There are quite a lot of historical places and early centers of the birth of civilization in Azerbaijan, but there is a place that is skillfully hidden from human eyes. Deep in the boundless expanses of the Caucasus Range at an altitude of 2100-2200 m above sea level, the high-altitude village of Khnalyg has been proudly standing for 5000 years. Now there are about 380 houses, which are 200-300 years old.  Its inhabitants - Khnalygs, contrary to all the laws of civilization, live their own lives. The uniqueness of this people lies in the fact that it has no accompanying ethnic groups and is the only one of its kind. The Khnalygs themselves proudly call the village Kyat and call themselves Kyats. They claim to be direct descendants of Noah himself. Due to the fact that the landscape is not conducive to the full placement of houses, they are built here on top of each other, that is, one house is the roof and courtyard of another. This undoubtedly breaks all stereotypes of construction, but as mentioned above, Khnalyg is an object of controversy.

 

What you will see: (passing through)

​

Beshbarmag (five-fingered mountain)

The rocky massif called Beshbarmag (546 meters above sea level) got its name from the shape of a stone peak resembling a palm with five fingers. The mountain is known as a defensive monument with a centuries-old history, as well as a place of pilgrimage, where thousands of people from all over the republic come every year. Beshbarmag keeps many mysteries, secrets, myths and legends. Many mystical stories are connected with this mountain, which is considered sacred today. For example, it is believed that a magic stone is located here, after passing which, infertile people get the opportunity to have children. They also talk about healing water oozing from the stones on its top - the tears of the prophet Khyzyr. According to legend, an ancient prophet named Khizir, who was looking for the elixir of life, came across a source of living water in this very place, drinking from which he became immortal. Therefore, the mountain is also called "Khyzir-Zindya" - "Immortal Khyzir".

 

Lip

Guba, a favorite place for tourists, famous for its juicy apples and handmade ornamental carpets, which sometimes cost thousands of dollars. Here is one of the most famous settlements of Mountain Jews - the Red Sloboda. Guba is also famous for its local sweets, one of which is the famous Guba baklava.

 

Red Liberty.

Here is one of the most famous settlements of Mountain Jews. this settlement was renamed Krasnaya Sloboda in 1926 and is an administrative unit of self-government of the city of Guba. The village of Krasnaya Sloboda is the only place of compact residence of Mountain Jews in the entire post-Soviet space.

 

Gyachryash forest

Will make you ecstatic. This is a dense and shady forest park where you can hide on zoned summer days. There are many restaurants and cafes on the territory of Gyachryash, where traditional dishes are unique in their taste and texture.

​

Khynalig village

It is located in a hard-to-reach area in the south-west of the Guba region on the slope of Mount Kyzylkaya on the northern slope of the Main Caucasian Range, opposite the Khynalyg mountain of the same name. With its inaccessibility, peculiar language, unique architectural appearance and culture, the village attracts tourists and travelers. There are places of pilgrimage for fire worshipers dating back to the Middle Ages, a mosque, caves and numerous unexplored archaeological sites. Most of the territory is occupied by subalpine and alpine meadows. An asphalt road leads to Khinalyg from the regional center of Guba. There is a frontier post and one of the entrances to the Shahdag National Park. The entire highland area around Khinalyg is the Shahdag National Park.