Gunib village in Dagestan is located 150 km from Makhachkala. It is one of the first sights of the republic worth seeing. Firstly, it is a historical place that remembers the Caucasian War with its battles for independence, and secondly - a unique nature with river valleys, spacious plateaus and peaks of the Caucasus Range.
General information and interesting facts about Gunib
The village is located on the high plateau of Gunib, literally on the top of a flat-topped mountain. Its view from the eastern side was captured by the artist Aivazovsky. Being a marinist, he could not resist and, inspired by the beauty of the mountain aul, transferred a landscape unusual for his brush to the canvas.
The central part of the village is located at an altitude of 1234 meters above sea level. In fact, the aul is located on two or even three levels. The upper one is occupied by the fortress and several guest houses, the middle one - the center of the village with cafes, museums, administrative buildings, and the lower one - the private sector, as well as the polyclinic and the police.
Gunib Sights
The village of Gunib attracts with its special cozy atmosphere. There are almost no fences here, let alone high gates. One of the main attractions is Gunib fortress, which is a witness of the Caucasian War and a historical monument of Dagestan.
A serpentine road leads to the central square of the village. On the upper level of the aul there is a natural park “Upper Gunib”, where deer live and walk, which you can feed. There is also an important natural monument here - Saltinskaya Gorge. It is a gorge 40 meters wide and 20 meters high, which stretches for 1.5 km.
What else is there to see in Gunib village in Dagestan:
- White Cranes monument;
- Gunib hydroelectric power station;
- Shamil's pavilion, Tsarskaya glade;
- Historical and Architectural Museum.
How to get to Gunib from Vladikavkaz
The drive from Vladikavkaz to Gunib will take about 6 hours. The total distance is 350 km. On the way, be sure to pay attention to the section of the road from Gimry to the Irganay reservoir, as it is especially picturesque. If you have time to spare, you can also stop at the Sulak Canyon and the Chirkei Reservoir, where you will also find stunning beauty.
In general, the whole road to Gunib is considered one of the most beautiful places of the republic. That is why few people manage to drive the whole distance quickly, because the whole way consists literally of pictures for photo wallpapers.
Just before approaching Gunib you will pass a bridge over the Karakoysu River. Then there will be a turn to the village, but you can skip it and drive along the gorge further, and then you will get one of the best views of Gunib.
All this, of course, is more convenient to see, if you go by car, and not with a tour. This way you can allocate your own time and devote as much time to each attraction as you see fit. Public transportation runs between towns and villages, and to get to all the interesting places, you need to hitchhike or rent a car, which is certainly more convenient, especially if you go on some SUV like Suzuki Jimny.
We invite you to the Caucasus - rent a car from us and go to Gunib. Here you can experience real freedom, enjoy the therapeutic mountain air and unique landscapes of the sunniest settlement in Europe.
