The abandoned village of Gamsutl is one of the most interesting sights of Dagestan. This village is located at an altitude of 1418 meters on the right slope of the picturesque Andalal valley. The village itself is sandwiched between two rocky hills. In guidebooks, it is often called "Dagestan Machu Picchu". There are some similarities between them, but the beauty of Gamsutl is self-sufficient and there is no reason to compare it to someone.
Translated into Avar, the word Gamsutl means "At the foot of the Khan`s tower" or "The Fortress of the king". According to historians, the village of Gamsutl was founded more than two thousand years ago. This conclusion was made on the basis of studies of tombstones in the local cemetery. One of them had inscriptions in the ancient Iranian language. This tombstone was sent to Iran and after research, archaeologists reported that this tombstone is more than 2 thousand years old.
Perhaps the time of its foundation is close to Derbent, which was founded in the 4th century BC. Thus, Gamsutl is one of the oldest settlements in Dagestan and has exceptional historical and cultural value.
History of Hamsutl village
In the past, its population was numerous. More than 3 thousand people lived here. Gamsutl had an important advantage for ancient times - natural protection from enemy attacks. On both sides of the settlement, mountain cliffs descend deep into the gorges, on the third side a mountain slope rises and only on one side a road leads to the village.
Gamsutl village itself is located between two rocky peaks. One of them was called "Rock Tooth". At the top of another peak, there may have been a "Khan`s Palace", and around it were the houses of his entourage. The road to Gamsutl goes along the bottom of the Andalal valley, and then serpentines up the mountain slopes. The road was easy to defend with small forces, and the enemies could be seen for tens of kilometers.
Gamsutl village was actively involved in the events of the Caucasian War, which was waged against Russian troops by Imam Shamil in the 19th century. Near the Tooth Rock, he often received guests. The barracks of his troops and even a prison were located here. This place was called "Shamil’s Siberia". Russian troops were unable to capture Gamsutl, as it was impregnable. According to legend, no one has managed to capture it in the whole history.
By the 21st century, this advantage has turned into a significant disadvantage. Residents supported the road on their own, but it required a lot of resources. Besides, there was no work at all in the village. The only possible occupation is farming and cattle breeding. For modern youth, this was not the most attractive prospect.
As a result, by the end of the 20th century, residents began to leave Gamsutl village en masse. If by the end of the 1990s more than 200 people still lived in it, by 2002 there were only 17 old people who decided to live out their lives in their native village. In 2015, the last resident of Gamsutl, Abdulzhalil Abdulzhalilov, died. After 5 years, the deserted and destroyed ancient village turned into a stunning attraction of Dagestan.
Visit to Hamsutl Village
Gamsutl is located 25 kilometers from Gunib Village. This is the only large village where there are hotels. On the opposite slope of the mountain range, 7 kilometers away, there is a very beautiful village of Chokh, but there the tourist infrastructure is just beginning to develop.
You can visit Gamsutl only in excursion or in a rented car. Parking for cars is located by the river Tsamtichay at the bottom of the Andalal Valley among the picturesque rocks. There is a high-quality road to this parking lot. Leaving your car, you have to climb the mountainside to Gamsutl 3.2 kilometers. The climb is quite significant – 430 meters. At the bottom of the valley, there are people who, for a reward, can take you higher in an SUV, about 1.5 kilometers, but most of the way will still have to be done on foot. Given the rather difficult climb, it is better to allocate most of the day to visit Gamsutl. It is best to combine a visit to Gamsutl with a trip to the village of Chokh.
All the houses were built of local sandstone. At first, you can walk along the left slope of the mountain to climb the main rock, where the khan`s fortress was. It offers a beautiful view of the Andalal gorge. On the opposite slope, also on the upper part of the gorge, the alpine Village of Chokh is visible.
After that, you can walk along the right side of the village. In the depths is the house of the last resident of Gamsutl, Abdulzhalil Abdulzhalilov. His house stands out from among the others, as it is completely preserved. The rest of the houses are in ruins. Many of them have preserved beautiful arches.
After that, you need to go back through the big arch to the entrance to the village and climb to the Tooth Rock. It offers that classic view of Gamsutl and the Andalal Valley, thanks to which it was called "Dagestan Machu Picchu".
Nowadays Gamsutl continues to ruin. In recent years, the number of tourists coming to Gamsutl has increased significantly. Some people climb the ruins, which leads to their destruction. Urgent work is required to preserve the object as a tourist attraction in Dagestan.
