Dark tourism is becoming more and more popular around the world, with travellers looking for unexplored and sometimes eerie spots. And there aren’t many places that tick more boxes than an abandoned “dead city” hidden in the mountains of southern Russia.
Gamsutl is an ancient Avar city in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan. Perched high on Mount Gamsutlmeer at 1,418 metres above sea level, it’s believed to be around 2,000 years old and is one of the most mysterious and remote abandoned places in the country. Known by some as the “Machu Picchu of Dagestan,” the village was once home to dozens of families. But today it’s completely abandoned with crumbling stone houses clinging to the mountainside, attracting visitors from across the world.
It’s often described as a “dead city” because there are no longer any residents. The last inhabitant died in 2015, leaving the entire village empty.
According to local historians and guides, the exact origins of the village remain unclear.
Some say it was founded by an Avar khan whose family lived at the peak, while others believe it may have served as a place of confinement.
The name ‘Gamsutl’ roughly translates to “at the foot of the khan’s fortress.”
The last residents of Gamsutl only left in the early 2000s. The final inhabitant, Abdulzhalil Abdulzhalilov, died in 2015.
He had lived alone in the village for several years, keeping bees, writing a book on religion, and greeting curious tourists who made the steep hike up to the site.
Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century, but some ruins are much older.
Researchers even found a Persian-inscribed tombstone nearby believed to be 2,000 years old.
Gateway to Russia, a site that covers historical destinations in the region, describes Gamsutl as both “quirky” and “atmospheric, with dramatic views and stories to match”.
Heavy rains and erosion continue to damage the site, but tourists still come in large numbers, especially in summer.
Locals now offer guided tours and horse treks to the top, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the site in peace and quiet.
