The 15th-century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru was voted one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” in an online poll in 2007. Its stunning location in the Andes Mountains, the advanced engineering of the Inca people and the site’s significance as a royal estate combine to make it one of the top destinations on a traveller’s bucket list. There are many sites around the world that claim to be the Machu Picchu of their country (looking at you, Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan), but one that evokes the heady atmosphere of the original site is probably the Alinja Castle of Azerbaijan. This medieval fortress sits atop a cragged mountaintop in the Julfa region. While the site is actually a recent reconstruction of the former fortress used by Nakhchivan’s various ruling dynasties in the Middle Ages, the jaw-dropping location and views from the top make this a worthwhile stop on your Azerbaijan tour.
Here’s what you need to know about Alinja Castle.
The castle first finds mention in sources from the 1st century. The tower was founded and belonged to the Armenian lords of Syunik, and it became one of the most important fortresses in Armenia. By the 10th century, the tower was in the hands of the Bagratuni dynasty, and in the 13th century, it passed into the hands of the Armenian Orbelean family, who ruled that area of Syunik. The name “Alinja” is believed to have come into usage in the 14th century when the tower belonged to the Turkic dynasty of Ildegizids. It is thought the castle was destroyed under the Safavid Empire.
The fortress had dozens of buildings, including barracks, warehouses, a bathhouse, stables, kitchens, an arsenal, treasury and the ruler’s palace. The castle was famed for being near impregnable, though it was eventually sacked by the legendary Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane in 1401 after a 14-year struggle. Legend has it that Tamerlane used the castle to house his treasury, and local tales say that his treasures may still be hidden somewhere in the surroundings.
The museum at the bottom of Alinja Castle is where you should go to learn about its history and marvel at artefacts found during archaeological excavations. Visitors have to navigate 1,500 stone steps to get to the top, which takes about 45 minutes. Once there, you’ll see the medieval castle's crenellated walls and general layout, rebuilt as close as possible to its original appearance. There isn’t a great deal to see and do at the top, so it’s really the views of Nakhchivan that make the climb worthwhile, which means it’s important to come at an opportune time—early in the morning or before sunset and in spring or autumn.
Lying 34 kilometres from Alinja Castle, this monument was built in the style of the Nakhchivan-Maragha architectural school and was the residence of the Nakhchivan Khanate (one of many small independent statelets to appear in the Caucasus and Iran following the death of Nadir Shah in 1747) before the early 20th century. At the end of the 18th century, the palace was built with the order of Kelbali Khan Kangarli. Formerly a carpet museum, since 2010, the palace’s richly ornamented floors, complete with shebeke-stained glass windows, have housed a museum devoted to this fascinating period in Azerbaijani history.
The 12th-century Mausoleum of Momine Khatin, one of the oldest monuments in the Islamic East built in honour of a woman, is a shining example of the so-called Nakhchivan school—a medieval form of architecture characterised by red bricks, turquoise tiles and geometric patterns. It was built by an acclaimed architect of the period, Ajemi Nakhchivani, to honour the beloved wife of powerful local ruler Shamsaddin Eldeniz. On one of the tomb’s 10 sides is written: “We depart but the world stays; we die but leave monuments behind.”
Take a flight to Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku from New Delhi. From Baku, book a flight to Nakhchivan International Airport (NAJ) or take the bus to Nakhchivan. Upon reaching Nakhchivan, take a taxi to Alinja Castle, 35 kilometres away.