanasiy Chistokhin. A. Chistokhin, a Buryat by nationality was the translator of prayer books into the Buryat language in Guzhirskaya Nikolaevskaya orthodox church. Since that very time the history of the development of the resort began.

In 1920 Arshan became a resort of the state value and 1928 the building of sanatoria began here. For 80 years Arshan has been known as one of the most popular places for treatment and rest in Buryatia. The resort is located 893 m high above sea level, in a picturesque place, in the combined wood, air is filled with mountainous freshness and aromas of needles.

The climate of the resort is softened due to the influence of mountains situated at a short distance and large forests. Summer is not hot, slightly overcast, with short-term rains. July is the warmest month (average temperature is 16°С), autumn is clear, sunny and windless. Atmospheric pressure is steady, within 907-916 millibar, though significant pressure differences are observed sometimes in winter.. The amount of precipitations in Arshan is rather significant. Most of all them fall in the second half of July and in August. The resort is famous for the abundance of sunny days. It surpasses such resorts in number of hours of solar radiance, as Yalta, Kislovodsk, Еssentukki. The amount of hours of solar radiance comprises 2035 per year. In summer the bank of the river-Kyngyrga becomes a beach where people take solar baths.

The basic medical factors of the resort are carbonic acid - sulphide - magnesium - slightly ironed waters, by structure similar to Kislovodsk narsan. They have temperatures ranging from + 11 up to + 45C. Waters are rich in microelements. They are used as drinks and baths. Mineral water comes from a chink and goes in byuvet and to the bathing building. Some springs are kept in a natural form. One of them is an eye spring which is distinguished with high contents of iron. Around it the sacred grove was formed where local people tied a great number of ribbons on birches in token of gratitude for recovering.

In the resort water is spilled in bottles and taken out to shops of Buryatia and Irkutsk area. Waters of Arshan are applied for treatment of diseases of cardiovascular system, a gastroenteric path, a liver and bilious ways, illnesses of a metabolism and functional diseases of nervous system, and treatment gives very high therapeutic effect. Thus, the application of fresh water gives the greatest effect.

The resort became the most popular one during previous 10 years. About 56 boarding houses for 5 thousand persons have been built,. the network of guest houses in a private sector is developing. About 900 people constantly live in the village of Arshan, in summer practically all houses are rented, the number of places in Аршан на лошадиguest houses is approximately 2 thousand. The part of boarding houses accept all interested persons, some serve only workers of the enterprises in which property they are.

The largest health-improving establishments are sanatoria “Arshan” and “the Sayany” of the Sanatorium association of trade unions “Baikalkurort”. There function some dwelling houses, a bathing building, a polyclinic, a swimming pool, a sauna-bath, and a cafe. In the polyclinic work radiological, physiotherapeutic, electrocardiographic and dental surgery studies, clinical laboratory, studies of physiotherapy exercises and massage, duodenal sounding, an intestinal irrigation, ingalyatory and an aerosun deck.

The enterprises of leisure and public catering develop. In summer evenings a bar – disco « New century » works in the resort. There are also some cafes and snackbars where one can taste dishes of the European and Buryat national cuisine, some shops, the grocery and goods markets.

During 4 years a visit-information centre “Altan – Mundarga” has been working here which organizes bus excursions around Tunkinskaya valley and vicinities of the resort, and also realizes tickets for minibuses to the city of Irkutsk. The centre is named after the name of one of the highest tops of Eastern Sayan mountains – the peak of Altan-Mundarga (3156 м), that is translated from the Buryat language as « Gold top ». The resort has a ticket office where tickets for trip buses to Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk are sold. There is also a paid parking place. The visit - centre of State national park “Tunkinsky” is open. And in the boarding house “Priyut alpinista” (« the Shelter of the climber ») a public point of saving service of the Ministry of Emergency Measures of the Russian Federation is also open.

Sights Not far from the resort there are some sights to which tourist-excursion routes are made, to some of them it is possible to go by car. The greatest interest among holiday-makers cause hikings

•   to the water-falls of the river-Kyngyrga,
•   to Crystal lake
•   to extinct volcanos
•   to old arshans Suburga and Papiy Arshan

The route down the river-Kyngyrga gives an opportunity to see all 12 falls, the biggest of them are the first and the second ones, and also a nature sanctuary « the Marble bottom ». Interested holiday-makers can make short travels on horses, such opportunity is provided by local inhabitants.

In the settlement 2 datsans are fuctioning, where Lamas-doctors and astrologists receive people. At present the construction of orthodox church is conducted.

In the busy days of a summer season from 7 up to 9 thousand holiday-makers come here and there are no vacant places . In winter and in inter-season period the number of guests is much less.

At present Arshan is the main tourist centre of Tunkinskaya valley and has all prospects to become the largest resort of Buryatia. It is frequently called « the Pearl of Transbaikalia », « the Siberian Switzerland ».

•   Distance from it to Ulan-Ude is 490 kms
•   to the regional centre of Kyren is 70 kms
•   to the station of Slyudyanka connected with it by regular bus service is 137 kms
•   to Irkutsk is 220 kms.