Nakhchivan
Azerbaijan · 873 m
Description
Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan) is the capital of an Azerbaijani exclave cut off from the rest of the country by Armenian territory, so the flight in is the only quick way to arrive. The Momine Khatun mausoleum of 1186 stands ten sided in the middle of town, its brickwork carved into geometric bands, and it gave the local school of architecture its name. Alinja Qala climbs a bare cone north of the city in tiers of wall and stair. Inside Mount Duzdag a worked salt mine of Neolithic origin now treats asthma in wards cut from the rock.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – May or September – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Momine Khatun mausoleum of 1186
- Alinja Qala and its stairway tiers(Day trip)
- Duzdag salt mine and its speleotherapy wards
- Mausoleum of Noah at the old cemetery
- Khan's Palace and the carpet collection
- Garabaghlar mausoleum and its twin minarets(Day trip)
- Ashabi Kahf cave shrine in the cliff(Day trip)
- Ilandag and its split summit on the skyline
- Nakhchivan Carpet Museum
- Batabat highland lakes and the floating island(Day trip)
- Aras river valley and the Iranian border road
Getting there
- Airports:
- NAJ