Grove Arnap

There is a saying in Turkmen: “Go to the mountains if you want to see a miracle”. Koytendag stands in the eastern part of the country, a place of miracles and wonders. The Koytendag ridge of south-eastern Turkmenistan is home to snowy, healing springs, beautiful rivers, beautiful waterfalls, centuries-old trees. A corner that many dream of traveling. In fact, now an area can amaze tourists from all over the world. Along with its sprawling valleys, amazing nature and mysterious caves, the surviving footprints of dinosaurs are also a miracle. Such beautiful places also exist in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, Koytendag, in addition to its beautiful valleys, captivates you with its yet-to-be-revealed secrets. The grove of the Juniper trees is also a mysterious place.

The Arnap grove is located near the village of Koyten. This forest is unique, that is, it is considered the only one in Central Asia in terms of the number, size and age of its trees, which are made up of pure juniper trees. On more than half a hectare, about 2,000 trees of different sizes grow. The forest has been given the status of a natural monument and is protected by the Koytendag State Reserve.

Among the locals, the place is known as "Chylan Ata". This place is sacred place for them. According to the legend it is said that in ancient times, a saint man stopped and camped by a spring to rest there and then he stuck his baton in to the ground. The baton that was stuck to the ground turned green and took root. That single sprouted tree grew over time and became a forest. The water from that spring turned into healing water. It is unknown the legend is true or not but the healing property of the spring is fact. Nevertheless, it is clear that the water in that spring contains hydrogen sulphide. People come to this place as a sanatorium to get rid of various diseases, especially skin diseases. The Arnap forest is home to a beautiful bird, a long-tailed parrot, which is also listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan.