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.

The Falkhan tower complex is located in the Jeyrakh gorge, on the spur of Table Mountain. The village of Falkhan has been abandoned by people for a long time. Today one can observe three combat, one semi-combat and twelve residential structures damaged there. Up to now 12 family crypts have been preserved, and there was also an early Muslim mosque on the territory of the complex. Unfortunately, the religious building has not been completely preserved - only its remains, including the minaret. The mosque was built after the Ingush people accepted Islam - it was at the end of the XIX century. There was also a madrassa here.

Aul Falkhan is a kilometer away from the neighboring settlement of Lyazhgi. A tall signal tower was built between the settlements - it was used as an observation point and to warn of impending danger. This was practiced between almost all neighboring sharks, so they built tower complexes no further than a kilometer from each other.

The towers of Falhan, if we believe the legend, are based on the lineage of Ferhast, who had three sons. This event took place approximately in the XII century. The G1am-Na'kyan tribe used to reign here, and it was quite warlike, so it was not easy to build a tower complex on a rock.

All combat towers were 5-storied and square, and residential towers were rectangular and a little lower: they were built 2 or 4-level. In the outlines of some buildings one can well guess traces of the former greatness of the aul Falhan. The tower complex looks especially amazing from the height: ancient buildings of ivory color are scattered on the smooth, as if velvet spur of the sacred mountain.

The combat tower of the Dzarakhov teip is very well preserved. It is believed that Dzarakh, the grandson of Ferkhast, became the ancestor of this teip. Legends speak of him as a very brave knight, tearing a whole ram out of a pit at a gallop, which was not everyone's strength. The people even elected the daredevil as the head of the army to protect the fortress from enemy invasions. Probably, that is why the family became known as the Dzarakhovs, i.e. the guards of the gorge.

The ancestral tower of the village Falkhan rises above the cliff, in an extremely inaccessible location - apparently, this was the intention of the ancient builders. Its construction is very interesting: it was possible to enter the Falkhan tower only through the dwelling building, to which it was connected by a gallery.

It is said that to defeat the Gamnakans, they had to use military cunning and guile: they were lured to the territory of the Falhan tower complex, drugged with stupefying herbs and killed in their sleep. In any case, Ferkhast and his people managed to settle in the local mountains.

The population of Falkhan village was engaged in pottery, made products from wood and animal bones, bows. There were even mining deposits on the territory of the tower complex, from where the locals drew saltpeter, ore, lead and ochre. In the fields they cultivated corn, wheat, grew potatoes and flax, which was considered medicinal. In short, it was a fairly prosperous aul.

Archaeological excavations were often carried out on the territory of the Ingush Falkhan tower complex, during which scientists found coins, shards of ancient dishes and so on. The researchers concluded that the most active period of fortress and bastion construction was during the period of the Mongol-Tatar invasions.

Go to group