Karabağlar Tomb

Karabağlar Tomb is an open-air historical monument situated in the village of Karabağlar (Qarabağlar) about 30 km from the center of Nakhchivan. To get to the village, follow the Nakhchivan-Shaurur highway, then walk through the village to arrive at the complex. A taxi from the city is the best option; most tours will schedule the tomb for the same day as the Mömine Hatun Tomb and Duzdağ.

No visiting hours are allocated; during daylight, one can view the tomb. For both safety and site preservation reasons, night visits are not recommended. There are also no ticket booths inside the tomb area, so visiting Karabağlar Tomb is free. A tour fee is incorporated into the overall tour package; there is no special entrance fee for the tomb.

The complex consists of two main periods: the tower tomb dating from the first half of the 14th century that forms the monumental structure you see today, and the late 12th–13th centuries. The twin minarets dating from the early 16th century and the remains of the portal between them sit about 30 meters west of the tower-turret. The mention of Qutui (Kutui) Hatun, a noblewoman of the Ilkhanate period, in the portal inscription shows that the structure was completed in the Ilkhanate period in the first half of the 14th century.

The tower-turret has a cylindrical body rising on a stone base. The body is sliced ​​externally by twelve semicircular projections, giving the structure the effect of a twelve-lobed column. Internally, it is circular, with a height of approximately 30 meters. There are four portals opening to the four cardinal directions. Bands of turquoise glazed bricks form square compositions against a reddish brick background; within these squares, the names “Allah” and “Bismillah” are repeated repeatedly in Kufic script. The name “Allah” is used more than two hundred times in the inscription, and this dense epigraphic program distinguishes Karabakh from other Islamic monuments in the region.

The elements that make up this complex are not restricted to the tower-turret. Along with the 14th-century tower mausoleum, there are two 13th-century square-base minarets, the remains of a portal connecting the minarets, named Qutui Hatun, and a small section at the entrance where stone artifacts are displayed. This complex is known as the “Karabağlar Mausoleum (Garabaghlar Mausoleum Complex)” and is considered a late-era representative of the Nakhchivan school of architecture.

This complex received monument status starting in the 16th century and has been partially restored; recently, it was considerably strengthened through cleaning and conservation. The body of the tower mausoleum, its base, and inscription bands are legible, but the upper sections of the minarets and the connecting elements have not survived. You can enter the exterior of the mausoleum freely, the portals, and the area surrounding the minarets and observe the decorations from the outside. The interior and the spiral stairs inside the minarets are barred to traffic in order not to damage the historical fabric.

Because the Karabağlar Mausoleum is located in an open area, photography and short video recordings from outside are permitted. The inscription bands are more visible in the afternoon, when turquoise glazed bricks absorb the light well; hence, this time of day is a good time for photography. If you want to shoot with a drone or conduct professional production, you must complete the required permit procedures with the relevant authorities in Nakhchivan in advance.

As the monument is an Islamic tomb, it will be appropriate to wear comfortable but covered clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. For reasons of respect as well as protection, it is not allowed to touch the stone and brick ornaments, not to climb on the inscription bands, and not to use the structure as a climbing platform. The best visiting practices would include walking quietly, not making any mess in the surrounding area, and for those who want to, reciting the Fatiha and a short prayer in front of the grave.

There is no permanent guide on duty around the complex. Tour guides from Nakhchivan generally provide detailed information. If you are exploring on your own, you can include the Karabağlar area along with the Mümine Hatun Tomb and the Yusif Küseyiroğlu Tomb, allowing you to compare Nakhchivan architecture from the 12th to 14th centuries on a single route. These three monuments allow you to trace visually the traces of the same architectural school in different centuries.

Karabağlar village is located along the Nakhchivan-Shaur highway and is reachable via asphalt road. The area is safe during daylight hours and a frequent stop on tour routes. There is no large, laid out parking lot immediately adjacent to the complex; vehicles are parked on the village road and on the flat areas near the tomb. A short walk, after disembarking brings the monument into view. The complex is flat and low, thus easily accessible to disabled visitors and the elderly.

However, total internal sections and minarets cannot be accessed as all of them have steps and no ramps. It would take 30 minutes to walk around the area and exterior monument; for those who wish to closely look at the various decorations, do some drawing or photography one can spend an hour there. In the Karabağlar village, small businesses operate sporadically, so you can purchase water and snacks from Nakhchivan.