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Nagorno-Karabakh: A War Zone worth Visiting?
It's not so often that one hears about travel to Nagorno-Karabakh. After all, this was hell on earth during the 1990s when regional conflict ripped it apart as Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for control of this parcel of land--a predominantly Armenian enclave located in Azerbaijan.
I'd like to say that everything has been resolved and that peace has settled in the disputed region, but this is simply not true. Armenia technically won the war, but there are constant rumblings from neighboring Azerbaijan that the issue is far from dead.
Currently, there is peace in Nagorno-Karabakh. Is this a temporary peace between wars? Who knows? But if you want to visit, now would be a good time.
Yasha Levine, writing for The Exile did so last summer and sheds some interesting insights on the conflict and the present mindset dominating the region. Most importantly, he also reveals a stunning landscape that I had always envisioned as extraordinarily desolate. I'll leave you with a nice quote describing what he came across and if you get out of it what I got out of it, Nagorno-Karabakh just might be bumped up your list of future travel plans.
"Nagorno-Karabakh was worth fighting for. The place is like a condensed version of the best scenery of Northern California and the Sierra Nevadas put together: 6,000 ft mountains, rolling golden-sunburned pastures, sandstone hills, steep limestone cliffs, and mountain streams."
Filed under: History, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
R. May 5th 2007 2:42PM
Nagorno Karabakh or Artsakh as the Armenians call it is indeed a beautiful place and it is a safe place to visit and worth a trip from Yerevan (its about a 6 hour drive). We visited 4 years ago with our family and found the people very welcoming. The Gandsasar monastery is a must see
See the indispensable Armeniapedia web site www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenia_Travel_and_Tourism
Try Asbar Tours www.asbar.nk.am for tours in Karabakh. The best guide book is the 2006 edition of the Stone Garden Guide to Armenia and Karabakh by Matthew Karanian and Robert Kurkjian.
Neil May 5th 2007 2:44PM
Thanks for the tips, R! It's nice to know that others have been there for tourism. It sounds like a great place.
Neil
Raffi Kojian May 6th 2007 3:35PM
A two week trek will be fully marked by the end of this year, to allow visitors to explore the small republic on foot, and interact with the locals better. The website is up (though not finished yet) at http://www.janapar.org - the first 4 days hike will be marked by the end of this month!
Raf May 31st 2007 11:28PM
I'm not sure how safe it really is. Are you sure there is no danger?
Raf May 31st 2007 11:32PM
Do you have any other pictures from your visit to Karabakh? I only found the picture on your site www.raffikojian.blogspot.com and would like to see more of them of this type. It's very cool what you are doing there and I would like to join you.
Raf May 31st 2007 11:33PM
Do you have any more pictures from your visit to Karabakh? I like the ones you have posted on your site at www.raffikojian.blogspot.com
Emin Jun 27th 2007 1:49AM
If you look up Armenian dictionaries, you cannot find the definition of Karabakh, because the word is in Azerbaijanian language and means Black Garden ("Kara=Black" "Bakh=Garden")
Karabakh is an ancient Azerbaijan land, one of the first centres of civilisation. This is confirmed by archaeological findings in caves Azykh, Taglar, etc.
In old times Karabakh was a part of Caucasian Albania - old Azerbaijan state populated mainly by Turks-Azeris and Caucasian tribes.
Currently occupied by Armenia. Azerbaijanian government still tries to resolve the conflict, and return its lands with the support of numerous United Nations' resolutions. As two sides approeaching the final stage of the negotiations, Armenian side is setting fires in Karabakh, to burn everything before they leave.
To be honest, I dont believe that Karabakh is safe to travel now, because any problems with ongoing negotiations can result in war and make Karabakh a battlefield once again.
EminMDUSA Jun 25th 2007 3:23AM
If you look up Armenian dictionaries, you cannot find the definition of Karabakh, because the word is in Azerbaijanian language and means Black Garden ("Kara=Black" "Bakh=Garden")
Karabakh is an ancient Azerbaijan land, one of the first centres of civilisation. This is confirmed by archaeological findings in caves Azykh, Taglar, etc.
In old times Karabakh was a part of Caucasian Albania - old Azerbaijan state populated mainly by Turks-Azeris and Caucasian tribes.
Currently occupied by Armenia. Azerbaijanian government still tries to resolve the conflict, and return its lands with the support of numerous United Nations' resolutions. As two sides approeaching the final stage of the negotiations, Armenian side is setting fires in Karabakh, to burn everything before they leave.
To be honest, I dont believe that Karabakh is safe to travel now, because any problems with ongoing negotiations can result in war and make Karabakh a battlefield once again.
anonymous Jul 8th 2007 12:22AM
Regarding the previous statement; I was just recently in Karabakh and I know as a fact that there was no burning of anything. I am not Armenian but see the Armenian cause no different from that of Kosovo. It may be my "American Ignorance", however it seems that after some heavy research, Azerbaijan seems to have started the war, and that up until 1992 or 93 the Armenians were simply trying to keep Azeri and soviet forces from looting and pillaging their homes.
This opinion is only from a novice of the war and I know little but what I researched and learned in Karbakh and would love to hear the perspective of the previous commentator.
Also from what I have read, you are correct regarding the Caucasian Albanians who lived in the area, however the area was under Armenian or Persian control for hundreds of years at a time. And from what I have seen in karbakh there seems to only be beautiful churches however bombed out they are. I witnessed very little evidence of Azerbaijani presence there.
Oh and Lastly yes Karabakh is safe to travel to there is nothing to fear regarding your safety.