GAKH

Qakh District, also Kakhi or sometimes Gakh, is a district in the north of Azerbaijan, on the border with Georgia (Kakheti).

The area of the region occupies 1,494 km² (577 sq mi) and borders Russia (Dagestan) on the north, Georgia (Kakheti) on the west. It also shares the internal boundaries with Zaqatala Rayon in the northwest, Yevlakh and Samukh regions in the south and Shaki region in the east.

The Qakh region of Azerbaijan has a long history dating back to ancient times. Archaeological excavations the area had been populated during Eneolithic, Bronze and early Iron Ages. What remains of these early inhabitants' activities indicates they engaged largely in sedentary cultivation, animal-breeding and art. Qax (Kakhi) region was part of Kakheti-Hereti Kingdom and than part of united Georgian kingdom. In 1921 Kakhi Region became part of Azerbaijan.

With the spread of Christianity throughout the region during the existence of Caucasian Albania, some Churches were built in the Qakh district. In the 8th century A.D. Qakh fell under Arab occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into the Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region. In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki.

In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russian along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Sheykh Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the Jar-Balaken daire (territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh was retained within Azerbaijan. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930.

The area of the region occupies 1,494 km² (577 sq mi) and borders Russia on the north, Georgia on the west. It also shares the internal boundaries with Zaqatala Rayon in the northwest, Yevlakh and Samukh regions in the south and Shaki region in the east.

The majority population of Qakh city are Azerbaijani people. But the town and all the region are multicultural. Here also live Avar and Georgian (Ingiloy) inhabitant minorities. Based on the military review of the Tiflis province and the Zagatala circle, which was published in 1872 and published the results of the census of 1869, 160 families, consisting of mugals and ingiloys, were nationalized in Gakh village, included in the Ilisu Congregation of Zagatala. Ethnic Turks mugals and representatives of the Dagestan peoples are referred to as Lezghins in the information about the national composition of the population of the settlements that constitute the relevant circle. According to official information as of January 1, 2012, there are a total of 13,793 people living in 2,490 farms of both sexes.

Culture and Tourism Department of the district was organized in 1949 as the Department of Culture. The first head of the department was Hajiyev Abdurakhman. In 2006, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was established on the basis of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated 30 January 2006. At present the network of the Department of Culture and Tourism has 96 enterprises and 1 monument guards. 49 libraries, 23 culture houses, 17 clubs, Heydar Aliyev Center, 2 museums (History Linguistics Museum, I. Dagestani memorial museum), Ilisu Historical Culture Reserve, Painting Gallery and Art School, totally 506 employees.

The city became recently a mountain resort for rich people, so there are now various hotels, resorts, restaurants, cottages, and tea houses in 5 km north of Qax.

All road transport is available in the city. There are daily buses heading to Qakh from Baku International Bus station and it takes six hours of traveling. Taxis are available both on Bus station and as general mean of driving. Train can also be taken to Qakh from Baku central Railway station. There is daily working bus which drives from Qakh city to Ilisu, village and municipality in Qakh region. Roads to the some inner villages are not available without offroad cars.