The surrounding landscapes resemble a blooming carpet, and the majestic Altyn-Kazyk mountains, the dense forests of Esh, Suulu, and Kuruk, as well as the pastures of Kuljamana, give the place a unique charm. Various crops and grasses grow in the elevated fields, creating an unparalleled color palette.
There is an interesting story associated with this area.
In June 1976, artists arrived in Kok-Bel to hold a concert. The hospitable locals showed their respect by offering them a place to stay overnight.
In the morning, when Estebes Tursunaliev, a People's Artist of the USSR and improvisational akyn, saw the landscape, he exclaimed, "Here, a person probably does not die." This sentiment is shared by everyone who encounters this nature for the first time.
Rahman Karabaev, a retired police lieutenant colonel, shared details about the creation, interesting events, and notable personalities of this district.
The Nookat district was established in 1928, and soon, in December of the same year, the Kok-Bel dairy farm was created. According to the memories of the locals, about 500-600 people lived in the farm. Initially, there were four farms in the collective farm, and with the arrival of Soviet power, the resettlement of Russians began.
State support provided the farm with the necessary assistance, including modern technologies for that time. Horses were bred for work in the fields, and cows for milk production. Purebred animals and specialists were brought in from other regions to develop the economy. Since the 1930s, the farm began receiving STZ tractors, threshers, and other machines, which were soon mastered by the locals.
Karabaev mentions that one of the first Kyrgyz to master the equipment was Shermat Kebekov, who worked in this field for about 50 years. During the war, he was elected chairman of the village council, but he continued to work with the machinery. Contemporaries recall how he would take the council's seal and head to the fields, with workers following him for documents.
In the park near the farm's club stood a monument to I. Stalin, which Shermat ake took home in 1961 when the campaign to demolish monuments began, placing it in the corner of his stable and periodically dusting it off.
It is known that in the 1930s and during the war, the Kok-Bel farm significantly contributed to the state's grain supply due to its black soil and high yield potential. Wheat, barley, millet, and other crops were grown here, and advanced soil processing methods ensured good productivity.
There were cases when farmers could not harvest the crops in good years. Fields were mowed with sickles and scythes, stacking hay into haystacks, and even in winter, when snow fell, it was broken up with hammers.
Even during the hard times of famine and war in the 1930s, the residents of the farm did not experience a shortage of food. Grain left after supplies to the state was used for their own needs, seeds, and animal feed. Workers were provided with food, and in the bakery, protein bread was baked from purified wheat, which was distributed by coupons. Residents also began to plow new lands and sow wheat and barley.
During these crisis years, people were resettled from various districts, such as Papaan, Chech-Dobo, Fedorovka, and others. In 1944, Balkars returned to their historical homeland, significantly increasing the population of the farm. Kyrgyz warmly welcomed the Balkars, who were known for their hard work.
In the 1930s, starving Kazakhs also resettled to the farm. Many returned to their homeland, but some stayed. Currently, at the entrance to Kok-Bel, there is an area known as the "Kazakh village."
Kazakh Khoshtay Agibaev, who worked as an accountant, stayed in Kok-Bel, got married, and lived there until he was 90 years old. He was the father-in-law of Nasirdin Isanov, the first Prime Minister of independent Kyrgyzstan.
In 1946, Kok-Bel became the horse breeding farm No. 44, organized by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR. During this time, other horse breeding farms were also established in different regions. The main focus was on breeding horses for agricultural needs.
With the strengthening of Soviet power and the victory of socialism in the country, there were also discontented individuals. In Kok-Bel, there are three dug pits, about 100 meters long and wide, which locals call "or." These pits were used for burying the killed horses, which the authorities declared "enemies of the people" under the pretext of disease.
The horses were brought to the edge of the pit, their eyes were blindfolded, and they were brutally killed. Approximately 200-300 horses were destroyed. Some residents tried to save their animals and ran away with them. The carcasses of the animals were burned, and an unpleasant smell lingered for a long time. These actions were investigated, but the perpetrators went into hiding.
With the establishment of the horse breeding farm, the economy began to develop rapidly thanks to state support. The number of horses grew, and they were bred under the supervision of specialists. Initially, one group was formed, then there were three, each with trainers and jockeys. In the summer, racehorses participated in equestrian competitions held every Sunday.
In the 1950s, the horses Zunai, Zhillet, and Geography won major prizes, while in the 1960s and 70s, it was Zakhat and Zapret. In 1969, horse racing in Tashkent brought success to the black stallion named Zapret, which took 3rd place, covering 75 km in three days. The horse Sary-Tash set a record for Kyrgyzstan in the 1980s, running 2400 meters in 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny observed the races and was impressed by the performance of the horse Baba Matmusayev, giving it high praise.
In the village, nurse Maria Averyanovna Lebedova worked, whose contribution to the healthcare of Kok-Bel was significant. She actively engaged in preventive medical activities and demanded cleanliness from everyone. She particularly cared about the health of children, regularly visiting shepherds and mechanics, even after retirement. When her daughter from Tashkent wanted to take her away, she refused, saying, "If I die, bury me in Kok-Bel." After her death, in fulfillment of her wish, she was buried in the Russian cemetery in Kok-Bel.
In 1956, the Balkars were rehabilitated and began to return to their historical homeland. In the 1960s, most of them left, which caused bitterness among the locals. Farewells were filled with sincere words of gratitude for the kindness of the Kyrgyz. Among those who remained were only women who married local residents, and now they have many descendants.
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In 2018, Turmush published a piece about how Chyngyzbek from Nookat is engaged in breeding purebred horses worth over a million soms. The Nookat district continues to be famous for its horse breeders who continue to raise thoroughbred horses.
