The tourism resources and excellent infrastructure which enable us to make tour programs for each tourist group traveling to Nakhchivan offer favorable condition for organizing interesting and unique tourism routes from Nakhchivan city to Sharur, Kangarli, Shahbuz, Julfa and Ordubad. Nakhchivan-Garabaghlar tourism route like Nakhchivan-Batabat, Nakhchivan-Ashabi-Kahf, Nakhchivan-Ordubad, Nakhchivan-Alinja and others used by local people and foreign tourists attracts their attention.
Nakhchivan-Garabaghlar tourism route is one of the routes that used year-round due to its geological location, climatic conditions and resources. Tourists can move from Nakhchivan to Garabaghlar and back starting from Nakhchivan city either through Givrag settlement, Yurdchu, Garabaghlar or Tazakand and Chalkhangala. The tour may last from several hours to the day-long, it depends on the number of tourist and the motive of the tour. At present, tourist can travel about 40 kilometers from Nakhchivan to Garabaghlar village by car or minibuses within an hour. Comfortable and safe road conditions are one of the most important factors of modern tourism. In addition, tourists have access to modern shopping and catering facilities and 4G mobile internet services during the tour. Tourist may also observe contemporary living conditions in the region and the socio-cultural infrastructure that create conditions for developing living standards of the population.
Many people wish to rest in villages to spend meaningful spare time in hot summer days. Now, there are people who spend much money to travel far countries besides to rest in the villages situated at one-two hours' distance. In this sense, rural tourism which has gained popularity in developed countries increases interest in Azerbaijan including Nakhchivan. The rich natural tourism resources and renovated infrastructure are the main factors creating conditions for this.
No doubt that cool weather of remote mountainous villages is the real tourism motive for city residents in hot summer days. Actually, there is natural coolness in the mountainous villages while air conditioners work in the city day and night. One who spends interesting time while drinking cold water in the villages, resting in the shadows of green gardens, looks forward to come this place again. This time not alone but his family and friends.
On July 10, the students of "Nakhchivan" University went on an excursion to Garabaghlar Tomb Complex in Kangarli region organized by the Tourism Department of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Firstly, director of Nakhchivan Tourism Information Center Gulnara Sadigova noted that state care for historical monuments in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic offered wide opportunities for the preservation and promotion of our cultural heritage. In the last 22 years about 70 historical and cultural monuments in the autonomous republic have been overhauled and repaired, more than 1,200 world, national and local importance monuments have been registered. In accordance with the Decree of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic "On the Restoration and Investigation of Garabaghlar Tomb Complex" dated July 4, 2016, the Garabaghlar Tomb Complex, one of the unique examples of Turkic-Islamic culture in Garabaghlar village of Kangarli region was restored on scientific and historical basis.
It was noted that the purpose of the excursion was to introduce the historical places of the autonomous republic to the young and to increase their activeness in introducing the autonomous republic by sharing photos taken during the excursions by young people in different social networks.
In accordance with the Decree of Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated July 4, 2016 "On Restoration and Investigation of Garabaghlar Tomb Complex", Garabaghlar Tomb Complex, one of the rare examples of Turkic-Islamic culture in Garabaghlar village of Kangarli region, was restored on scientific and historical basis.
On July 5 Garabaghlar Tomb Complex was put into operation after restoration.
Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening.
The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis said: The development of the culture of each nation is related to the history of its statehood. The people have a rich culture that has a great history of statehood. Our national leader Heydar Aliyev had said: "There are great states in the world, but they cannot create great monuments. Because along with the architectural value of the monuments, perhaps even greater value for us is the fact that Azerbaijan is an ancient state. It shows not only the richness of architecture, but also how solid and firm our statehood is".
The Chairman of the Supreme Majlis said: Historical monuments in the autonomous republic - castles, palaces and tombs are directly connected to our statehood history. In Nakhchivan, the capital of the Atabegs state of Azerbaijan in the 12th century, it was contributed to the development of culture, especially the art of Ajami Nakhchivani, monuments of world significance have been created. Garabaghlar Tomb Complex, which we gather at its opening ceremony, is a continuation of the architectural school of Ajami Nakhchivan, an example of the outstanding architect, Ahmed Nakhchivani, and our state heritage and cultural wealth that we hand down the present and next generations. When monuments are restored and explored, they become the subject of history. Today, we have to study the monuments not only as our cultural heritage, but also as part of our statehood history. Ministry of Culture and Nakhchivan Branch of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences should further expand researches in Garabaghlar Tomb Complex, collect historical materials, introduce new scientific approaches, and enrich it with exhibits.
The opening ceremony of the Nakhchivan, Capital of Islamic Culture - 2018, which has recently been held in Nakhchivan, has caused a mass reaction in the world press. The news was published on the website of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), founded by UNESCO in 1961, with 44 news agencies from 35 countries. Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Abulfas Garayev and other guests attended the opening ceremony of "Nakhchivan, Capital of Islamic Culture - 2018" in Nakhchivan State Musical Drama Theater. Then they visited the statue of our national leader Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers at the statue. The guests came to the Heydar Aliyev Museum and viewed exhibits highlighting the great leader's life, political and statehood activities.
Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov handed a painting of Hachadag to Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, General Director of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and a painting of Batabat to Dusen Kaseinov, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture.