There is a miraculous border guard in our country that separates Europe from Asia, this is Mount Kachkanar. It is located on the very border of two large regions of Russia - the Sverdlovsk region and the Perm region. Being the main peak of the Ural Range, it rises 900 meters above sea level. By the standards of the oldest mountain formations - a considerable indicator.
The significance of the mountains
Countless riches are hidden beneath the rock mass in the Urals. Mining companies knew this and were actively exploring the bowels until they lost commercial interest. Here once exploration of gold and platinum placers was conducted, but over time the reserves ran out, and the crowds of prospectors ceased to disturb the peace of the mountains.
At the time of Ermak, when his troops forced the locals to the north of the territory, Mansi was an indigenous people, considered the mountain a cult place and began to conduct rituals and perform sacrifices here.
Mount Kachkanar majestically rests on the right coast of the Is river, in the midst of unique natural landscapes. Tall pines tend to climb up here and hide in their shadows the Kachkanar mining and processing plant, which specializes in the extraction and processing of titanomagnetite ore. If you are on the observation deck of a quarry and look at a distance of 4 kilometers, you can see the mountain pond - a favorite vacation spot for citizens and visiting tourists.
Settlement at the foot
The city of the same name was laid at the foot of a rocky cliff. At the same time, the construction of a local plant began. True, the city can be seen only from one top of the mountain (there are only two), located on the south side, which is called the Midday Horn. And from the height of the second elevation - the Northern Horn - a wonderful view of the local expanses, covered with beautiful centuries-old forests. The double top of Mount Kachkanar is repeatedly replicated in calendars and famous print publications.
Between the city and the mountain there is the Nizhnevsky reservoir, but the locals gently call it the Kachkanar Sea. As it should be on the coast, there are many beaches and cozy pavilions on the shores of the reservoir, and even a boat station. The last place is revered by the fishermen who use the services of the station and, swimming in the middle of the pond in a boat, throw fishing rods, and in the serene silence they catch various fish that live in these waters. It should be noted that the reservoir is generous with gifts.
In winter, the slopes until recently received skiers and met athletes at the base, which is located next to the track. Kachkanar Mountain is beautiful in winter, not only locals speak about this, but also tourists.
Shad Thup Ling Buddhist Monastery - Local Attraction
From the mountain lake you can go along the winding path to the monastery. The first impression is always misleading, because a dilapidated building with unfinished dilapidated steps only at first glance seems similar to the Lao buildings erected during the time of ancient Tibetan architecture. But if you take a closer look, not all elements are reproduced as it is done in the construction of Buddhist buildings. The place left its mark, and the walls of the monastery absorbed the spirit of the mountain.
Almost at the very top, among the rocky formations, a guest house and a tea room are comfortably located. There is a sauna, a room for children's leisure and its own boiler room, as well as numerous buildings for keeping livestock. Monks can meet tourists and do it very courteously and good-naturedly. They do not refuse from the donations of parishioners and invest the funds received for the improvement of the building. Mount Kachkanar and a Buddhist monastery annually attract travelers from all over the world.
Rock Camel
People who have visited these places claim that the mountain formation is like a camel, which lay down to rest in the shadow of rocky bulk. Historical background gives an exact translation of the word "Kachkanar": "pitching" - bald, "bun" - a camel.
The rock submits even to an inexperienced climber, so here all vacationers or tourists passing by love to take pictures. If you climb the "hump" of the mountain "animal", you can see nearby two villages - Kosya and Pokap. Here, on a cliff, a monument to Yuri Gagarin was erected. The monument resembles a plane starting up.
Where can I stay?
Guides organize routes, as a rule, to the monastery, and on the way to it you can enjoy the beautiful nature of these places and relax at the bases with a night halt. The cost of the ticket is only 650 rubles for a 14-hour tour. There are also two-day tours with an overnight stay in tents for lovers of extreme sports and gatherings with a guitar by the fire. Mount Kachkanar is a great place to relax in nature.
For those who decide to sightsee themselves, the district administration offers a choice of three hotel complexes in the city of Kachkanar. And city transport will bring everyone to the fork in the road leading to the Western career, and from there you will have to walk. It is advisable to have athletic shoes on your feet so that the rocky sharp stones do not interfere with the trip, and the traveler could, without fear of falling, go the route from beginning to end.
The best time of the year to visit these marvelous places is undoubtedly winter. After the gray, dirty city streets, the tourist seems to fall into a fairy tale, where snow caps are clumped to the tops of the mountains and pine tops, and snow coats have enveloped all the buildings. The air in these places is so transparent and clean that you want to breathe deeply all the time. Here is such a beautiful mountain Kachkanar.
