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| Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic | ||
| Country | Azerbaijan | |
|---|---|---|
| Search for a province ends with the state | ||
| Residents | 439.800 (2015) | |
| height | 880 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.tourism.az | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan[1]) is the administrative seat of zu Azerbaijan corresponding autonomous exclave of the same name. The few other localities in the 5500 km² area are relatively small. This borders in the west and south on the Iran, in the north and east Armenia. In the extreme northwest there is a land corridor to the Turkey.
To the east, to Armenia, the area is bounded by rugged mountains, the western border runs along the Aras River, which is dammed up to the Aras Govsaghynyn Reservoir near the city of Nakhichevan.
places
Babak is a southern suburb of Nakhchivan.
In the far south is the border town to Iran, 1 Culfa / Dscholfā (pronounced "Julfa")
Orudbad, in the south East.
background
Nakhchivan originally belonged to the Armenian Great Kingdom, but was added to the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan during the Soviet Union because of its Azeri majority. The area was almost completely cut off from the outside world in 1990-94 as a result of the Armenian-Azeri War, until the border bridges to Turkey and Iran were completed. The province, an autonomous republic, receives massive subsidies from the central government, financed from its oil revenues. The data on the number of inhabitants vary widely from 372,000 to 680,000. In any case, it is clear that 99% of the ethnic Azeris have been involved since the Armenians were expelled.
Religiously, the area is shaped by Shiite Islam. That means most women do not wear headscarves, the muezzin does not call to prayer and alcohol is available everywhere in the small "magazines" (corner shops). Nevertheless, the majority of the people are dressed cautiously, and men wear long trousers and mostly shirts. Basically, you have to adjust to an Islamic worldview.
The north-south main axis is named, how could it be otherwise in Azerbaijan: "Heydər Əliyev prospectus.“
language
Most of the inhabitants speak Azeri Turkish. In addition, many residents also understand Russian.
getting there
The Entry requirements of Azerbaijan. The border with Armenia is closed.
Note the time zone difference to Turkey UTC 3 (no daylight saving time), Iran UTC 3:30 (daylight saving time March-September), compared to Azerbaijan UTC 4 (no daylight saving time).
By plane
By plane, entry is via a connection to Baku With AZAL possible. In summer there is also a connection to Ganja. However, these flights are often booked out weeks in advance. Since they can only be booked within Azerbaijan and not online, the involvement of an Azerbaijani travel agency is practically essential.
In Turkey, Kars-Harakani will only be offered by Turkish Airlines from Istanbul and AnadoluJet served from Ankara.
By train
The next bigger Turkish train station is only in Kars.
By bus
Buses to Iğdır, Turkey, travel the 180 km in around 2½ hours. A bus from Istanbul can also be booked. The journey is announced as 25 hours, but it can take much longer. A ticket costs 220 TRY (summer 2019).
There is also a bus connection to Baku via Iran. However, this requires an Iranian visa and a multiple visa for Azerbaijan.
In the street
The Azebaijani ones apply Regulations.
Only a few European tourists come across the land border with Iran near Culfa / Dscholfā (38 ° 56'42.5 "N, 45 ° 37'57.4" E; Ǧolfā, جلفا).
The exclave has a border crossing with the which is also open at night in the north-west near Aras Köprüsü Turkey. The clearance, especially by the Azerbaijani customs authorities, is picky and also corrupt for the locals. It takes place a few hundred meters before the border bridge (39 ° 39'19.7 "N, 44 ° 48'12.4" E) on the Turkish side and correspondingly after the bridge on the Azerbaijani side.
mobility
Apart from a limited number of buses, you have to rely on rented taxis.
Tourist Attractions
Like all cities in the region, Nakhichevan looks back on a long history of settlement, but has been devastated several times by wars and earthquakes, so that only a few old monuments have been preserved. These are mainly Islamic places of worship.
As part of the renovations in recent years, a number of old buildings have been given new uses. The bathing establishment became a tea house, in the medieval ice house (buzkhana) there is now a restaurant.
In the central city park are:
- 3 Momina Khatun tower and mausoleum. A 26 m high tower, richly decorated from the year 1186. Next to it is the “Tomb of Noah” from “the seventh millennium BC” - actually a building from 2013.Open: Tue-Sun: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., tower 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
- 4 Carpet Museum (Xalça Müzeyi). Tel.: 994 77 545 06 37.
- 5 Juma Mosque (Cümə Məscidi), Nizami Gəncəvi, E002. At the north end of the park, a brick building.
- Museums
Only about a hundred meters apart, north of the Böyük bağare:
- 8 Literature Museum, 19 Nizami Gəncəvi.
- 9 State Carpet Museum (Naxçıvan Dövlət Xalça Muzeyi)
- 10 Haydar Alivev Museum
kitchen
The region is self-sufficient in many foodstuffs, the local government forbids the cultivation of genetically modified seeds. The lemons grown around Ordabad are considered special. Also famous is an omelette made there with honey, which is prepared fat-free.
accommodation
Numerous cheap accommodation facilities have closed since the Azerbaijani government frightened off the formerly numerous Iranian drinking tourists with high visa fees.
Upscale
Avtovagzal Hotel, as the name suggests at the bus station.
Practical advice
- Internet
Internet is available even in the most remote villages, and WiFi is standard in accommodations, although not always reliable.
- post
Central are:
- 1 Post Office 3, 8 Heydər Əliyev Pr.
- 2 Post Office 5, 8 Nizami Gəncəvi. At the north end of the city park, opposite. the Juma Mosque.
- consulate
security
Caution should be exercised when approaching the limits. There are more frequent exchanges of fire, especially on the border with Armenia.
Unfortunately, Nakhchivan has quite a problem with corruption. Many travelers report that they have been used to pay high "fines" on flimsy pretexts. In case of doubt, an Azerbaijani companion will help.
In your own interest you should avoid any discussions about the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict or reports about previous or planned trips to Armenia. Be careful when visiting old or destroyed Armenian churches and cemeteries that have not been officially declared a sight.
trips
literature
- Bahşaliyev, Veli; Marro, Catherine; Archeology of Nakhichevan; Istanbul 2009 (Ege Yayınları); ISBN 9789758072262
- Selmer, Urs; Azerbaijan Republic of Nakhchivan: economy, state, social affairs, cities; Munich 2013 (Nusser); ISBN 9783861203179
Web links
See also the Links to Azerbaijan.
- ↑Frequently found romanization variants are: Nakhichevan, Naxcivan, Naxçivan, Nachidsheuan, Nakhijevan, Nakhchawan, Nakhitchevan, Nakhjavan or Nakhdjevan.