Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve
Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve

The Jeyrakh-Assin historical, architectural and natural museum-reserve is located within the boundaries of the Jeyrakh district of the Republic of Ingushetia on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Central part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The reserve was established on June 2, 1988. The area of the reserve is slightly more than 627 square kilometers. The activity of the reserve is aimed at ensuring the preservation, restoration and study of territorial complexes of cultural and natural heritage, material and spiritual values in their traditional historical (cultural and natural) environment. On the territory of the museum-reserve there are 122 ancient architectural complexes, including more than 2,670 objects of cultural significance, including defensive and residential towers, burial crypts, Christian and pagan sanctuaries and temples. The oldest buildings of the megalithic type belong to the middle of the second millennium BC. Every year, significant scientific discoveries are made on the territory of the reserve, new objects are identified, archaeological expeditions are constantly working, scientists from all over the world come. Since 1996, the reserve has been a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Significant value in the reserve is given to work on creating conditions for the development of organized tourism, its educational and service component.

Tower manor "Tovkhanti" is located opposite the Melleri complex, on the western slope of the mountain. It consists of 1 two-storey residential tower "Zovr-g1ala", on the east side of which there is a courtyard and one core-shaped mausoleum.

The height of the tower is about 5 meters, the roof is absent, the width of the southern wall is 6 m, the eastern one is 8.5 m. The entrance to the tower is located on the east side and has vaulted doors on both floors. Vaults of solid stones are relatively well preserved.

The south wall on the second floor has 1 large window and 2 small loopholes. The eastern wall has 2 arched doors, 1 window, 2 loopholes, one of which is directed to the entrance of the first floor.

The tower has well-preserved structural details: window openings, niches, loopholes, which are available on all walls of the object.

Of particular importance for the history of the republic, in our opinion, is the core-shaped mausoleum, erected in the late 18th century and located 15 meters south of the tower, it has been preserved to its full height (about 3 meters).

I want to give one interesting story, which is recorded for the first time from the words of local residents. It says that the estate appeared later than the Muller Tower, it is also known that the inhabitant of the tower left this place.

Further, in this legend it is told that the owner of this estate, after the construction of the tower and the mausoleum, gathered people of nearby villages and demonstrated the work of the master. And there was something to see: the tower was very beautiful, with many loopholes, windows, niches, as well as vaulted doorways and other structural elements.

Also, the resident of the tower boasted that on his lands he harvests two crops per year. Among the guests was a blind old man from the village of Meller, who did not like the successes of his neighbor and in order to survive from these places, he advised him to cultivate the land with melted oil, so that they would bring him three crops per year.

The owner of the estate, being a very hardworking and simple-minded person, heeded his advice and worked his land with oil. As a result, the land ceased to yield crops and, having lost it, the inhabitant of the tower was forced to leave these places, since previously the only source of food was only land. And since then, no one has moved in.

It is located within the boundaries of the Jeirakh-Assinsky Museum-Reserve.

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