Gamsutl: exploring Dagestan’s abandoned mountain village

High in the mountains of Dagestan lies a remarkable place. No one lives there now, yet every stone seems to keep someone’s story. This is Gamsutl, an ancient village long abandoned. It feels suspended between past and present, and its quiet brings back the life that once pulsed along these slopes.

How old Gamsutl is and how it began

Scholars estimate Gamsutl to be around two thousand years old. Ancient tombstones with inscriptions in an old language found here point to that age. Its name, translated from Avar as “at the foot of the khan’s fortress,” hints that the place once mattered a great deal.

What the village was like when it was inhabited

As recently as the last century, Gamsutl was very much alive: there were a school, a hospital, a shop, even a post office and a maternity ward. Houses clung to the mountain slopes, some rising two or three stories high, with roofs made of earth and wood. Wealthier families had inside staircases, balconies, and comfortable living rooms.

From the 1950s, people began to leave—first the young, then the older generations. By 1970, about 200 residents remained; by 2002, only 17. The last inhabitant, Abduljalil Abduljalilov, lived there alone until his death in 2015. The numbers read like a slow farewell, each decade thinning the village’s voice.

Traces of different peoples and faiths

Finds from various eras have surfaced in Gamsutl: Christian crosses, Arabic inscriptions, and symbols resembling the Star of David. Taken together, they suggest that people of different beliefs and cultures once shared this place.

Stories and legends

Gamsutl is wrapped in stories. One legend tells of a woman leader who lured enemies into a gorge; after the battle, a river ran red and came to be called the Red River. Another story says Imam Shamil sent wrongdoers here into exile, and people nicknamed the place “Shamil’s Siberia.” These legends feel like footnotes etched into the landscape.

What is happening now

Today, Gamsutl draws travelers. It is often likened to the Machu Picchu of the Caucasus for its dramatic ruins and sweeping mountain views. Getting there is no simple stroll: you have to hike uphill, yet that effort rarely discourages visitors.

Rising interest brings worries, though. Many houses are collapsing, and visitors can accidentally harm what remains. For now, there is no program in place to protect the site from decay. Without a plan, fascination has a way of turning into erosion.

Why Gamsutl should be preserved

Gamsutl is more than a striking ruin. It is a living fragment of Dagestan’s history, a reminder of the people who once called these slopes home—their routines, skills, and culture. Even if you never make the climb, knowing such places exist matters; it keeps the thread of memory intact.

This village is like a book without words. It stays silent, yet its silence says a great deal.