Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5
By Vugar Imanov, Elchin Huseynov - Trend:
Nakhchivan has recently hosted many international events. Nakhchivan is indeed one of the places tourists should visit during the upcoming European Games.
The First European Games will be held in Baku from June 12-28. More than 6,000 athletes from all over Europe will represent their countries within 17 days. Baku was honored to hold the European Games by the European Olympic Committee (EOC) in December 2012.
Nakhchivan is the birthplace of the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Famous scholars, statesmen, writers, artists were also born here.
Aside from that, Nakhchivan has a number of tourist attractions, which would be of interest to, basically, anyone.
For example, Nakhchivan is one of the oldest settlements in the world. The toponym "Nakhchivan" has several etymological meanings. According to one of the versions, the toponym "Nakhchivan" is associated with the name of the legendary Prophet Nuh (upon the Old Testament - Noah), who escaped after the Great Deluge. So, the legend says that "Nuhchivan" is the settlement of Noah's supporters, that is, the area of Noah.
The word 'Nakhchivan' consists of three parts: 'Nakh' (Nukh or Noah), the Turkic suffix 'chi' and the toponymic formant 'van', which means 'place'. The city's name is translated as 'a resting place of Noah' or 'the place where Noah appeared.'
Below are five historic sightseeing spots you should check out:
Noah's Mausoleum, also known as the Tomb of the Prophet Nuh, is located in the southern part of the city on the territory of the Old Fortress. It was built in 2006 on the remains of an ancient temple. It is believed that there are the relics of Noah in the crypt of the tomb.
Cave of As-hab al Kahf (in Arabic "companions of the cave") is located about 12 kilometers from the city of Nakhchivan, between the Ilandagh (Hachadagh) and Nahajir mountains at 1,665 meters above sea level. The place is mentioned in the Quran in the Surah Al-Kahf (Cave). As the legend says, seven people, who believed in one God, seeking refugee from the tyranny of an idolatrous ruler, fled him and found a cave to rest in. They fell asleep there and woke up after 300 years.
After waking up and coming of the cave, they saw a changed world, where they felt as strangers. Then they asked God to take them to his kingdom, and the mountain helped them disappear. Since then, the place is called As-hab al Kahf. As-hab al Kahf, along with such architectural monuments as the Mausoleum of Momine Khatun, Geysariyya, is a symbol of Nakhchivan. This sanctuary is revered not only in Azerbaijan but also in countries of the Middle East.
Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum was built by architect Ajami ibn Abubakr Nakhchivani in the 12th century. The mausoleum is made up of eight facets and it has a pyramid-shaped roof. It is one of the oldest monuments in the city.
Momina Khatun Mausoleum - another work by the well-known architect Ajami Nakhchivani. Originally, the height of the mausoleum built in the 12th century, was 34 meters. The mausoleum was built in honor of Momina Khatun, wife of ruler Jahan Pahlavan.
Khan Palace is the sightseeing of the later period - it was built in the 18th century. It was created by the father of the last khan of Nakhchivan. Starting from 1998, the Khan Palace became Nakhchivan's State Carpet Museum.
*Photos shot by Mirnaib Hasanoglu, head of the board of Azerbaijan Photographers Union, during a solemn event dedicated to the arrival of the torch of the First European Games to Nakhchivan city.
