Alkhanay National Park
Alkhanai is a national park of Russia, formed recently, in 1999. The purpose of the creation was to preserve the historical and cultural values of these places, flora and fauna, as well as the unique natural complexes of the park. The height of the mountains reaches 1200 meters, the park has a large lancheft variety: from meadows and steppes to rocks and rivers with a large number of waterfalls. The park is located on the border of two neomorphological regions - Daursky and Onon-Argun covering an area of 1382 km2.
As the Buryat traditions say, Princess Balzhin-Khatun lived in these parts. And they gave her away for the Mongolian feudal, she needed to move to Mongolia, but the enemies did not give the newlyweds peace and decided they to return to the princess’s homeland. On the way to their native lands they were caught by enemies. The last thing the princess shouted was “Alkhans,” which means they are killed in translation. So the name of the mountain appeared, and in the name of the princess was called Balzinsky Lake, on the shore of which she was buried. Other traditions are associated with the mountain of Alkhanai. Rumor has it that the Chingis Khan watch once was located on the mountain, and among themselves, mountains are revered as a Buddhist shrine.
Alkhanai National Park has a large number of Buddhist shrines. Buddhism came to these lands at the beginning of the 19th century, due to the activities of Namnanai Lama. In the summer of 1991, the head of the Buddhist clergy of the Dalai Lama XIV Danzan Jamso visited Alkhanai. In honor of his presence, a Buddhist monument was erected - the foot. The complex of monuments includes more than 20 religious sites, especially famous and revered:
- Maanin Shulun is a stone wall with mantras on it,
- Dimchig Sume - Temple of God Dimchig ( Mountain Master ),
- Nara Hajad - Heavenly Musician,
- Uuden Sume - Temple of the Gate,
- Dorje Pagmyn Sume - Temple of the Diamond Queen ( the wife of the owner of the mountain ). Rock 12 meters high. On the south side there is a bowl that is used by pilgrims as an altar,
- Sinners' gap,
- Ekhyn Umai - Mother's womb,
- Zurhan Shulun - Stone Heart,
- Choreo Shulun - Stone Fence.
On the top of Alkhanaya, a platform is being relaxed, at its foundation is a temple of the Great Good. In grief there is a crack that goes deep into the mountain, water flows from it, which is considered life-giving. Believers drink water and in revenge give gifts in the form of coins and grain. Having visited these places, you can get an idea of the dormant philosophy of Buddhism, which stands out by a guardian attitude to nature.
The park has a Ubzhogie gorge, with a stone arch better known as the Temple Gate. On the walls of the rock 3 groups of paint and yellow ocher depicting people, animals, crosses, there is also an inscription made about a thousand years before our era. Buddhist monuments are also in the arch: stupa and chapel.
Alkhanai Park has many rare trees, such as Siberian pine and spruce, cedar shaft. Approximately 200 species of plant in the park are used in medicine, and 130 species of moss also grow. The park has 120 species of mammals. In Alnahai, you can often meet a hare, a stork, a golden eagle, a beautiful swan-krikun, from December, a roe deer, a sable, a ermine. Often you can meet large predators like: brown bear, lynx, fox. There are 37 small and impressive rivers flowing in the park, in which 18 species of fish are found, the most spread are timen, ribbons, and charius.
Interest in the Alkhanai park is growing every year, both from tourists and from pilgrims. Water from springs ( ashan ) is considered a saint and is used for medicinal purposes. The largest number of visitors registered per day reaches almost 2,000 people. The park is developing new scientific and innovative routes.
