Hiking on environs of town of Tekeli.

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Tours to Burkhan-Bulak waterfall in Dzhungarskiy Alatau.

Video film: Waterfall Burkhan Bulak. Mountains Dzungarian Alatau.

Burkhan-Bulak waterfall is located at an altitude of 2181 meters above sea level, located on the Karasai River, in the middle part of the Kora gorge, 457 meters northeast from the right bank of the Kora river, 18 kilometers (in a straight line) southeast from the village Kapal, 63 kilometers (in a straight line) east of the town of Taldykorgan, on the southern slope of the Karatau mountains in the system of the northern slope of the Dzhungarsky (Zhetysu) Alatau ridge in the Aksu district of the Zhetysu region.
Karasai River is 6.4 kilometers long, in its lower reaches there is the Burkhan-Bulak waterfall, the river originates on the western slope of the Karatau ridge. In the upper reaches, the river is formed from several tributaries. After 5.7 kilometers from the beginning of the sources, the river falls off a steep slope and forms several cascades of waterfalls.
The length of the cascades is 150 meters. The most recent, extended fall of water, which is located 560 meters before the mouth of the river, consists of two cascades and is 65 meters. Translated from Mongolian, burkhan is a polysemantic word, it can have Turkic-Mongolian and Arabic etymology. In the Turkic and Mongolian languages, Burkhan is translated as "Khan (title)", "buddha", "buddha-khan", "god".
The Arabic name "Burkhan" (Burkhanuddin, Burkhanulla) is translated as "proof", comes from the verb "barkhana" - "to prove". With a roar, water breaks on stone thresholds and irrigates everything around with a myriad of sprays, and then it quietly and peacefully merges with the majestic Kora River.
In sunlight, small rainbows can be seen appearing against the background of sparkling water. The solemn power and beauty of the waterfall fascinate, and it is impossible to tear oneself away from the contemplation of this miracle of nature.
The waterfall has an interesting legend. Local residents keep a legend inspired by history - in ancient times there lived a woman who had an only child, whose name was Burkhan. Mother doted on her son and wanted him to choose a quiet, obedient girl as his wife.
To her displeasure, Burkhan fell in love with Kora, a proud and self-willed beauty. Angry, the mother decided to prevent this marriage and erected a large castle in the rocks, in which she locked Burkhan. But the young man's heart could not be pacified, his love was so strong that he escaped from his dungeon and merged with the beautiful Kora.
Many years have passed, but they are always together, and the poor mother mourns the unreasonable choice of her son and pours out her sadness in the form of a small stream, which is located near the Burkhan-Bulak waterfall and is called "Mother's Tears".
The Karasai River is the right tributary of the Kora. There are only two or three cascades in the visibility zone. You can see the fourth cascade only by climbing up the mountain paths. The Burkhan-Bulak waterfall is magnificent at any time of the year, but it is most impressive in July, when the active melting of glaciers begins, and the waterfall appears in all its might and grandeur.
In winter, the waterfall freezes, but even when ice-bound, it is a very beautiful sight. It is not at all easy to get to the waterfall, there is only one road left through the Kapalsky Vzvoz pass, the main road along the Kora River was destroyed by strong rain streams in 2010.
The road from the town of Tekeli takes at least 5 hours along a difficult winding mountain road.
Geographic coordinates of Burkhan-Bulak waterfall: N45°00'27.33" E79°12'27.00"

Authority and  potos
Alexander Petrov.