Why do tourists make rock pyramids?

Sept 11 2023

Russia Beyond

On the bank of the Katun River in the Ongudai district.

Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

If you find yourself in the highlands, you will probably spot many small mountaintops made of stones, which are called ‘gurias’ or ‘tours’ in Russia (‘cairns’ in England). Most of the time, it’s simply tourists that leave them as a memory. But where did this tradition come from?

Sergei Malgavko/TASS

In ancient times, people around the world would build such pyramids as landmarks. For example, large pyramids pointed to burial mounds or dolmens. ‘Gurias’ placed at regular intervals could indicate a direction of movement. ‘Gurias’ on the top of a mountain, meanwhile, marked the highest point.

Tatyana Valko/TASS

Buryats and Tuvinians have similar structures called ‘obo’, which are also found near roads and mountain trails. You can also see ribbons on them. ‘Obos’ are placed as a sign of respect to local spirits.

Modern hikers who like to explore the mountains also construct them to mark their route, not to get lost and to leave a mark of themselves to future hikers.

Lev Fedoseev/TASS

However, there are also such tourists who make pyramids just out of inertia. It’s something akin to the inscription: “Ivan was here”, but made of stone.

On the road to Teriberka.

Pavel Kuzmichev

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traditions tourism