Ilkin Ismayilov

The region accounts for over 100 historical and architectural as well as archeological monuments differing in their sizes. Over 30 of them are protected by the state.

These are the Sarshahar Mosque, Anbars Mosque, Gaysariyya, Cuma Mosque, Mingis Mosque, Takeshiyi Mosque dating back to the Middle Ages, 48 water-pipes, the establishment of the public bath of the 16th century, the temple of Nusnus, Vanand Mosque, the memory of the 18th century, the Aza bridge on the ancient Great Silk Road, the archeological remnants of the Kharabagilan reserve of the 16th century, the memorial museums of academician Y. Mamedaliyev, great man of letters M.S. Ordubadi and the historical and ethnographic museum of Ordubad and others.

Ordubad as one o the most ancient settlements among the region of Nakhchevan is rich with the monuments of the Stone Age till the Middle Ages. The rocky carvings of Gemigaya are in the Nebiyurdu, Djamysholen and Garangush plateau of southern and western slopes of the Gapydjyg at the height of 3907 meters above sea level. The Garangush valley is the is the principal area of the concentration of rocky carvings. The pearl of the world culture Gemigaya is the most ancient settlement. Garangush valley in the north-east of Tivi and Nasirvaz villages and on the southeast slopes of Gapydjyg was one of the major hunting places of ancient Nakhchevan residents in the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. At that period the pictures of animals, hunting and dancing scenes as well as different signs and stamps were reflected on the great rocks. The ancient carvings discovered in Gemigaya (1968) enable to trace back the evolution of the lifestyle, the outlook, traditions, religious and esthetic intellect of ancient people residing on the territory of Azerbaijan in the 6-1st millenniums B.C. Garangush valley and Gilenchay plateau accounted for ancient settlements of Nakhchevan tribes, necropolis and temples.

The researches discovered that the population lived densely at the junction of Gilenchay River with the flat areas along the Araz River in the 2nd millennium B.C. These places are full of the rich settlements and necropolises with such remnants of culture as Sabirkend, Plovdagh, Kharabagilan, Shomudere, Khaly-Kashan, Mergangol and others related to the 2-1st millenniums B.C. These lands were the pastures of the ancient cattle-breeding tribes residing in the valleys of Nakhchevan River, Alindja River and Gilan River. The remnants if material culture dating back to the Bronze Age, early Iron age, ancient times including the early Middle Ages exist in the Gilan, Bilav, Paraghha, Tivi, Nasirgaz, Khurs and other villages. The monuments located near the Bilav village, the left bank of the Gilan River is famous as the Babek tower and the cemetery on the Garangush valley in Gemigaya is called the cemetery of Babekids.

The memorial museum Geyseriyye located in the historical and ethnographical museum is the rarest historical monument. The Geyseriyye that was distinguished with the specific architectural features, ornament, and compositional structure has attracted the attention as a special object.

The memorial of the 16th century-the public bath is one of the valuable architectural monuments. The Afghan tower of the city attracts attention due to its image and the peculiarities of its construction.

The memorial of the 16th century Gyrkhkimsene temple that turned into a large temple of the Nusnus village has been recently restored. The roads to the temple have been improved and the people coming from different regions of the country as well as from abroad are impressed greatly by visiting the said place.

The memorial Mosques of Dasta, Vanad, Aylis, Nusnus and other villages differ not only for being a pilgrimage place but also for its architectural peculiarities. Ordubad and Alis village account for a number of springs that are also protected by the state. These are such monuments as Gyrkhayag, Nahar in the city and Khan cheshme, Meydan cheshme and Bazar cheshme in the Aylis village. A spring with the depth of 50 meters discovered in front of Mingis of the city was also included into the said list. The gigantic plane trees over 600 years of age are admired by everyone who visits Ordubad