The Resort of Nilova Pustyn (“Nilov Desert”)

The resort is located in spurs of the Eastern Sayany at height of 915 meters, in gorge of the valley of the river Ihe-Ugun (the tributary of the river Irkut) among coniferous forest. In translation from the Buryat language the name of the river means « the big water, the big river ». The river doesn’t usually differs from other mountainous rivers, but during flooding it turns into a rough stream destroying everything on its way.

This place had been used by people for residing for a long time. Traces of material culture of the Stone Age and the epoch of Middle Ages found by archeologists in Nilovskaya cave testify to it.

The resort received its name after the name of the archbishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsky, Nil Isakovich Stolbensly ( Nikolay Fyodorovich in the civil world), who, having visited springs, discovered here in 1840, organized the missionary Nilov men’s Pustyn (Desert) of Saint Nil of Stolbensky. The church, the house of the priest, the prayers’ houses and the house for arriving patients had been built.

Then the first chemical researches of waters were conducted. One of the springs for the high contents of ions of silver was named Serebryanka. Supported by the Irkutsk governor Ruperta and the Irkutsk merchants Nil gathered financial means to develop the Pustyn. At that time many buildings in the resort were private, and treatment in the resort was rather expensive. In 1851 the Emperor Nikolay I authorized the Resolution where this Pustyn was called “Zashtatnaya muzhskaya pustyn” («The Off-staff men’s Desert”.)

The rhodone waters of springs in their features are close to famous mineral springs Georgia "Tskhaltubo” and the Altay resort "Belokurikha”. The medical properties of water are caused by the high temperature of 38-42 degrees and high contents of mineral substances.

In total there are two hot springs with hyperthermal waters. The debit of springs is rather constant and comprises about 60 cubic metre of water a day. According to the chemical components they are sulphatic natrium waters with rather high contents of cilicon acid (53 mg / l). The curative properties of waters of Nilova Pustyn are increased due to its radio-activity. As for gas structure the waters of Nilova Pustyn are typical nitric thermae.

Since 1953 the resort is considered to be a resort of local value, the construction of the bathing buildins and boarding houses here began. Now the balneary of "Nilova Pustyn” and 9 boarding houses function in Nilova Pustyn. Waters of the resort effectively treat various diseases, including: diseases of the spinal column, the central and peripheral nervous system, vessels and hearts, gynecologic diseases, diseases of man's sexual sphere, skin, endocrine system and metabolism, proffessional diseases. The water – curative polyclinic has rooms of physiotherapy, electro- and phototherapy work; reflex therapy, laser therapy, electrodream, massage, physiotherapy exercises, speleocamera.

The resort is located in the narrow gorge protected from winds, so there is a special microclimate. Winter here is milder than in other places of Tunkinskaya valley, the low atmospheric pressure and high transparency of air favorably influence health of people. These factors create comfortable conditions for rest.

The fish is found in the river Ihe-Ugun, which is used as beach in summer, for this purpose one can find here some convenient shallows. Also there are special places for motor parking.. Not far from the resort there is one of sacred places of Tunkinskaya valley – “Burkhan – Baabay”. The unmetalled motorway leads to it. From that place this road leads further to the village of Khoytogol where the historic-ethnographic museum functions.

The resort is located 7 kms far from the highway Kultuk -Orlik, there is also a motorway from the resort to the village of Turan.

The distance from Nilova Pustyn

• to the settlement of Kyren is 42 kms,
• to the city of Slyudyanka is 175 kms,
• to the city of Irkutsk - 265 kms,
• to the city of Ulan-Ude - 532 kms.

The resort is used as a base camp for the arrangement of tourist routes to Shumak, to the lake Tunku-Nur, Ilchir and to the Central Sayanskoe plateau. Tourist groups frequently hire horses in the village of Hoytogol.

Health-improving factors and the location of the resort make it very perspective for the development health-improving and other kinds of tourism. This development is restrained now by lack of means.