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RussiaGeneral information about Kubachi, history, recreation, infrastructure
Kubachi is a village in the Republic of Dagestan in the Dakhadaevsky district, 93 kilometers from Derbent and 180 from Makhachkala, located at an altitude of 1600-1800 meters above sea level (Kubachi on the map of Dagestan). Kubachi is known not only in Dagestan, but also far beyond its borders for its masters in the manufacture of unique silverware – weapons, knives, dishes, jewelry.
Already in the X century, and according to some sources much earlier, the village of Kubachi was famous for master gunsmiths. Since then and to this day, Kubachin silver remains in demand, and craftsmen continue to create amazing jewelry that amaze with its beauty and craftsmanship. Kubachin silver is so famous that the works of the masters are exhibited in the main museums of Moscow and St. Petersburg, in the world museums of London and Paris. And although after the collapse of the USSR local workshops and factories fell into disrepair, today the tradition of handicrafts is still preserved here, and you can see and buy unique handmade silverware.
Since 2018, Kubachi has hosted the international graphic biennale and exhibition-competition of works "Kubachinskaya Tower" (held every two years on even-numbered years). In addition, events for artists are held annually.
Recreation and infrastructure in Kubachi
Kubachi is an interesting tourist place. Here you can walk around the village and the surrounding area, visit the Kubachinsky Tower, learn about local traditions in the museum of local lore and buy unique souvenirs and silverware.
You can also stay in Kubachi for a night or more to get to know its sights in more detail, walk around the surroundings with magnificent landscapes, and plunge into the local village life. But to consider the village as a place of rest for a long time is not worth it, because here you simply have nothing to do.
The infrastructure of the village is not developed. There are small shops with a small assortment of products, a couple of cafes offering a traditional miracle with tea, souvenir shops. It is worth noting that in some guest houses you can order meals for an additional fee, which will be very appropriate here.
The roads in the village are unpaved and not always of the best quality, and during the rains, walking and driving on them is a continuous test. Public transport from Makhachkala and Derbent does not go here directly. You can only get there by car or with excursions, but we will tell you more about this below.
Hotels and accommodation in Kubachi, where to stay
Accommodation in Kubachi is mainly represented by private housing, there are very few guest houses here. Prices on booking sites for one in a multi-bed room start from 800 rubles, a double room from 1600 rubles. There are no campsites, hotels or hostels here. Since the village is small and there are very few accommodation options, it is worth booking accommodation in advance during the summer and autumn season.
All accommodation options are located in the village itself, but it is worth considering that it is conditionally divided into new and old: the new one is located lower, in the area of the Kubachinsky combine, and the old part is higher and adjacent to the Kubachinsky tower. If possible, we advise you to settle in the old village, it's more interesting here. But if it doesn't work out, then settle down anywhere, because you can easily get to any place in the village on foot.
You can use these reliable Russian systems to search and book hotels and accommodation:
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Kubachi on Ostrovok.ru
- 🛌 Search for affordable housing in Kubachi on Sutochno.ru (we recommend it, the bonus system works)
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Kubachi on Yandex.travel
How to get to Kubachi
You can visit Kubachi on your own by private transport or with an excursion. Unfortunately, it is still difficult to get here by public transport. But perhaps when the road works are fully completed and asphalt is brought to the village, regular bus services will be launched, including large tourist buses.
In the meantime, excursions to get acquainted with Kubachi are offered mostly individual and quite expensive. In terms of time, they take a full day, and in addition to attractions in Kubachi itself, they may include a visit to the abandoned village of Kala-Koreish and the arch bridge of 1809 in the village Majalis. You can book such excursions on the websites:
If you travel by your own or rented transport, you can easily visit Kubachi during the day from Makhachkala, Derbent and any other place on the coast. For reference, from Makhachkala it takes about 4 hours to drive here in one direction, from Derbent at least two hours. If you make a stop on the way to Kala-Koreish, then add at least 1 more hour. In any case, we advise you to leave as early as possible, because you will still need to walk around the village and see its sights, and have time to get back, and preferably during daylight hours, since driving at night along mountain roads is far from the safest pastime.
And now let's tell you about the road to Kubachi itself. There are two roads leading here from the coast: a new one and an old one.
- The new road leads through Majaldis, Jumarchi, Kala-Koreish and finally leads you to Kubachi. Most of this route passes along a decent asphalt road, but 10 kilometers after the village of Majalis, a mountain primer begins at the exit towards Jumarchi. Along this primer, about 7 kilometers will remain to travel to Kala-Koreish, and about the same amount will finally reach Kubachi. Expensive in good weather, passable for any cars, but dangerous in bad weather, there are also landslides that completely block travel along it for a while. During our trip in 2022, repair work was carried out here, and perhaps in the future the asphalt will be finally laid to Kubachi and the rocks will be strengthened, then it will be much safer and easier to get there.
- The old road is longer, and you will have to drive more on a dirt road. After Majaldis, at the fork, you will need to turn not towards Jumarchi, but on the road to the village of Urkarakh. Asphalt leads all the way to Urkarakh, and after it 20 kilometers along a very difficult primer to Kubachi.
If you travel freely by car and do not plan to return to the coast immediately, you can route through Kala-Koreish and Kubachi further up to Gunib in one direction. After Kubachi, a dirt road leads to Gunib through the villages of Urkhnishcha, Urari, Gulebki, Tapshima, and then you can route through Balkhar (pottery village) or Akusha. On this way you can also visit Saltinskiy underground waterfall, Vatan memorial complex, abandoned village of Gamsutl, see Dagestan pyramids and other interesting places. To do this, see our map of Dagestan with sights.
In general, this route is very picturesque, passes through beautiful green hills and low mountains. The road is quite passable, but in the rain and snow there may be difficulties. You can take this route to Gunib in one day if you leave early in the morning. But if you visit places along the way and linger, you will not be able to get there in one day. Therefore, plan a possible overnight stay in Kubachi or somewhere further along the way, including in a tent. The places here are calm and quiet, there are plenty of opportunities to set up a tent. We talked in more detail about this scenic route here.
Sights in Kubachi and what to see
In addition to the natural scenery and beauty of the surroundings, Kubachi attracts tourists with its main attraction - the Kubachi Tower with the remains of the fortress walls. There is also a small local history museum named after A. Abu-Bakar, the Tower of Silence (Dahmoy) and souvenir shops with products of local craftsmen. Dagestanis are very careful and reverent about traditions, and in some guest houses you can find private mini-museums, where the owners conduct fascinating excursions.
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Kubachinskaya Tower
Kubachinskaya Tower Kubachi defensive tower "Ak'ila-kala" is the main attraction and the most visited place in Kubachi. It is located in the old part of the village on a hill and is visible from almost every corner of it. It is a 20-meter-high cylindrical building and belongs to the remains of a medieval fortress. The bathhouse was built in the XIII – XIV centuries, served as a defensive structure and was a guardhouse. Originally it was higher and consisted of five floors, today only three have survived. It is best to visit it in clear weather, as the top floor offers picturesque views of the village and its surroundings. A museum with a collection of painted plates, embroidery, embossing, household items and clothing is organized inside the tower. There is also a souvenir shop with a small selection of silverware by Kubachin masters. Read more about Kubachinskaya tower here.
🕐 Working hours: during daytime.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Kubachinskaya tower is located in the very center of the historical part of Kubachi village (tower on the map). It is possible to drive up to the tower by car, however, as such there is no parking in front of it. It is better to leave the car before reaching 100 meters from shops and cafes, where you can safely park and turn around in the future.
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Abu Bakar Museum of Local Lore
Museum in Kubachi A small local history Museum named after A. Abu-Bakar in Kubachi was opened in 2012 and is a branch of the National Museum named after A. Taho-Godi. It is both a local history museum and a house-museum of the people's writer of Dagestan A. Abu-Bakar. Part of the exhibits tells about the life and work of the famous writer. Personal belongings of the writer, as well as books, diaries, letters and manuscripts are presented. Learn more about the museum here.
🕐 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, the ticket office closes at 17:15, Monday is a day off.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: adults – 100 rubles, excursions from 200 rubles /person. The Pushkin card is valid.
🚶 How to get there: The museum is located in the building of the secondary school named after A.G. Karaev at Dakhadaevsky district, Kubachi settlement, Yusup Shamov str., 48 (museum on the map).
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Kubachinsky Plant and Museum
In the museum of the Kubachinsky combine Now the enterprise is not functioning, but since 1960 it has been one of the largest in Dagestan engaged in folk art crafts. Specialized in the production of metal jewelry, including silverware. Women's and men's jewelry, tableware, cold steel, cigarette cases, jugs, vases and caskets and much more were made here. It is impossible to visit the plant and the museum located in one of the former industrial buildings on your own. The territory of the plant can be accessed only through the entrance and accompanied by a guide. There are no separate tours of the plant, but you can partially see it as part of a tour of the museum. Read more about the Kubachinsky plant here.
🕐 Working hours: during the day, by appointment.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge by agreement.
🚶 How to get there: the plant is located in Nizhny Kubachi on Yusup Akhmedov str., 94 (factory on the map).
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Dakhma or the Tower of Silence
Dakhma or the Tower of Silence is a little–known place in the village of Kubachi. It is a low hill overgrown with grass, on top of which there is a plateau, and at the foot of the hill there is a depression resembling the remains of a moat. The place is sacred and revered as a religious object. According to legends and research, Kubachi was the capital of the state of Zirikhgeran, which existed in mountainous Dagestan from the VI to the XV centuries. It was absorbed by the neighboring state of the Utsmiystvo of Kaitag (Kala-Koreish) in the XV century. There was a population in Zirikhgeran who professed different religions, including Zoroastrianism. Dakhma is connected with him. No one still knows for sure if the Tower of Silence really existed and where this second name came from. Read more about Dakhma here.
🕐 Working hours: during daytime.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Dakhma is located on the outskirts of Kubachi (Dakhma on the map).
💥 We remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Dagestan with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at online booking options on these proven search and price comparison sites: