Jalal Abad city is the economic and administrative center of the Jalal-Abad province in Kyrgyzstan.  The city lies at the western edge of Kyrgyzstan, near the border with Uzbekistan.  It is thought to have been founded by Jalal ad din, who was famous for developing caravan stops for travelers.  Like Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital in the east, Jalal was along one of the routes of the celebrated Silk Road.  Jalal has also been the destination for different types of travelers, as it is famous for its mineral hot springs.  For hundreds if not thousands of years, visitors have been coming to Jalal from across Central Asia to enjoy the springs.  There is even a legend that the Hozret-Ayub-Paigambar spa could cure lepers.  Today, the hot springs in Jalal are still a wonderful area to experience, and travelers can visit the Kurort, a health resort in the mountains.  This is a wonderful place to get a view of the city at the Ikram-Ajy Panorama or to discover the national crafts hall with interesting shopping and entertainment.

Jalal -Abad is an excellent place to visit any time of year, with its hot, dry summers and sunny, warm fall, and even warm winters.  Quaint medieval streets wind their way through the city, and colorfully decorated mosques engage the eye.  Although the market is not as big as the famous bazaar in Bishkek, Jalal boasts a tantalizing market where travelers can try the local specialty: walnut jam.  Jalal’s walnut jam is made of young nuts suspended in a sweet syrup, a unique treat!  Other sites in the city include the historical and cultural museum, as well as Jalal’s main street, which has kept its Soviet name of Lenin Street.  Jalal is linked to the rest of Central Asia by train, staying connected culturally, commercially, and physically.