Targim (Ingush. Thargam) is an ancient city in Ingushetia.
Located in the Dzheyrakh region. Now abandoned village,
administratively included in the rural settlement of Guli.
On
the territory of the city-settlement there is an architectural
complex "Targim", represented by many historical objects: ancient
cyclopean dwellings of a tower type, 4 battle towers, 4 semi-combat
towers and 16 dilapidated residential towers, as well as 19 crypts,
2 mausoleums and 5 sanctuaries. At present, these objects of Ingush
architecture and the entire territory of the settlement are included
in the Dzheyrakh-Assinsky State Historical-Architectural and Natural
Museum-Reserve and are under state protection.
Already from afar, four high towers open up, indicating that there
were four castles here in ancient times. Once upon a time, Targim was a
family settlement for four influential Ingush dynasties, and only they
had the right to build castles for their families, known as “vouv”. Such
structures included not only watchtowers and combat towers, but also
residential buildings, and burial grounds were located along the
perimeter of the main fortresses.
And although the Targim tower
complex today is a place abandoned by people, the towers are still
monitored, maintaining their condition, and interesting excursions are
organized for tourists. Targim is considered the "younger brother" of
two other auls, Egikal and Khamkhi. In each of them, tower settlements
similar to the Targim one were found, and the locals will gladly tell
you the legend of Elbred and his three sons: Egi, Khamkh and Targim,
who, having left their father's house, dispersed through these
territories and created three tower settlements. Historians argue that
such events may indeed have taken place around the 12th century. And it
was from here, from the place where Targim is located, that the
resettlement of the Ingush people began in other mountainous territories
of the modern Republic of Ingushetia.
Targim belongs to the
castle-type complexes, which means that it was not just a fortified
outpost, but also a place for housing entire families and clans. These
buildings were built around the 15th-17th centuries. The towers of
Targim still amaze architects with their grace. Their proportions are
observed so precisely that the width of the base of each tower is 1/10
of their height (about 28 m).
Just 300 meters from the Targim
tower complex is the Christian temple of Albi-Yerdy, or rather, only
what remains of it today: ruins and several walls restored to a small
height.
This temple was built in the 12th century, and this indicates
that the settlement of these territories began even earlier than the
tower complex itself was built. Today, both the temple and the towers
are under the protection of the authorities. But local residents still
manage to use the walls of the historical complex as cattle pens, as the
surrounding areas are rich in vegetation for grazing.
Practical
Information
It is not difficult to get to the Targim tower complex:
the village is located about 10 km from the district center Dzheyrakh in
the Guli rural settlement. Regular buses run to Dzheyrakh, and Targim
can be reached by car along the R-109 road, using the services of local
residents or ordering an excursion. The tower complex itself is located
in the Targim basin, on the right bank of the Assa River.
Address: Republic of Ingushetia, Dzheirakhsky district, Guli rural
settlement, s. Targim.
Targim is a historic aul (mountain settlement) located in the
Dzheyrakhsky District of the Republic of Ingushetia, a federal subject
of Russia in the North Caucasus region. Situated at an elevation of
approximately 1,080 meters above sea level along the Assa River valley,
it serves as an administrative center within the rural settlement of
Guli. Today, Targim is largely abandoned and preserved as part of the
Dzheyrakh-Assinsky State Historical, Architectural, and Natural
Museum-Reserve, attracting visitors interested in medieval Caucasian
architecture and cultural heritage. The site is best known for its
impressive tower complex, one of the largest medieval castle-type tower
villages in the region, featuring a mix of battle, semi-battle, and
residential towers, along with crypts, mausoleums, and sanctuaries.
These structures exemplify the unique Ingush tower-building tradition,
which blends defensive functionality with residential and symbolic
purposes.
Ancient Origins and Early History
The history of
Targim traces back to prehistoric times, with evidence of human
habitation in the area dating to the Neolithic period around 4500 BC.
Archaeological remains near Targim include megalithic cyclopean
dwellings—massive stone structures built without mortar, often
fortifying cave entrances or surrounding early settlements. These early
fortifications, constructed by ancestors of the Ingush people (part of
the Vainakh ethnic group), were made from large stone slabs and blocks,
reflecting a defensive architecture suited to the rugged mountainous
terrain. By the end of the second to first millennium BC, the Ingush
Koban tribes advanced this tradition, erecting stone towers amid
cyclopean sites. Ceramics and other artifacts from this era have been
discovered at Targim and nearby villages like Khamkhi, Egikal, and Kart,
indicating a continuous architectural evolution in the region
encompassing modern Ingushetia, Chechnya, North Ossetia, and parts of
Georgia. This early period laid the foundation for what would become a
distinctive "Ingush school of architecture" during the Middle Ages, with
no apparent external influences, highlighting the indigenous development
of these structures.
Medieval Period: Tower Construction and
Flourishing
The medieval revival of tower-building in Ingushetia,
often called the "land of towers," occurred primarily from the 13th to
17th centuries, with Targim emerging as a key site. During this time,
the complex at Targim was developed as a fortified settlement, likely in
the 15th-17th centuries, to serve the needs of local clans (teips). The
towers were built by skilled master builders known as thogovzancha, who
specialized in precise stone-cutting and assembly. Notably, Tet-Batyk
Eldiev from Targim was a prominent figure in this craft. Construction
involved ritual practices, such as staining stones with animal blood for
good fortune, and innovative techniques like assembling pyramidal roofs
using ropes without external scaffolding.
The Targim complex includes
four battle towers reaching up to 30 meters in height, four semi-battle
towers, and 16 dilapidated residential towers, complemented by 19 crypt
burial grounds, two mausoleums, and five sanctuaries. These structures
were strategically placed on rocky, elevated terrain to control trade
routes, avoid natural disasters, and access fresh water from rivers like
the Assa. Ingush towers in general, including those at Targim, evolved
from earlier cyclopean forms, incorporating lime mortar and plaster in
later builds. Residential towers (ghalash) were 2-3 stories tall (10-12
meters), with square or rectangular bases narrowing upward, flat earthen
roofs, and internal divisions for stables, living quarters, and storage.
Semi-battle towers (3-4 stories, 12-16 meters) blended living spaces
with defensive features like machicolated balconies. The pinnacle of
design, combat towers (vhov), stood 5-6 stories (20-30 meters) with
pyramidal or flat roofs, thick walls (up to 1 meter at the base),
loopholes for archery, and seismic-resistant stone vaults. Watch towers
on cliffs facilitated signaling across valleys, forming a network for
rapid alerts against invaders.
These towers served multiple purposes:
residential for clan families, defensive against raids and warfare (with
floors for prisoners, guards, and defenders), and symbolic as markers of
clan prestige and community governance under adat (customary law).
Settlements like Targim formed fortified auls, sometimes linked by
walls, evolving into medieval fortresses that protected against brigands
and rival groups. The architectural style is distinctly Ingush,
characterized by graceful proportions (height-to-base ratios of 10:1),
intricate details like horse feeders and window canopies, and
picturesque integration with the landscape.
Modern History:
Deportation, Abandonment, and Preservation
Targim remained inhabited
until the mid-20th century, with families living in the towers as late
as 1944. This era ended abruptly with the Soviet deportation of the
Chechen and Ingush peoples, known as Operation Lentil, ordered by Joseph
Stalin on February 23, 1944. Accused of collaborating with Nazi forces
(a charge widely regarded as pretextual), the entire Ingush
population—along with Chechens—was forcibly relocated to Central Asia,
primarily Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The operation involved Red Army
soldiers billeting in homes beforehand, followed by sudden roundups in
harsh winter conditions without notice. Approximately one-third of the
deportees perished en route or in exile due to starvation, disease, and
exposure. In Targim specifically, residents were evicted from their
ancestral towers, leading to the site's abandonment. The Chechen-Ingush
Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was dissolved, and its lands
redistributed.
Rehabilitation came in 1957 with a decree from the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, allowing survivors to
return and restoring the Chechen-Ingush ASSR. However, many traditional
settlements like Targim were not fully repopulated, as returnees faced
challenges reintegrating and often settled in lowland areas. Today,
descendants of Targim's original inhabitants, such as those from the
Targimhoi clan through lines like Gorbakhoy, maintain cultural ties to
the site, viewing the towers as family heritage. The complex has been
preserved as a cultural monument, with Ingushetia promoting it for
tourism—earning a patent in 2022 for the slogan "Ingushetia — Homeland
of Towers." Visitors can access Targim via bus from Nazran to Dzheyrakh,
followed by local transport, to explore its ruins and learn about its
role in North Caucasian history.
In summary, Targim's history
encapsulates the resilience of Ingush culture, from ancient megalithic
origins through medieval architectural achievements to the tragedies of
Soviet-era deportation and modern preservation efforts. It stands as a
testament to the enduring legacy of tower-building in the Caucasus.
Targim (also transliterated as Thargam or Thargim) is an ancient
fortified rural settlement, known as an aul, located in the Dzheyrakhsky
District of the Republic of Ingushetia, Russia. It serves as the
administrative center of the Guli rural settlement and is part of the
Dzheyrakh-Assa State Historical-Architectural and Natural
Museum-Reserve, which places it under state protection. This area is
renowned for its medieval tower complexes and is embedded in the rugged
landscapes of the North Caucasus, blending natural beauty with deep
cultural and historical significance.
Historically, Targim dates back
to the 12th century and was a key economic and cultural hub for the
Vainakh peoples during the medieval period. Archaeological evidence
includes megalithic cyclopean dwellings from the 2nd–1st millennium BC,
and legends attribute its founding to one of three brothers who
established nearby settlements like Egikal and Khamkhi. The site
features residential and combat towers from the 13th–14th centuries,
many of which were damaged during the 1940s deportation of the Ingush
people but have since seen restoration efforts. Stone vaults near the
settlement were historically used for isolating the sick during
epidemics, reflecting ancient customs that evolved with the adoption of
Islam in the early 20th century.
Targim is situated in the southern part of Ingushetia, on the right
bank of the Assa River within the Targim basin. Its coordinates place it
approximately at an elevation of 1,080 meters above sea level, making it
a highland settlement. It lies in the Assa Gorge, a picturesque valley
that forms part of the broader Dzheyrakh Canyon system. Neighboring
settlements include Egikal to the northwest, Barkhane to the west,
Khamkhi to the southwest, and Gureti to the south. The area is about 40
kilometers south of Nazran (Ingushetia's largest city) and roughly 10
kilometers north of the border with Georgia.
Ingushetia itself
borders North Ossetia–Alania to the west and north, Chechnya to the
east, and Georgia to the south, with Targim positioned in the republic's
mountainous southern zone. This district is part of a tourism and
recreation economic zone, attracting visitors for environmental tourism,
outdoor activities, and historical exploration.
Topography and Terrain
Targim's geography is dominated by the
northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, which extend for
nearly 150 kilometers through Ingushetia. The settlement is nestled in a
basin amid steep mountain ridges, cliffs, and canyons, with elevations
rising sharply from the river valley. The terrain features grassy
hillsides, rocky outcrops, and narrow valleys that descend into broader
gorges like the Assa and Armkhi canyons. Nearby mountain peaks exceed
3,000 meters, with the highest in the region being Gora Shan at 4,451
meters. The landscape includes dense concentrations of natural features,
such as snowy peaks visible from passes, though cloud cover can obscure
views. Roads in the area often thin out along cliffsides, emphasizing
the rugged, inaccessible nature of the highland environment.
The
Dzheyrakh Canyon, often described as the "gem of Ingushetia,"
encompasses Targim and functions as an open-air museum with over 100
architectural, historical, and natural landmarks. This canyon system
creates a dramatic setting where mountain ridges are divided by deep
valleys and creeks, fostering a diverse micro-terrain of plateaus,
slopes, and frontier zones.
Hydrography
The Assa River is the
primary waterway shaping Targim's geography, flowing swiftly along the
settlement's base and carving out the Assa Gorge. This river, a
tributary in the broader Terek River basin, supports the local ecosystem
and historically facilitated settlement in the valley. Nearby, the
Guloykhi River runs close to related sites like Vovnushki, adding to the
network of fast-flowing creeks and streams that drain the mountainous
ridges. These water features contribute to the area's canyons and
provide natural boundaries, with some sections serving as frontier
zones. Mineral springs, such as those at Achaluki, are found in the
broader region and are used for therapeutic purposes.
Climate
As part of Ingushetia's moderate continental climate, Targim experiences
variations due to its high elevation and southern mountainous position.
Winters are cold, with average January temperatures ranging from -0.8°C
to -10°C, while summers are mild to warm, with July averages of +21°C to
+23.5°C. Annual precipitation is between 450–650 mm, higher in the
mountains due to orographic effects, leading to more snowfall and
potential for cloud-obscured vistas. The overall average annual
temperature is around +10°C. This climate supports alpine meadows and
coniferous forests on the slopes, making the area comparable to resorts
like Dombai or Mount Elbrus for its fresh air and scenic appeal.
Targim's geography seamlessly integrates natural elements with
cultural heritage. The tower complexes—tall, stone structures designed
for defense and residence—blend into the mountainous backdrop, perched
on hillsides for strategic vantage points. These include the Targim
tower complex itself, along with nearby sites like the reconstructed
Khamkhi towers, Egikal constructions, Erzi complex (visible but hard to
access on foot), and Vovnushki (a medieval defensive site with legends
of heroic feats). The area is rich in biodiversity, with grassy fields,
pine forests, and wildlife adapted to the Caucasus highlands.
Natural
resources in the broader Dzheyrakhsky District include oil and gas
fields, as well as deposits of limestone, schist, marl, and dolomite,
though extraction is limited near historical sites to preserve the
museum-reserve. The landscape draws ecotourists for hiking, viewing
ancient temples like Tkhaba-Yerdy (one of Russia's oldest Christian
temples), and exploring mausoleums such as Borga Kosh.