Azerbaijan is a country of picturesque places with interesting sights, but each city is rich and attractive with its history. Today we will talk about the amazing city of Azerbaijan - Lankaran, which attracts tourists who love architecture, historical museums, sights and, of course, holidays in resorts and recreation centers on the Caspian Sea.
Historical background
Lenkoran is considered one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan. Archaeological excavations in the places located next to it confirm that people lived here during the Bronze Age, that is, in the 2-3 millennium BC. e. There is an interesting version of the origin of the name of the city. The Azerbaijani word "lengerkyunan" is translated as "anchorage" or "port". It is very possible that what the archaeologists discovered was the first port in the Caspian Sea.
The time of the foundation of the city dates back to about the 10th century AD. e. Being on the trade route connecting the East andWest, the city has been constantly evolving. Historical data confirm that until the 16th century Lankaran was owned by the Seljuks, then by the Safavid dynasty. Lankaran was the capital of the Talysh Khanate in the 18th-19th centuries. She came to the Russian state after the capture of the Lankaran fortress by Russian troops. As part of Azerbaijan Lankaran since 1991.
Crafts and trades
The city's location plays a huge role in its development. A well-chosen place for the construction of the city, the richness of natural resources and the fertility of soils have contributed over the centuries to the population to engage in the most profitable craft for the city - trade. Pottery and copper products made by artisans served as goods.
Goods such as honey and silk were purchased by merchants and exported to Russia, Turkey, the countries of Central Asia. Good yields of rice, tea, grain crops have been and are being grown on fertile soils. Horticulture, livestock complexes, fishing and hunting are developed in the district of Lankaran in Azerbaijan.
Climate and weather features
The peculiarities of weather conditions in Lankaran include a subtropical climate with warm winters and very hot and dry summers. Precipitation that falls occurs mainly in the autumn months. January is considered the coldest month of the year. The temperature at this time fluctuates from - 9 °С to + 8 °С. And during the hottest month - July, the temperature column rises to + 30 ° С. Such climatic conditions allow lovers of swimming in the Caspian Seaenjoy your holidays from May to October. During these months, the weather in Lankaran in Azerbaijan is favorable not only for recreation, but also for recovery at the city's balneological resort, at thermal springs.
Tourism in Lankaran
Azerbaijan is a country of developed tourism. Lankaran has all the conditions for a successful tourism business. Already only one Caspian Sea attracts vacationers with its beach areas. There are also lovers of fishing tourism, who from year to year come to the Caspian Sea to go fishing. A large number of hotels are ready to provide their comfortable rooms to tourists who have come to rest.
Lenkoran is conditionally divided into several tourist areas, and in any of them vacationers will find what they went to Azerbaijan for.
Recreation in Lankaran on the Caspian coast with black sand prevailing on the beaches, which has a healing feature, is a coastal recreation area. The Gaftonin recreation area is an area with sanatoriums and magical hot springs - "Istisu". It is also interesting for tourists who are fond of ecotourism and those who are interested in sights. The Narimanabad zone, located on the "Sara" peninsula, attracts tourists with the transparency of the Caspian Sea and snow-white beaches.
The resort town of Lankaran is a Muslim city, and therefore the beach areas are divided here: for men and women. The beaches themselves are not in open space, but are surrounded by trees that create a pleasant shade on hot days.
Attractions
The main historical sights of Lankaran include the Lankaran fortress built in the 18th century, the Kichik Bazar mosque built in the 19th century, and the house of Mirahmad Khan.
The fortress in Lankaran was one of the best in the Talysh Khanate. It was an impressive fortress in its size. Huge stone walls crowned with battlements, with guns installed between them, large ditches that were filled with water during the defense - all this had a frightening appearance for enemies. In 1812, Russian troops captured the fortress. As a result, a peace treaty was signed.
One of the current attractions of Lankaran in Azerbaijan (pictured below) is a samovar.
The city is famous for its tea, which is grown on local plantations. Tourists can taste this wonderful drink, which is prepared in a samovar, and take a photo next to the huge samovar, which is installed on the Tea Square of the city.
House of Mirahmad Khan
Almost in the center of the city in 1913, the house of Mirahmad Khan was built. It is rightfully considered a beautiful building, very similar to a palace. The construction was supervised by an architect from France, but the elements that decorate this house use the techniques of national decor. During the construction, white and red bricks were used, and the entrance is decorated with animals of mythical origin. Remarkably, it was the first multi-storey building in Lankaran.
The story of the construction of this house is no less interesting and somewhere sad. Mirahmad Khan ordered its construction in honor of his wife's victory in the beauty contest of Transcaucasia. The building was nationalized after the revolution, and the residents themselves suffered a tragic fate. Currently, this house houses a museum of local lore, which contains valuable exhibits related to the history of the region.
Khanega
The sights of Lankaran include the cult Muslim complex - Khanega. It can be reached by heading along the ancient road leading to Iran, walking along the Pirsagat River. This is a well-preserved quadrangle of fortress walls with loopholes, hidden from the eyes of tourists. Khanega is a monument of medieval architecture, decorated with ceramics and elegant stone carvings. It was built in the XII-XIV centuries, at a later time it was either completed or rebuilt. It was such a beautiful building that the ruthless Mongols, who swept away everything in their path, did not touch it. Moreover, everything looted from this shrine was returned to the cult complex.
The cult Muslim complex of Khanegi includes the tomb of Pir-Hussein and the minaret. The mosque was built in the middle of the 13th century from hewn stone slabs and is covered with a skillfully made spherical dome. The decoration is tiled carving and ornament around the entire perimeter of the octagonal trunk of the minaret of the mosque. The tomb is connected to the mosque. Once the tombstone was covered with ceramic tiles. The main decoration of the tomb is a tiled 11-meter frieze. This place is considered a shrine in the Muslim world. Here are storedthe relics of the holy elder Pir-Hussein.
Souvenirs from Lankaran
Sightseeing tours around Lankaran are interesting and informative, so whatever kind of vacation tourists choose, it is worth devoting a few hours to such activities. And yet, leaving Lankaran, it is worth leaving a memory of her. As a souvenir, you can buy local silk or copper or brass utensils from Lankaran workshops. In shopping centers, backgammon or handmade chess are sold, a ceramic lamp will be a beautiful decoration. And most importantly - do not forget to buy a pack of Lankaran tea.
