Khinaliq - a 5000 year old village | Azerbaijan

Описание: Inaccessibility of the road allowed Khinaliq preserve age-old traditions and language, that does not say anywhere in the world.

Khinaliq village is one of the most famous mountain villages of Azerbaijan which has population about 2000 people. It is located at a distance 65 km west from Quba in the northern part of the Caucasus mountain part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. The historical and ethnic values represent 220 families.The most important sightseeing – a few villagers of Khinaliq which constitute a unique, separate ethnographic group. A mountainous (2500 m above sea level) settlement Khinalig because of it is rare landscape and unique lifestyle of villagers is compared to the open-air museum. Khinaliq was known as the most isolated village in Azerbaijan with a population of 2000 people which speaks their own distinct language (Ketsh).
Geographical landscape and climate

Located on one of the peaks of the Caucasus village Khinalig called “Island in the mountains”, it resembles an amphitheater. It is surrounded by mountains Gizil Guy, Shahdag, and Tufandag Khinalig. The village is located in the north-west of Azerbaijan, on the left bank of the river Gudialchay on the cone-shaped mountain top, at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level. Here grow only grass and shrubs, and even cabbage and carrots with a distinct richness. Colds come here already in the early autumn. The winter is very cold and snowy – temperatures reach -30 degrees. The mountains and the landscape throughout the route fascinate the man, and the higher you climb, the more breathtaking.

Ketsh Language

Inaccessibility of the road allowed Khynalyg preserve age-old traditions and language, that does not say anywhere in the world. In Khynalyg language – 77 letters: 18 vowels and 59 consonants! Very interesting architecture of the houses, they clustered, built upland hillside. Residents of Khinalig speak an archaic language unrelated to any modern language of the world. The language is highly preserved, although the locals also speak Azerbaijani.

Ethnicity
First mention about this ethnic group, for thousands of years living in the Caucasus, was found in descriptions of the ancient Greek and Roman historians. Khynalygs are rudiments of the one of Albanian tribes which relates to the Shakhdagh ethnic group. Reports of ancestors for centuries lived in the Caucasus Khynalyg, can be found in the ancient historian Pliny. Khynalyg speak a completely original, not falling into any language family language. No one but they do not speak the language and does not understand it.
Architecture of Khinaliq
Built from the rubble and located on the slope of the house resemble high-rise building. Since Khinalig declared a nature reserve, it is prohibited the construction of new buildings. The roof of the house is a yard to the other, which is located above.On the roof – not big holes for extra lighting and hoods. For construction is used adobe bricks. Adobe (manure, straw and clay ) fill a special form and used in the morning. The resulting bricks are dried in the sun and then folded with them a wall. Now here 380 houses. Since the slopes are very steep, the houses are built closely. There are small gardens in the courtyards of houses. The houses are very old – they are 200-300 years old.

Sights
Near Khinalig there is a temple of eternal fire dated to the 9th century. Here natural phenomenon, emergence of fire to the surface of the earth can be observed. Khinaliq offers a fascinating glimpse of mountain life, not a better opportunity for inspirational hiking. The most popular tourist activity in Khinaliq is hiking to Ateshgah small ever-burning natural fire temple.

Сulture
Khynalyg people preserved their unique lifestyle. Weddings and other ceremonies are held according to the passed on from generation to generation rites. Here there is a rich tradition associated with the rain, agriculture, against some pet, wedding and funeral feasts, observing celestial bodies. Which have become an integral part of everyday life of the local population customs and traditions are closely linked to the phenomena of nature. Since the villagers are engaged primarily in sheep, there is widespread weaving. Woven in Khinalig of wool shawls were famous throughout the Guba district. Nearby the village bought the fabric for sewing outerwear. Once in the villages chukha woolen shawl was the national clothing for the wealthy. It is very common colorful, like a mini-carpets, wool socks, without which it is impossible to imagine Khynalyg winter. One of the main activities of the local population is the collection and harvesting of medicinal plants. These were collected and dried for subsequent use in the kitchen, and sell them to tourists.
#younus #azerbaijan #khinaliq