All about Tash-Jargan in Crimea

Tash-Dzhargan is the name of a tract and mountain located in the Crimea near Simferopol. In ancient times, there was the Crimean Tatar village of Tash-Dzhargan, which translates as “split stone”. Now it is a popular holiday destination not only for tourists, but also for local residents. Indeed, it is so rare in our time in the immediate vicinity of the city to find enchanting landscapes of wild nature.

Tash-Dzhargan is a mountain range that is located within the inner ridge of the Crimean mountains. It stretches for 125 kilometers from the Inkerman Heights to Mount Agarmysh. The height of Tash-Jargan is about 547 meters. The tract is located between the picturesque river Alma and the longest Crimean river Salgir. The nearest settlements are the villages of Partizanskoye, Levadki and Chistenkoye.

The name Tash-Dzhargan was also borne by the disappeared village, which was located in a gully at the foot of the mountain of the same name. It was mentioned in 1579 in the letters of the Polish envoy Martin Bronevsky. It is believed that the Karaites lived in this area at that time. After the decree of Catherine II on the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1784, the settlement was attributed to the Simferopol district.

As a result of the reforms of Paul I from 1796 to 1802, Tash-Dzhargan belonged to the Akmechet district of the Novorossiysk province, and after 1802 it became part of the Eskiorda volost of the Simferopol district. In the fall of 1805, the village had 14 households and 70 inhabitants. They were all Crimean Tatars. But already in 1842, most of the Tatars moved to Turkey, and less than 5 households remained in the village.

In the 1860s, after the land reform of Alexander II, Tash-Dzhargan was assigned to the Mangush volost and was recorded in the papers as a farm with 1 yard and 5 residents. In 1892 the village was part of the Podgorodno-Petrovskoe rural society and consisted of 3 residents in 3 households. After 1900, the village of Tash-Dzhargan is no longer mentioned in the documents.

The greatest interest among tourists is Teshkli-Koba grotto. It is not without reason that this name translates as “leaky cave”, since this grotto is an opened karst cave. On the east side, it has a perfectly round hole with a diameter of about 4-5 meters. Below, at a depth of 12 meters, there is a wide-open grotto, and the western side looks like a bridge overhanging the entrance.

Scientists believe that artesian flows contributed to the formation of such a cavity. Under their powerful pressure, such a large cave was formed in the nummulite limestone over time.

Human sacrifice at that time was very common. Apparently, that is why stories are popular among the local population and among tourists that in the Teshkli-Koba grotto people hear crying and groans, and some even have ghosts.

Travelers are also interested in ancient dolmens of the Taurus... They are a method of burial in which bodies were placed in specially made boxes made of stone slabs. Archaeologists here have discovered several surviving remains of the burials of ancient people. Many dolmens did not survive, as the local population used the processed stone slabs as a ready-made material for their construction needs.

The Tash-Dzhargan tract is a wonderful place that tourists want to capture as a souvenir by taking photos and filming videos. Especially often they do it against the background of the rocky slope of the mountain, which weathering has adorned with figures of the most bizarre and fantastic forms. In spring, this territory impresses with its bright beauty, because primroses, adonis, adonis, wild peonies bloom. In autumn it is also very picturesque here, and you can also taste ripe dogwood.

If you climb the slope of the mountain near the village of Partizanskoye, you can see reservoir of the same name, which very harmoniously fits into the local landscape. There are benches on the mountain paths, you can relax, and then continue your journey further. In hot summer weather, you can swim in the cool waters of Alma or Salgir.

You can get from Simferopol to Tash-Jargan both by your own car and by public transport. If you choose the second way, then in Simferopol you should take minibuses number 57 or number 86, which go to the village of Chistenkoye and the village of Levadki. In both cases, you need to get off at the final stop and climb a little along the road.

From the settlement of Levadki you can go to the edge of the plateau opposite Teshkli-Koba. If you want to get directly to the grotto, then from the village Chistenkoe you need to get out onto a dirt road, and at the fork turn left and down.

By car, you need to move from Simferopol along the road to Bakhchisarai and drive to the village of Levadki or Chistenkoe. Depending on which part of the mountain you want to see first. The coordinates of the villages are as follows: 44.8573350, 34.0805270.

Tash-Dzhargan is a unique place that is suitable for visiting at any time of the year. The majestic beauty of the Crimean nature and historical sights will not leave indifferent either adults or children. There are all conditions for an informative and pleasant stay here.

In the next video you can observe the beauty of the Tash-Dzhargan tract from a bird's eye view.