Driving along the M1 motorway connecting the capital of Azerbaijan with the largest cities of Russia, you will see the mountain Beshbarmak, located near the coast of the Caspian Sea. Beshbarmak is a place of pilgrimage for the local population and thanks to its height and shape has been an excellent reference point for sailors since time immemorial. At the foot of the Beshbarmag Mountain, the holy place Pir Khidir is located, where the travelers stop to perform prayers and worship. Your professional guide will tell you the mythical stories associated with this place.
The next point during the excursion will be Krasnaya Sloboda (The Red Vilage), located in the town of Guba and which is one of the rare places of compact residence of Jews in the World, therefore this settlement is also called Jerusalem of the Caucasus. Mountain Jews have maintained their traditions over the centuries and there are several synagogues, a museum, a cemetery, and the Star of David on most of residential buildings.
When leaving the city of Cuba along the course of the Gudialchay River, travelers find themselves in one of the most beautiful forests in Azerbaijan. The highway, passing through a deciduous forest, is a grandiose green tunnel formed by tree crowns that converge at a height of two dozen meters. The entire forest road runs near a picturesque ravine, along which a mountain river flows. The Gechresh forest got its name from the name of the village, which is located on its territory.
Between the Gechresh forest and the road to the village of Khinalig is located the most ancient place in the geophysical sense on the territory of Azerbaijan. The majestic Gudialchay gorge is a few kilometers of high steep rocky mountains, between which the Gudialchay river rages. Along its powerful current, between the steep cliffs overhanging on both sides, there is a road along which it is interesting to both walk and drive by car. Due to its impressive height, this gorge received the name of the Minaret from the local population.
The isolated village of Khinalig is located in Guba region, at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level, which will be the last point to visit during this tour. You will see not only the ancient architecture of this village, you will also enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the peaks surrounding it. And on the way to Khinalig, one can often see eagles flying overhead, wild horses galloping along the banks of stony rivers and clouds descending so low that sometimes they can even be touched.
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