Distance with Baku: 168 km
Population: 157,6 thsd person
How to reach: Bus-> Scheduled bus Baku-Guba - 3 hours, Guba-Uzun Meshe, Guba-Afurja, Guba-Gachresh, Guba-Balbulag, Guba-Tengealti, Guba-Khinalig
Guba district is one of the most popular places in Azerbaijan for the tourists and Afurja settlement with its popular waterfall has become lovely place of rest for Baku citizens. The tourists traveling in the district go to Tangaalti gorge and then cross Velvelichay river with the mud water, admire Kunkhirt waterfall - at the settlement of Gonagkend, which was a district center in 40-50s of the last century. Groves can be met more rarely and when the height exceeds thousand meters over the sea level, the trees are replaced with bushes.
There are hydrogen-sulphidous springs on Hashichay River. Here, in the narrow gorge, hot waters of medicinal features are getting out of the rocks. Nobody remembers now who constructed here something like self-made sanatorium consisting of three bathrooms made in the rock width. Each construction at the size of 2x3 m is faced with the stone wall with the shed of the tree trunks. The stone bed of the bathroom fits to the medicinal procedure strike so much that even tourists spoilt by the city civilization spend their times here great pleasure. Semi-darkness, warm water from the rock makes drunk and lull. Spiny bushes of sea-buckthorn, barberry and sedge grow in abundance at the riverbeds. Colony of white-haired vultures - eagles written in the Red Book of Azerbaijan live in this gorge.
Then, the settlement of Ufug, in the outskirts of which treasure of coins related to the period of Shirvanshah ruling and dated in XII-XIII centuries were discovered in sixties, is located. Several buildings of XIX century: mosque, a few dwelling houses with the peculiar architecture and decoration have saved in Utug.
Fire-worshipper temple in the village of Khinalig (IX century), octagonal mausoleum in the village of Agbil (XVI century), Pirbanovsha that is considered sanctuary among the people living here will become of travelers' interest.
District center is a small city Guba located in the northeastern mountainsides of Shahdag mountain of Great Caucasus at the height of 600m above the sea level on the bank of Gudial chay. Guba has its own university, center of the carpet weaving. Local citizens will ensure you that Guba carpets - Chichi, Ag Gul, Pirabadil are the best in Azerbaijan. The carpet Gollu Chichi waived in 1712 is kept in the museum of Metropolitan in New York. The history of Guba city origins from the village of Gudial. Guba khanate was established in the mid of XVIII century, the center of which had become Khudat. Later, Guba khan Hussein Ali moved his residence to Guba and raised the fortress walls around the city. The city had become a capital of the khanate. Fatali-khan, the most popular governor of Guba khanate, was trying to establish a sole state from the disconnected Azeri khanates, but Guba khanate, the same as other khanates was occupied by Russian in early XIX century and adjoined Russian empire according to the agreement of 1913.
In one's time famous French writer Alexander Dumas, eminent Russian orientalist Berezin, writer Bestujev-Marlinsky, famous Norwegian scientist-traveler Tur Hayerdal, visited Guba.
Many historical monuments have been saved in the city outskirts: Juma-mosque, mausoleum of XVI century, mosque of Sakina-khanim, two ancient baths. There is historical museum, museum-house of A. Bakihanov, who was an enlightener, writer, public figure of XIX century.
Village, where one of the largest communities of local Jews lives, is located not far from the city. In the mid of XVIII century at Fatli-khan ruling Guba khanate was prosperous. It subdued the whole northeastern Azerbaijan from Darband to Lankaran. Then, Guba khans established Jewish suburb near their capital having given the land to them and guaranteed their security. The city is allocated on both banks of Gudial-chay river: on the right-higher bank-Muslim city, i.e. Guba-is located; on the left-Jewish suburb, which was named Jewish Gasaba before the revolution. It has become named Girmiza Gasaba (Red Settlement).
There is unique Alpine village of Khinalig in the territory of the district. The village is situated 65 km to the regional center at the height of 2500 m above the sea level. There are 380 houses and 3000 citizens in the village. Village citizens compose separate ethnographic group and speaks its own language, which is not used anywhere else in the world. The Khinalig citizens maintained their language and old traditions, customs. Khinalig is one of the most important components of the bright and picturesque image of Guba district.
Being one of the agricultural centers of the country, the district is famous for its apple gardens. In spring, all the neighborhood is full with the aroma when the apple-trees are blossoming. Sometimes, Guba is called apple garden.
Distance with Baku: 180 km
Population: 90,5 thsd person
How to reach: Bus-> Scheduled bus Baku-Gusar - 3,5 hours.
Gusar district is located in the southeast of Azerbaijan and bounds with Dagestan. Administrative center of the district is a city of Gusar. The city is at the distance of 35 km to the railway station of Khudat. The name of "Gusar" origins from the tribe of "khisar". This is a land of mountains and valleys. The highest peak of Azerbaijan is in the territory of this region - Bazarduzu mountain (4466 m). The district is noted for its rich flora. 20% of the territory is covered with the forests. Deciduous trees are widely distributed here. Such valuable species, as oak, beech, hornbeam etc. grow here. Tugay forests are along the rivers. Such plants as sumah, mushmula, hawthorn, dog-rose, gooseberry bushes, forests grapes are popular here. Animals of the region are represented as follows: bear, wolf, boar, mountainous goat, birds - eagle, owl etc. State reserve at the area of 15000 ha is located in the territory of Gusar district; there is maintained beech forest named "Alistan-baba" near the settlement of Urva at the area of 7 ha.
The features of the district are beautiful waterfalls of Shaknabaz and Laza. Each person is impressed with the view of the falling water creating snow-white foam and fireworks of the water splash.
Historical monuments have been saved in the district. Among them are the ruins of the fortress walls of XIII century at the village of Anig, mausoleum of sheikh Juneid at the village of Khazra, antique mosques in the villages of Khil, Anig, Balagusar, Yasab, Kohna-Khudat, and Gunduz-gala etc. Great poet Lermontov, after his name the museum was named, visited Gusar in the old times. There is a park of culture and rest here.
There are good conditions for the ecologic tourism in the district. Three routes might be selected:
Gusar-Laza route. The tourists traveling on this route might observe historical monuments and samples of the folk-applied art in the village of Anig. Alpinism amateurs may climb Shahdag Mountain at the end of the route on the Chalet resort of "Suvar". Gusar-Sudug route. Interesting got the tourists place can be noted here - in the village of Khazra - mausoleum of sheikh Juneid. Besides, tourists may become familiar with the samples of folk-applied art and traditions of the local population along whole route. End of the route is Sudug village is 75 km to the district center at the height of 1800 m above the sea level at the mountainside of Shahdag Mountain. There is wonderful nature, impressing sight of the mountains here.
Gusar-Gazanbulag route. Beech forest of "Alistan-baba" is located on this route.
As to the old fields, carpet weaving, handicraft embroidery, wood engraving are developed in Gusar district.
Distance with Baku: 157 km
Population: 164,5 thsd person
How to reach: Bus-> Scheduled bus Baku-Khachmaz, Baku-Nabran - 3 hours
Region is situated to the northeast of Azerbaijan and occupies major part of Samur - Devechi lowland. Khachmaz district in the north bounds with Russia. Arterial highway and railway Baku-Moscow passes the territory of the region. 20800 ha of the territories of the region are covered with the forests, 8 rivers run it; there are three artificial lakes. Climate is soft; there are sources of thermal and spring waters. Herbal greens such as dog-rose, bindweed, St. John's wort, blooming sally, balm etc are widely distributed in the district's flora. There are good conditions for hunting and fishing in the district. Gulalan preserve in the territory of the district.
It is supposed that name of Khachmaz came from the name of the tribe of khachmataki living in these lands are entering union of the militant tribes - the Huns. Later, the name was transformed and had been met in the sources since the mid of VII century as "Khachmaz". It is interesting that part of the tribe in the second mid of VII century migrated to the territory of the current Oghuz district having constructed the settlement and fortress named Khachmar there.
Routes of conquerors making the campaigns and invasion on the ancient states existing in the territory of Azerbaijan passed on this land in the past. Famous fortresses "Baba-al-Abvab" ("Iron Gates", "Darband gates") built in VII-VI millenniums B.C. were standing on their ways as insuperable obstacle. Mighty stone wall barring conquerors' way at Darband passageway was constructed at Sasanid tsar of Yezdigerd in V century. Those who could overcome these systems of the military fortification were on the fertile land of Azerbaijan. Scythians, Alans, Khazars, Savirs and other tribes entered here. Burials of bronze century were discovered in the territory of Khachmaz district during archeological digs, implements, hunting gears and house utensils were found.
One of the ancient cities-fortresses - Khudat (Khudat is "Charisma") in Khachmaz district. It had become a capital of Gauba khanate in early XVIII century. In 1735 in concern with transference of Fatali-khan from Khudat to Guba, the city had lost its importance. There are considerable reserves of the drinking water in the Khudat land. Famous Shollar water-supply line originates from here - Shollar village, which was put into exploitation in 1917 and plays an important role in the water supply of Baku up to present.
There are over 60 saved monuments of history and culture in the region. There are: mosques of XIX century in the villages of Morug-oba, Uzun-oba, Tagar-oba, mosque-madrasah of shah Abbas of XV-XVI centuries in the village of Gragurtlu, ancient settlements and barrows related to Bronze century near the villages of Mollaburhan, Khulovlu, Garajik, Hasangala, middle age settlements at the village of Janahir, Bostanchi. Mosque of Sheikh Yusif (XV century) - one of the earliest monuments of mausoleum group that was widely used in the construction of XVI-XVII centuries has been saved in the village of Shikhlar. Railway station and water tower built in early XX century (1900-1903) and in good state at present are of big interest.
Carpet weaving is developed among the traditional crafts. There is a faculty of the carpet studies in Khachmaz Iyceum. The tourists will be interested in watching the masters weaving large and small carpets.
The most popular rest zone in the country is in the territory of Khachmaz district-Nabran. There are many tourists are built here, in the picturesque place, where the forests neighbor with the sandy beaches.
