Baku – Bahjat Al Wakeel
When looking for magical and beautiful places in Azerbaijan, one definitely has to start from Shusha.
Shusha was established as an administrative province in 1930. It includes 29 villages. It was Occupied in 1992, then it was liberated after a 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia on 8 November 2020.
Shusha is considered one of the unique places not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the whole Caucasus region. The city was built as an impregnable fortress to protect it from enemies attacks. That is why it is
referred to as the Shusha fortress. Shusha was built by Panahali Khan of Karabakh as a strong fortress on a high rock that enemies can not reach it in 1750.
Ali Hazyev, head of the State Committee for Religious Institutions Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, says that Shusha is surrounded by Girkhgiz, Kirs, Murov, Baghgiran and Saribaba mountains. The city is located at 1,400 metres above sea level. Due to its fresh air and medical value, Shusha is one of the wellknown resorts in Azerbaijan.
Ali Hazyev added that there is a reserve in Shusha where hundreds of Azerbaijan’s historical monuments are protected. One of these monuments is the Yukhari Govharagha Mosque built by Karabakh Khan Ibrahim khalil in 1768 and renovated in 1867.
The wall of this mosque contains a stone inscription with verses from the Holy Qur’an, the date of construction of the mosque, as well as the commandments of Govharagha, who was the daughter of the Karabakh khan. She was renowned for her kindness and generosity. She turned one of the rooms of the mosque into a school. The Jidir Duzu plain is considered to be one of the magical places that characterises
the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan.
