Kyrk Gyz Cave: The Legendary Forty Girls’ Grotto in Turkmenistan’s Kugitang Mountains

Published on November 23, 2025

Kyrk Gyz Cave: A Sacred Grotto of Legends and Natural Beauty in Turkmenistan’s Kugitang Mountains

In the wild and sparsely populated Kugitang mountain range of Turkmenistan’s far east lies a hidden natural gem: Kyrk Gyz Cave—literally “Forty Girls’ Cave”. This grotto sits off the beaten path and merges folklore, geology, and pilgrimage‑style tourism into one vivid experience. Located within the broader Köýtendag Nature Reserve, the site draws nature‑seeking travellers and culturally curious visitors who are willing to navigate rugged terrain and minimal infrastructure for a memorable visit.

Traversing a canyon often shaded by juniper and sycamore and entering a cavern that legend says sheltered forty young women from invaders, visitors encounter thousands of colourful fabric ribbons suspended from the cave’s ceiling—each representing a hope, a wish, or a silent prayer. The interplay of natural beauty, mythic meaning, and remote adventure makes Kyrk Gyz Cave a compelling destination for off‑grid tourism in Turkmenistan.

The Legend and Geological Setting of Kyrk Gyz Cave

The cavern known as Kyrk Gyz is situated deep in a gorge near the small settlement of Khodzhapil in the Kugitang mountain region. Steep canyon walls encase the grotto, where a mountain stream flows and streams of daylight filter into the vaults of rock. According to local tradition, forty young women hid within the grotto to escape capture by invaders. In their hour of need, they sought refuge and were miraculously protected—thus the cave’s name and symbolism.

Geologically, the cave has formed within travertine and karst rock, dissolved by mountain spring water rich in hydrogen sulphide that gradually carved the subterranean chambers. The ceiling of the grotto is dusted with moss and ferns, and the cave houses a colony of bats in its darker recesses. The canyon walls themselves are reported to soar up to two hundred metres high, and they feel remote and dramatic.

Tourism Angle: Folklore, Nature, and Off‑Trail Adventure

Cultural and Pilgrimage Tourism

Kyrk Gyz Cave is steeped in legend and local belief. The ritual of wrapping a piece of cloth in clay and throwing it to the cave’s ceiling is practiced widely: if the cloth sticks, the visitor’s wish is said to be granted. The hundreds or thousands of ribbons suspended from the vault give the place a spiritual ambience and make it a destination for light pilgrimage as much as nature travel.

Nature, Hiking, and Speleology

The trail into the canyon and up to the cave entrance offers hikers a chance to traverse a wild landscape—juniper slopes, rocky outcrops, and mountain streams combine for a genuinely remote nature experience. Inside the grotto, the interplay of light, water, rock, and vegetation offers a rich environment for exploration and photography. The lack of mass tourism enhances the sense of discovery.

Off‑the‑Beaten‑Path Appeal

For travellers seeking destinations beyond the usual list, Kyrk Gyz Cave stands out. It lies in a remote area with limited infrastructure, requires effort to reach, and rewards visitors with solitude and authenticity. This “raw” nature‑tourism appeal is a major draw in an era when many natural attractions are over‑commercialised.

Impact: Opportunities and Challenges of Tourism at Kyrk Gyz Cave

Opportunities

• Economic uplift for nearby villages: Increased visitor numbers can provide income to local guides, transport providers, small guesthouses or camps, and food‑service stalls near the canyon entrance.
• Cultural awareness and preservation: Tourism draws attention to the local folklore and the need to protect both the cultural meaning and the ecological setting of the grotto.
• Nature‑and‑heritage tourism diversification: The site adds value to Turkmenistan’s tourism offering by combining nature, legend, and canyon/speleological adventure.

Challenges

• Environmental sensitivity: The cave and canyon ecosystem is fragile. The bat colony, the moss and fern growth, and the travertine rock formations may be disturbed by uncontrolled foot traffic, litter, or infrastructure build‑out.
• Wear on local traditions: The ritual of ribbon‑throwing has cultural meaning, but tourist volumes could dilute its authenticity or lead to the commercialisation of sacred practices.
• Infrastructure and access: The remoteness that makes the site appealing also makes it challenging. Poor access roads, limited signage, minimal amenities, and potential safety risks may deter some visitors or lead to unmanaged impacts.
• Carrying capacity and visitor management: Without measures to limit numbers or guide behaviour, the site could suffer degradation of both natural and cultural attributes.

Practical Visitor Information: When, How & What to Expect

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn represent the best seasons to visit Kyrk Gyz Cave. During these months, the mountain climate is mild, and the stream within the gorge flows steadily. Summer may bring heat and increased stream flow, while winter conditions can limit access.

How to Reach

The cave lies in the Kugitang Mountains near Khodzhapil in Turkmenistan’s Lebap region. Visitors should plan for a drive along mountain roads and a short hike into the canyon. Local guides are strongly recommended for navigation, safety, and cultural interpretation.

On‑Site Experience

After arriving at the canyon trailhead, visitors walk through shaded forests and toward the steep gorge. The approach ends at the cavernous grotto, where the ritual ribbons drift overhead and water pools at the cave floor. Inside, natural lighting, rock formations, and the setting create a profound, serene atmosphere. Bird‑watching, canyon hiking, and photo shoots are additional activities.

Etiquette and Tips

• Respect the cultural dimension: Visitors engaging in the ribbon ritual should do so thoughtfully, understanding it as a local tradition rather than a mere novelty.
• Stay on established paths and avoid disturbing bat roosts or moss‑covered surfaces.
• Pack appropriate hiking shoes, water, sun protection, and a small piece of cloth and clay if wishing to participate in the tradition.
• Leave no trace: The natural and cultural integrity of the canyon and grotto depends on visitor care.

Preserving Kyrk Gyz Cave: A Future of Respectful Tourism

For Kyrk Gyz Cave to remain a place of wonder—not just another tourist stop—tourism must be managed with care. Key strategies include:

• Limiting visitor numbers in sensitive parts of the grotto and canyon to avoid damage to rock surfaces, moss, ribbons, and bat habitats.
• Guided access to ensure visitors receive orientation on both cultural meaning and environmental protection.
• Local community involvement, so economic benefits stay near the canyon and local people become stewards rather than spectators.
• Minimal‑impact infrastructure: simple, sustainable facilities that respect the natural setting rather than dominate it.
• Interpretive signage and education about geology, legend, ecology, and responsible behaviour.

If these principles are adopted, Kyrk Gyz Cave can maintain its dual status as a pilgrimage‑cum‑nature‑tourism site, offering visitors more than just a photo opportunity—offering connection, quiet wonder, and cultural resonance.

Sense of Discovery: Entering the Vault of Forty Girls

Walking into Kyrk Gyz Cave is more than visiting a landmark—it is stepping into a space where legend, geology, and nature converge. The canyon hush, the ribbon‑flecked ceiling, the drip of the spring, the moss and ferns in the gloom—they all invite contemplation. For the traveller willing to detour from more‑popular destinations, Kyrk Gyz offers more than scenery: it offers a story, a sense of timelessness, a place where the natural and the mythical fuse. As tourism interest grows in Turkmenistan’s remote corners, the challenge will be to keep this grotto quiet yet accessible, sacred yet open, wild yet safe. With proper stewardship, Kyrk Gyz Cave can remain a hidden jewel of the Kugitang Mountains—an invitation to walk into the cave of forty girls and emerge changed.