Khinalyg
Encyclopedia
Khinalug, Khinalugh, or Khinalig ' onMouseout='HidePop("94303")' href="/topics/Khinalug_language">Khinalug
: Kətş; also rendered as Khanaluka, Khanalyk, Khinalykh, or Khynalyk) is an ancient Caucasian village going back to the Caucasian Albania
n period. It is located high up in the mountains of Quba Rayon, Azerbaijan
. It is also a municipality in Quba Rayon, which consists of the villages of Khinalug and Qalayxudat
.
It is located just north of Quba
in the middle of the Greater Caucasus
mountains that divide Russia
and the South Caucasus
. Khinalug is also the highest, most remote and isolated village in Azerbaijan and among the highest in the Caucasus. The weather changes dramatically during summer and winter, ranging from −20 °C to 18 °C. Khinalug has a population of about 2,000 people. This small group of people speaks the Khinalug language
, which belongs to the Northeast Caucasian
language family, although many speak Azerbaijani as well.
Because of its location, scenery and relative isolation, the village is considered one of Azerbaijan's premiere destinations for hikers and adventure travellers in such travel guides as Lonely Planet
.
On 7 October 2006, the Azerbaijani president announced plans to modernize the educational buildings, infrastructure, governmental buildings and other resources of Khinalug.
Because of the high altitude and remoteness of Khinalug it managed to survive and withstand many invasions. There are also some other historical places such as a 12th century mosque, a 15th century mosque, and several ancient cemeteries between the mountains. There are also many ancient holy caves of early humans.
is supporting these efforts.
The village of Khinalug was included on the World Monuments Fund
's 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites due to concern over the building of a road between Khinalug and Guba. The listing is not intended to criticize potential tourist and commercial activity in the village, rather it is intended as a warning that new development should not come at the cost of the site's essential, historic character.
Khinalug language
Khinalug is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken by about 1,500 people in the villages of Khinalug and Gülüstan in the mountains of Quba Rayon, northern Azerbaijan...
: Kətş; also rendered as Khanaluka, Khanalyk, Khinalykh, or Khynalyk) is an ancient Caucasian village going back to the Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
n period. It is located high up in the mountains of Quba Rayon, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It is also a municipality in Quba Rayon, which consists of the villages of Khinalug and Qalayxudat
Qalayxudat
Qalayxudat is a village in the Quba Rayon of Azerbaijan. The village forms part of the municipality of Khinalug....
.
It is located just north of Quba
Quba
Quba is a rayon in northeastern Azerbaijan. The capital is located on the Kudyal River at 41.37°N, 48.50°E....
in the middle of the Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus , sometimes translated as "Caucasus Major", "Big Caucasus" or "Large Caucasus") is the major mountain range of the Caucasus Mountains....
mountains that divide Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the South Caucasus
South Caucasus
The South Caucasus is a geopolitical region located on the border of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Trans-Caucasus...
. Khinalug is also the highest, most remote and isolated village in Azerbaijan and among the highest in the Caucasus. The weather changes dramatically during summer and winter, ranging from −20 °C to 18 °C. Khinalug has a population of about 2,000 people. This small group of people speaks the Khinalug language
Khinalug language
Khinalug is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken by about 1,500 people in the villages of Khinalug and Gülüstan in the mountains of Quba Rayon, northern Azerbaijan...
, which belongs to the Northeast Caucasian
Northeast Caucasian languages
The Northeast Caucasian languages constitute a language family spoken in the Russian republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, northern Azerbaijan, and in northeastern Georgia, as well as in diaspora populations in Russia, Turkey, and the Middle East...
language family, although many speak Azerbaijani as well.
Because of its location, scenery and relative isolation, the village is considered one of Azerbaijan's premiere destinations for hikers and adventure travellers in such travel guides as Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
.
On 7 October 2006, the Azerbaijani president announced plans to modernize the educational buildings, infrastructure, governmental buildings and other resources of Khinalug.
History
Khinalug is among the most ancient and continuously inhabited places in the world, with history of over 5,000 years.Because of the high altitude and remoteness of Khinalug it managed to survive and withstand many invasions. There are also some other historical places such as a 12th century mosque, a 15th century mosque, and several ancient cemeteries between the mountains. There are also many ancient holy caves of early humans.
Support
The unique original ethnoculture and unique language together means Ketsh Khalkh of Azerbaijan. The Khinalug language requires more detailed research. Archaeological research also will help to give answers to many questions. To find and keep in a protogenic kind sources is the main task. BIRJABirja
Birja is a popular Azerbaijan weekly free-of-charge announcements and advertising newspaper published by the Birja VDV. It was founded by Rafiq Abasov...
is supporting these efforts.
The village of Khinalug was included on the World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
's 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites due to concern over the building of a road between Khinalug and Guba. The listing is not intended to criticize potential tourist and commercial activity in the village, rather it is intended as a warning that new development should not come at the cost of the site's essential, historic character.
See also
- Zoroastrianism in AzerbaijanZoroastrianism in AzerbaijanZoroastrianism in Azerbaijan goes back to the first millennium BC or earlier. The religion was the predominant religion of Greater Iran before the conversion...
- Yanar DagYanar DagYanar Dag , is a visually stunning natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which itself is known as the “land of fire.” Flames jet out into the air from a thin, porous sandstone layer...
- Gobustan
- Fire Temple of BakuFire Temple of BakuThe Baku Ateshgah or "Fire Temple" is a castle-like ancient Hindu religious structure in Surakhani, a suburb of greater Baku, Azerbaijan. "Atash" is the Persian word for fire....