Mussa-Achitara Viewpoint (Dombay)

The Mussa-Achitara viewpoint sits above the resort village of Dombay in the Karachayevsky District of Karachay-Cherkessia, in the Verkhne-Teberdinskoye rural settlement. It lies at 3,168 metres by the top station of the cable car and looks out over the peaks of the Main Caucasus Range and the valleys around Dombay.

The mountain and its name

Mussa-Achitara is a mountain and ridge above the Dombay glade, running parallel to the Main Caucasus Range. The summit itself is usually given as about 3,012 metres; the figure 3,168 refers to the highest point of the tourist route, where the "3168" service pavilion stands. The mountain lies in the area of the Teberda reserve, now a national park.

The name is translated from Karachay as "Mussa's weeping", and two legends explain it. In one, Mussa stole a large herd and easily drove it up the gentle slopes to the top, then saw there was no way down on the other side, fell to the ground and wept. In the other, a shepherd named Mussa lost his flock on the mountain and mourned it for a long time.

The view

From the platform, known as "Caucasus Range", you can see Dombay-Ulgen, the striped Belalakaya, Sufrudzhu, Amanauz and the glaciers of the Main Range. On a clear day the panorama reaches Elbrus. The best views and photos usually come on a clear morning, before the clouds rise to the peaks.

On the slope stands the well-known Tarelka hotel, a flying-saucer-shaped module placed here in 1979; it is visible from the route, and there is a café nearby. The route also has the "3008" and "3168" pavilions.

Getting there

Dombay lies at the head of the Teberda valley, reached through Teberda along the A-155 road. The nearest airport is Mineralnye Vody, about 220 km away, with buses and taxis to the resort. The nearest railway stations are Nevinnomyssk, Cherkessk and Mineralnye Vody.

From the village you ride the ski resort's cable cars up Mussa-Achitara: chairlift and gondola sections run almost to the platform, and the ascent takes about 40 minutes. It is an easy trip with hardly any walking.

Good to know

The lifts usually run from 9:00 to 17:00; go up no later than 15:00 to be sure of getting back. Above 3,000 metres it is noticeably colder and windier than in the village, so bring warm clothes even in summer. In winter the slopes are part of the Dombay ski resort; in summer the cable car carries visitors to the viewpoint.