Monument to Leo Tolstoy and Hadji Murad

The monument to Leo Tolstoy and Hadji Murad is installed on the edge of the cliff of the Matlas plateau. It is dedicated to the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the hero of his story, Naib Hadji Murad, who was a real historical figure. The Avars consider him their national hero.

Hadji Murad was born in Khunzakh in 1818. He was the brother of the Avar khans and during the Caucasian War became one of the prominent military leaders of Dagestan detachments fighting the Russian army. When Imam Shamil became the head of Dagestan, he became one of his closest associates. His fearlessness and bravery were legendary. Dagestanis called him "Ghostly" because he led very daring military operations.

Hadji Murad had many envious people, and they inspired Imam Shamil that Hadji Murad had become more famous and more loved by Dagestanis than Shamil himself. It made them quarrel. Shamil took his family hostage, and in 1851 Hadji Murad left Shamil. He defected to the Russian army and with their help wanted to free his family, but it did not work out.  He was sent to Tbilisi, but not as a prisoner, but as a guest. However, life in the city was burdensome for Hadji Murad. As a result, he decided to flee, but was killed by the guards.

In 1851, a young officer, Lev Tolstoy, served in the Caucasus. He was 22 years old at the time. His service took place in Tbilisi, where Hadji Murad was brought. They did not know each other personally, but the story of Hadji Murad impressed Tolstoy so much that he decided to write a story about him. He wrote it a few decades later, in 1896.

The Avars venerate their great ancestor and erected a monument in the form of a split marble slab on the Matlas plateau. The right part of the slab symbolizes Hadji Murad, a sword hangs on it. The left plate with a pen and an open book symbolizes Leo Tolstoy. A Matlas mosque was built near the monument in 2019. A very beautiful view of the Khan Waterfall opens from the Viewing point, and a Stone Path begins to the right of the monument. It leads down to the foot of the stone terrace.