Volkonsky Dolmen and Rock Two Brothers are one of the most ancient and mysterious places in Sochi. Here they make wishes, recharge themselves with energy and try to know themselves. Let's walk along the gorge together!
Volkonsky dolmen
"A unique monument of megalithic culture, the world's only full-size monolithic dolmen was carved into a solid block of sandstone in the III-II millennium BC." - so dryly describe the Volkonsky dolmen at the stand at the entrance to the gorge. But do not let the description as from a history textbook scare you - there is a short but beautiful journey ahead.
We arrived from Lazarevskoye to the Volkonskoye gorge closer to lunch, when the sun was already shining with might and main. We left the car in a small parking lot right next to the road and went on foot through the forest along a simple and short road. At the ticket office they paid 100 rubles (now the entrance costs 200) - and here we have a dolmen. It looks impressive: solid, massive, monolithic. You can't come close and look inside, but you can see everything so well. Dolmen is truly unique. Unlike other Caucasian dolmens, it is carved directly into a block, and not made up of slabs. The Volkonsky dolmen is also the same age as the Egyptian pyramids. Impressive, right? Many consider the dolmen to be a place of power and come here to make a wish, delve into oneself or just "recharge".
There is a hydrogen sulphide spring near the dolmen, which is considered curative. Drinking from it is prohibited.
It will take you no more than 5-10 minutes to inspect the dolmen. But don't rush to leave! Nearby there is a not so unique, but no less interesting sight, from which paganism and mystery emanates even more than from a dolmen. I'm talking about the Two Brothers rock - two mega-huge debris that leaned against each other and formed a picturesque grotto.
Rock Two Brothers
The path to the rock leads along the Volkonsky gorge along the Godlik river through a light forest with tall trees, mossy cliffs and boulders. It is very light, even a small child will pass. Climb the roots of trees swollen like veins, walk a small section of a narrow rocky path, cross a picturesque wooden bridge - and now you are at a picturesque grotto entwined with ivy. The grotto is through, a river flows inside.
What does paganism have to do with it, you ask? Come closer and you will see that, inside and out, boulders are propped up by hundreds of long and short sticks and branches. Branches, branches, branches are everywhere - a real fence! It seems that you are in a shaman's cave. Tourists carry these sticks to the rocks, making a pilgrimage, as in a pagan sanctuary, and make a wish. There are so many of them that there is not a single free-lying branch left along the way, so you have to carry your own! :)
And also in the grotto, because of the high triangular ceiling, there is a special acoustics, and the insects that buzz there continuously create a vibration that can put you into a trance. Closer to noon, sunlight enters the grotto and beautifully highlights the stones.
As usual, any more or less interesting place in the Caucasus has a beautiful legend... Allegedly, there were two brothers from a noble family. And one of them, Aslan, fell in love with the poor girl Godlik. Of course, in ancient times they could not be together, and then the older brother is also against it. In general, Aslan said that he could not live like this - and turned into a rock. The girl, too, could not live without her beloved and from grief turned into a river flowing near a boulder. The elder brother Khadzhimuk did not want to live without his brother either and turned into a second cliff. That's how everyone found peace.
How to get to the Volkonsky dolmen
It is very easy to get to the Volkonsky dolmen by car on your own - you just need to turn off the Dzhubga-Sochi highway to the parking lot with the inscription "Volkonsky dolmen" above it. It is easier to do it from Lazarevskoye, as the parking lot will be on the right.
You can also take bus number 74, 77, 79, 158 and 170. Get off at the stop "Glinische".
You can also get there by train - you need to get off at the Volkonskaya station, and then walk about 1.5 km along Volkonka, which is about 20 minutes. But it seems to me that the option with a bus is easier: you will exit immediately in the parking lot, and you will need to walk only 5 minutes on foot.
Helpful information
- The entrance costs 200 rubles.
- Water and food are not sold in the gorge, so take it with you.
- There is no toilet.
- The trail is very light and equipped, but it is better to wear comfortable shoes.
- It is humid and cool in the gorge.
- In autumn, at the entrance to the gorge, an abnormal amount of marble bugs accumulates, which are stuffed into the cracks of the car. They are unusually tenacious and will haunt you for a long time ...
