Khinalig village

Perched at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres in the mountainous Quba district, the village of Khinalig is regarded as one of the oldest settlements not only in Azerbaijan but in the entire Caucasus. Its inhabitants, known as the Khinalig people, speak their own distinct language and preserve customs and traditions that set them apart from neighbouring regions.

The village is distinguished by an architectural style adapted to the rugged terrain. Houses are built in stepped formations, rising one above another, with the roof of one dwelling often serving as the courtyard for the next. This layout reflects both adaptation to the harsh climate and the efficient use of limited space.

In and around Khinalig, visitors encounter ancient necropolises dating back millennia, historic mosques and mausoleums, mills, early water supply systems, spring structures and caves regarded as sacred. The village has preserved its medieval neighbourhood layout to this day.

It is therefore no coincidence that, in 2007, the territory of Khinalig was designated a State Historical, Architectural and Ethnographic Reserve.

One of Khinalig’s defining features is the preservation of its seasonal pastoral traditions, including the ancient practice of migration between summer and winter pastures. During the summer months, residents graze livestock on the subalpine meadows of the nearby Caucasus Mountains; in winter, they move to pastures located some 200 kilometres away.

In recognition of this extensive cultural heritage, the protected area was expanded in 2023 and redesignated as the “Khinalig and Migration Route” State Historical, Cultural and Ethnographic Reserve. In the same year, taking into account its outstanding universal value, the entire cultural landscape was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.