Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
AbkhaziaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
Tkvarchal or Tkvarcheli is a town and a popular tourist attraction known as an abandoned ghost town. At least under this " title" it is advertised to tourists in guidebooks and brochures with excursions. But in fact, the characterization of a hero city is more suitable for Tkuarchal, because such a title was officially awarded to him in Abkhazia based on the results of the Georgian-Abkhaz or Patriotic War of 1992-1993. But it can only be called a ghost town with a big stretch. We will tell you about everything honestly and reliably:
The city of Tkuarchal was officially established in Soviet times in 1942, although a small settlement existed here before. The Soviet industry needed resources, and significant deposits of coal were discovered in these places, and they began to build this city for its extraction. It was largely built by German prisoners of war, because it was wartime. In a matter of years, it became an exemplary Soviet city and one of the largest mining centers in the Soviet Caucasus. However, with the collapse of the USSR, the city began to fade away.
But he received the biggest blow during the Georgian-Abkhaz or Patriotic War of 1992-1993, having survived the blockade for 413 days. Then the population decreased almost 5 times from 21 thousand to 4.5 thousand, part of the city was abandoned, many residential and industrial buildings were destroyed.
However, it is still difficult to call it a real ghost town. Moreover, according to local residents, now it is even beginning to recover, the bus station is working and intercity minibuses are running.
From personal experience. We drove to Tkuarchal impressed by the stories of Internet bloggers and guidebooks, expecting to see deserted streets and abandoned buildings. However, when we arrived here, we saw streets filled with residents, transport on the street, shops and a market working. Life in the city is booming and getting better. Some of the buildings and streets on the outskirts really look abandoned and deserted, but being in the center there is no hint of a ghost town. To be completely honest, in Russia we have been to much more abandoned and depressing places, such as the Yubileyny settlement in the Perm Region or the completely dead village of Verkhnyaya Gubakha.
Anyway, excursions to Tkuarchal are carried, and independent travelers come here with pleasure, but mostly by way of transit. After all, there is only one road through the city to the real ghost town of Akarmara, to the abandoned villages of Gornyatsky and Polyana, and to the very steep waterfalls Gold-Bearer, Irina, Giant and Saint. Most tourists make a short stop on the way to take pictures and walk at the abandoned Tkuarchal railway station.
But if there is a desire, you can stay in the city for an overnight stay, for this there are at least two hostels here, as well as local residents rent rooms. Everything that is necessary for life is here, but it is better to refuel in advance to the fullest at network gas stations near In or in Sukhumi. To pay for accommodation and purchases in local stores, prepare cash in advance, there is no ATM in the city.
🕐 Working hours
Around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price
Free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
The abandoned ghost town of Tkuarchal is located far in the south-east of Abkhazia, 80 kilometers from Sukhum, 90 kilometers and 170 from Gagra (Clicked on the map). You can visit it with excursions, by car, and even public transport goes here. Learn more about each method:
-
In Tkuarchal with an excursion
The easiest way to visit Tkuarchala is with the help of excursions. They are sent from almost all beach resorts of Abkhazia, you can buy from distributors of excursions on the streets or in travel agencies. In addition to stopping at the Tkuarchal railway station, their standard program includes the abandoned town of Akarmara and the waterfalls of Saint, Irina and the Giant. Additionally, you can visit the Gold-bearing waterfall and the radon spring.
If you prefer individual trips rather than trips in a large group, we advise you to watch these excursions with online booking:
-
In Tkuarchal independently
If you are traveling by car, then this is a great way to get to Tkuarchal, to Akarmara and to the waterfalls, and at the same time visit many other attractions along the way. If time permits, it is better to come with an overnight stay, and you can spend the night in Tkuarchale itself, in a guest house near Radon springs or in a tent in any convenient place along the way, and there are plenty of places to set up a tent here.
The road to Tkuarchala is in excellent condition, completely asphalt. But do not forget to refuel the car before coming here, as there is a gas station here at the entrance to the city, it may not work. And the quality of gasoline is a big question.
Further after Tkuarchala, the road continues to Akarmara and waterfalls, but it is already much worse. However, in 2023/2024 it will be repaired, perhaps it will get better this season.
-
To Tkuarchal by public transport
Minibuses go to Tkuarchal at least from Ochamchira, and we saw a minibus here even with a sign Psou (cost 650 USD). Unfortunately, we do not have up-to-date information about the schedule, we only know that they go very rarely and not constantly.
💥 We remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Abkhazia with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at online booking options on these proven search and price comparison sites: