WHERE TO EAT IN VLADIKAVKAZ
For dessert and aesthetics, you should go to the Gorka coffee shop (place on the map) in Khetagurov Park. There you can try ice cream in the famous Soviet cremans, see the creation of Marc Chagall on the ceiling, and a funny merch, in which the main characters turned into Ossetians in national costumes on famous canvases of artists. We posted the video on our telegram channel.
Gorka Restaurant in Khetagurova Park in Vladikavkaz. Photo ATOR
Interior of Gorka cafe. Photo by ATOR
You can have a hearty lunch or dinner at the beautiful restaurant “Dendrarium“(dot on the map). There is a pleasant green area on the territory of the institution and even its own stage. A large company can sit in the halls with a separate entrance.
Arboretum Restaurant in Vladikavkaz. Photo ATOR
Rooms with a separate entrance in the Arboretum restaurant. Photo ATOR
IS THE YOUNGEST REGION IN RUSSIA AND THE SMALLEST CAPITAL
Less than 30 km from Vladikavkaz is Magas is the capital of the youngest region in Russia – Ingushetia. Magas itself, with a population of 25 thousand people, is considered the smallest regional capital in our country.
In the city, you can walk along the main street – Idris Zyazikov Avenue. A bike path runs parallel to the avenue, along which you can ride a scooter or bike. But in the evening, the correspondent of Vestnik ATOR met a horseman on a bicycle path.
Modern Magas with a bike path. Photo by ATOR
At the end of the main avenue, the construction of the mosque “Heart of the Caucasus” is almost completed (dot on the map). While it is still surrounded by a construction fence, but with it the golden domes of the mosque look spectacular against the background of the snow-capped caps of the Caucasian ridge.
The Heart of the Caucasus mosque under construction in Magas. Photo by ATOR
You can see the whole of Magas at once, as well as neighboring Nazran, from the highest observation deck on the North Caucasus – in The Tower of Concord in the park Silk Road (dot on the map).
Concord Tower with observation deck. Photo by ATOR
The height of the tower is 100 m, it was built in 2013. The site is open until 22:00, and admission costs 200 rubles. The ticket price includes a visit to several expositions that introduce visitors to the Ingush way of life. The video from the observation deck is in our telegram channel.
Interestingly, in the capital of Ingushetia, the stops are equipped with air conditioning, and special bins for fluorescent lamps, mercury thermometers and chemical power sources are installed on the streets.
Air-conditioned stop in Magas. Photo ATOR
Container for collecting fluorescent lamps and mercury thermometers. Photo by ATOR
Along the highway from Magas to Grozny, on the right side you can see the famous “Giant Garden“ – one of the leading fruit growing enterprises in Russia.
Dwarf apple trees are grown in the fields of the agro-complex, which from afar can be confused with vines. But these “babies” produce such a huge harvest that it is sold by well-known grocery chains all over the country. The impressive warehouse of the garden is also visible from the road, the harvest can be stored in its refrigerators for up to 16 months.
Dwarf apple trees, which can easily be mistaken for a vineyard, in a giant garden in Ingushetia. Photo ATOR
WHERE TO STAY IN MAGAS
In the center of the capital of Ingushetia, we recommend hotel “Artis Plaza“ (point on the map) with spacious rooms. Even the “standard” looks impressive here, and the panoramic windows make the room visually even bigger.
Spacious room at the Artis Plaza Hotel in Magas. Photo ATOR
Bathroom in the Artis Plaza Hotel room. Photo by ATOR
The hotel employs very friendly female housekeepers, they treat guests with respect, and if you contact them, they will be happy to help with advice, for example, on the dress code on the streets of the city.
WHERE TO EAT IN MAGAS
You can get acquainted with traditional Ingush cuisine at restaurant Del Magas in the city center (dot on the map). Correspondent of the ATOR Bulletin It is strongly recommended to try the hot dishes there zizhig-galnash. This is boiled meat with dumplings made of wheat flour.
Zizhig-galnash – boiled meat with dumplings made of wheat flour. Photo by ATOR
And for dessert, order hingalsh – a delicious closed flatbread with pumpkin filling, cooked in a frying pan.
A very tasty sweet dish – hingalsh with pumpkin filling. Photo by ATOR
A pleasant moment – a group of adult women sitting at a nearby table, leaving the restaurant, greeted a group of journalists from Moscow and expressed gratitude for visiting their native land.
WHAT TO SEE IN CHECHNYA: USHKALOY TOWERS, VEDUCHI, SHAROY COMPLEX, LAKE KEZENOY-AM
Ushkaloyskie bashni
Leaving Grozny at the end of the trip, a group of journalists from leading media outlets, together with a correspondent from Vestnik ATOR, set off towards the Argun Gorge to Ushkaloy towers (dot on the map).
Watchtowers on the banks of the Argun River were known back in the XI century. Then they guarded the trade route through the Caucasus, and today tourists specially come here to take beautiful photos.
The Ushkaloy towers in the Argun Gorge of the Chechen Republic. Photo by ATOR
The wind in this narrow place of the gorge howls with such force that the interlocutors barely hear each other. However, it is he who gives travelers the necessary coolness at +35 degrees. Videos of the towers can be seen here.
All-season goseasonal kurort Veduchi
30 minutes walk from the Ushkaloy towers – and you get to a height of 1500 m, to the Veduchi mountain complex(point on the map). The temperature here is noticeably lower than in the valley, so it’s worth bringing warm clothes with you.
Facilities continue to be built at the resort, but the necessary infrastructure to accommodate tourists is already ready. The complex is unique in that its center is located at the top, and cable cars descend from above to lift skiers back up the mountain. In summer, you can take a sightseeing tour on the cable car.
Cable car at Veduchi resort. Photo by ATOR
There is also a beautiful swing with a panorama of the mountains. Perhaps it’s worth coming here in the morning or afternoon, because at sunset the sun will shine directly into the camera.
Swing with mountain view in Veduchi resort. Photo ATOR
Another entertainment here is trekking. The length of the ecotrope in Veduchi is more than 30 km. The first one stretches from the cable car for 14 km. Proven: you will get unimaginable pleasure from contemplating the mountains, alpine aromas and subtle sounds of nature.
Eco-trail at Veduchi resort with information for tourists. Photo by ATOR
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By the way, Veduchi resort has its own keeper – a “special” cat accompanied the journalists throughout the route and when the group split up – one part went forward and the other turned back – the cat waited until the second part “came to its senses” and returned, and escorted her back.
The cat who guarded a group of journalists at the Veduchi resort. Photo by ATOR
At night, silence can be heard in Veduchi. Not a single sound will disturb your sleep – and this is a real shock for those who came to the mountains from the metropolis.
Sharoysky historical andarchitectural complex
To understand what the Caucasus is, you need to go to the mountains. This opportunity will be available to those who decide to continue the route to Sharoysky complexwith (point on the map). There is only 50 km of road, but in the mountains it is two hours away and minus two jeeps out of five. So the group, in which our correspondent was, was twice re-seated in cars while they were out of order one by one.
The route started with five jeeps, but by the end there were three cars left. Photo by ATOR
Guided tours are held in the architectural monument, which was restored only three years ago. For example, there you can find out that a married and an unmarried girl in the Caucasus used to be distinguished by a jug – the “ugly” belonged to a married lady, and the handsome one belonged to a marriageable girl.
Two jugs for unmarried and married women. Photo ATOR
Sharoysky complex. Photo by Patimat Magomedgadzhieva
The pyramidal shape of the defensive towers of the complex has its own special function. In ancient times, everything was thought out: if you drop a stone from a window on an enemy storming a tower, it will fly off the wall and hit him right in the head.
View of the Sharoysky complex. Photo ATOR
Lake Kezenoi-Am
From the Sharoy complex to the lake Kezenoy-Am leads another difficult but incredibly beautiful route.
Only the Caucasus Mountains can be better than mountains. Photo ATOR
The road goes through Alpine pastures, so sheep, goats, cows and horses accompanied the group all the way.
There are horses, cows, sheep on the road. Photo ATOR
A full-fledged tourist center with a large hotel, restaurant and entertainment is located on Lake Kezenoi-Am (dot on the map).
It offers tourists a zipline, saps, boats and horses, as well as a beautiful green and blue lake. Do not forget that Kezenoi is a mountainous lake, i.e. it is not particularly hot here, so you can swim here, but you don’t really want to. However, there are sunbeds available.
Zipline over Lake Kezenoy-Am in Chechnya. Photo by ATOR
On the way to Grozny, you can buy fresh fruits – peaches just melt in your mouth, they just won’t get to Moscow. But apricots can be delivered if they are a little unripe.
And this year in Chechnya you can buy honey from milkweed. According to local drivers, such honey is collected once every three years. The price of 1 liter is 1000 rubles. Apricots – 40 rubles per 1 kg.
Apricots are sold at 40 rubles per kg. Photo ATOR
WHERE TO STAY AND WHERE TO EAT IN CHECHNYA
One night on a trip to Chechnya should definitely be spent either on Lake Kezenoi-Am or at the Veduchi resort. You can stop at the lake and eat at the hotel of the same name, built in the shape of a pyramid (dot on the map).
Hotel on Lake Kezenoi Am. Photo by ATOR
In the restaurant, be sure to order saj – these are vegetables with meat in a frying pan.
On Lake Kezenoy you definitely need to try saj meat and vegetables in a frying pan. Photo by ATOR
In Veduchi, we also recommend the Edelweiss Hotel (dot on the map), with cozy rooms and a good restaurant, where waiters educated in the best traditions of the Caucasus work. Here you need to try siskal – cottage cheese, slightly “rough”, cheesecakes with corn flour and, although not Chechen, but very tasty, dessert – meringue roll.
Edelweiss Hotel in Veduchi resort. Photo ATOR
Cozy room inthe Edelweiss Hotel in Veduchi resort. Photo ATOR
Bathroom at the Edelweiss Hotel in Veduchi resort. Photo ATOR
View from the balcony at the Edelweiss Hotel. Photo by ATOR
The mountain air awakens the appetite, do not deny yourself pleasant things.
WHAT TO SEE FOR A TOURIST IN GROZNY
One of the advertising slogans of the Chechen capital sounds like “Formidable on the outside, but kind on the inside.” In general, the statement is true, if you respect the Caucasian traditions.
These stands will remind you of them.
The capital of the Chechen Republic hosted the first Caucasian Investment Forum from July 15 to 17. There were many guests, hotels and restaurants were full, and taxis had to be searched, so the guests had to walk a lot. Fortunately, the most important places in the center are nearby.
In Grozny, the tourist’s attention will definitely be attracted by the oriental-style Minutka complex (dot on the map). The building was built inspired by the architecture of Dubai, and it got its name due to the station that was once located here, where the train stopped for only one minute.
Minutka complex in Grozny. Photo by ATOR
In the quarterGrozny City you can climb the observation deck (dot on the map) to see the city in daylight, and in the evening have dinner on the roof of a neighboring building in the Kupol restaurant (dot on the map) and then the city will play in sunset colors.
View from the observation deck of the Kupol restaurant and the Heart of Chechnya Mosque. Photo by ATOR
The working day at the observation deck starts at 10 a.m., tickets cost 200 rubles. The playground itself consists of two tiers and the fences on the second one, although they look a little scary, perform their function. You can look anywhere, but you can photograph only 3 sides out of 4 – it is forbidden to take an angle with a view of the residence of the head of the republic, as the corresponding signs and a special person remind you.
It takes 5 minutes to walk from the business district to the famous mosque “Heart of Chechnya” (dot on the map) by crossing the bridge over the Sunzha River. For women, the prayer space is organized on the second floor, closer to the dome. From here it turns out to take wonderful photos.
Mosque “Heart of Chechnya” in Grozny. Photo ATOR
Inside the Heart of Chechnya Mosque in Grozny. Photo ATOR
View of Grozny City from the flower park. Photo ATOR
WHERE TO STAY IN GROZNY
In relative proximity to the center are hotel and Union Hotel and “Asia“, located opposite each other a friend (a point on the map). The second one – with small rooms and, most importantly, with air conditioning – is quite suitable for tourists who come to the hotel just to spend the night.
Simple room at the Asia Hotel in Grozny. Photo ATOR
Bathroom in a room at the Asia Hotel in Grozny. Photo ATOR
WHERE TO EAT IN GROZNY
For a hearty dinner after a long journey, the restaurant “Tiflis“ (dot on the map), located near two hotels, is suitable. It will be pleasant to sit on the covered veranda with air conditioning. It quickly serves dishes on the grill.
For dinner in a beautiful place, it is worth choosing the above-mentioned restaurant “Dome”, perhaps the best in the city.
Kupol Restaurant in the center of Grozny. Photo by ATOR
It offers a magnificent view of Grozny, and partitions are installed between the tables to make communication between visitors more comfortable and private. They serve wonderful lemonades with fresh fruits, and chepalgash with cottage cheese I want to take it with me.
Chepalgash with cottage cheese. Photo ATOR
HOW TO GET FROM GROZNY TO THE AIRPORT
Grozny airport is located very close to the city, so it takes no more than 20 minutes by car from the center to get to it without traffic jams.
Annand Popova
