Khinalyg

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The village of Khinalyg

Khinalyg or Khinalugh (Azerbaijani: Xınalıq) is an ancient Caucasian village going back to the Caucasian Albanian period; high up in the mountains of Azerbaijan. It is located just north of Quba (which is two hours from Baku) in the middle of the Greater Caucasus mountains that divide Russia and the South Caucasus. Khinalyg is also the highest, most remote and isolated village in Azerbaijan and among the top highest in Caucasus, the weather changes dramatically during summer and winter ranging from −20 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius. Khinalyg has a population of about 2,000 people and although the people of Khinalyg mostly speak Azerbaijani they have their own unique language and are considered to be a different ethnicity. The Khinalyg language has a lot of similarities with Lezgi, which is also a minority in Azerbaijan and Russia.

Because of its dramatic location, spectacular 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, govermential buildings and other resources of Khinalyg. [1]

1 History
2 Pictures of Khinalyg
3 See also
4 References

[edit] History

Khinalyg is amongst the most ancient and still active places in the world, the history of Khinalyg is 4,000 years old. Before the conversion to Christianity of Caucasian Albania in the 3rd century, and Islam in the 7th century, the people of Khinalyg were followers of the prophet Zoroaster, who established Zoroastrianism. Because of the high altitude and remoteness of Khinalyg it managed to survive and withstand many invasions and therefore many historical sites in Khinalyg are still intact and are considered as holy places for Zoroastrianism. There are also some other historical places such as a 12th century mosque, a 15th century mosque, and several ancient cemeteries between the mountains. Like Yanar Dag there used to be a natural occurring of eternal flames that was once a Zoroastrian holy site. There are also many ancient holy caves of early humans.