Nakhchivan Tour Guide
The capital of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic – the city of Nakhchivan – is located 536 km from Baku, near the border with Iran on the bank of the Nakhchivanchay River. This is one of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan. It is known that nakhchivan was founded about 1.5 thousand years BC. Moreover, according to the legend, it was founded by Noah after the flood. In the southern part of the city, you will find it interesting to visit the mausoleum of Noah. Earlier, there was a temple on this place, of which only the lower floor was preserved until now. Here, you can see the names of pilgrims, who once visited this place, carved on the walls. Since ancient times travelers and poets have admired Nakhchivan and considered it one of the most beautiful and successful cities in the East. Today, the city continues to be an attractive destination because of the numerous local historical monuments related to different epochs. Nakhchivan also attracts tourists with its natural salt caves of Duzdag Mountain, where people with respiratory diseases are successfully treated.
Located on a difficult to reach hill, the Palace of Nakhchivan khans was built in 1780 by Kalbali Khan I, and was later renovated and enlarged by his son Ehsan khan I. The palace combines Azerbaijani and Persian motifs in its architecture as well as, a number of elements of folk applied art. The Khan’s palace has luxurious interior. Its mirror hall, intended for official receptions, has been particularly admired by foreign guests. As a result of research , scientists discovered that other palaces were built around the Khan’s rectangular palace and together they formed a palace complex. Some of the buildings of the palace complex have been preserved until now. The khans and the descendants of the khan’s family lived here until 1920. Later, at a different period of time, these buildings housed the city police department, military institutions, as well as, the regional hospital. Today, the palace of nakchivan khans is used for the exposition of the State Historical and Architectural Museum, composed of more than 3,500 exhibits, including over 330 carpets of Tabriz-Nakhchivan and other schools of carpet weaving of Azerbaijan.