The geographical position, unique climate, fauna and flora, and the ancient cultural monuments of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic lead the auspicious development of tourism. The natural and historical monuments of the memory of centuries - Momina Khatun, Garabaghlar, Yusif ibn Kuseyir, Gulustan tombs, the 800-year Eastern plane tree preserved for centuries, farrier and mulberry trees, and the first historic settlement of the ancient people - Gamigaya, Kilit cave, the Alinja castle as a symbol of grandeur and invincibility of these territories, the grandiose Ilandagh, Babek castle with unexampled natural monuments, Goy-gol, Ashabi-Kahf and other hundreds of works of arts make the unique tourism potential for Nakhchivan. Also, more than 250 mineral water resources entail great opportunities for the development of tourism.

Nevertheless, as a strategic region of former Soviet Union the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic bordering with Turkey and Iran was not allowed to develop its tourism. Just because of this reason this important sector is newly being developed. As the economic and political obstacles of the initial period of independence are overcome, the tourism potential and its development have turned out to be urgent issue. In recent years, many have done to improve the infrastructure facilities. To this end, resort parks laid out with national and modern architectural methods and spring-monument complexes were opened for public, the modern hotels were constructed, new monuments were erected and ancient architectural monuments were restored. Furthermore, unique Duzdagh and Badamli physiotherapy hospitals and Daridagh arsenic water dispensary were modernly reestablished. Simultaneously, all facilities for diagnosis, treatment and rest were established in Duzdagh Sanatorium Complex which was given into usage after ceremonial opening in June 2008.

In 2006, an international conference entitled "Tourism, Development and Perspectives" was held in Nakhchivan. It was a successful pace for the development of tourism sector in the autonomous republic and contributed to the workout of new projects.

International conference on "Religious and Health Tourism: Organization of Spiritual and Physical Rest" held in May 2008 with participation of the representatives from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference was of special importance to propagate tourism potential and facilities of the autonomous republic.

In Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic the historical monuments reflecting the religious and national features, motley scenes of nature, fresh climate, mineral waters and relevant sanatorium dispensaries pave the way for not only ecotourism but also ethnic and religious tourism.

Historical Monuments

Gamigaya Drawings

Gapijig mountain (3904 m), the highest top of the Minor Caucasus, was named as Gamigaya by people due to the outward similarity. Gamigaya, one of the holy pantheons of the ancient world, astonishes people with its lofty and fantastic appearance. There are many drawings on the rock - pictograms belonging to the III-I millenniums. The rest of settlement points of Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan) families were discovered in the Garangush mountain on which the drawings on rocks were engraved. And the Gamigaya-Garangush mountain was determined to be main dwelling for hunting of ancient Nakhchivanis. Afterwards, these places became the dwelling for summer pasture in mountains of the families once lived in the bank of Araz as well as Nakhchivanchay, Alinjachay, Gilanchay valleys. The descriptions such as drawings of men and various animals (goat, deer, bull, dog, leopard, wolf, bird, etc.), scene of goat-hunting with bow-arrow, separate signs and others were engraved during that period. Animal drawings were described as one by one, pair and herd. Most of them are goat drawings. Gamigaya drawings can be differed from one another on the basis of simple and complex compositions as well as their plots. The bull drawings are of realist-style, and the horns are long and bow-shaped. There are ox-yoked cart descriptions as well. On the other hand, the human drawings are presented through complete scenes. Some human drawings are fantastically depicted. The hunting and dancing scenes in which the hunters were armed with arrow and bow, noose, etc. attract the attention. Very interesting pictographic symbolical signs - circles, square, triangle, and etc. were engraved in Gamigaya. Similar signs are in some other places of Nakhchivan such as Kultapa, too.

The comparative analysis of Gamigaya drawings with similar monuments leads to solid scientific conclusions regarding the spiritual culture and art of ancient people of Azerbaijan, and shows that they belong to Nakhchivan culture of descriptive art of ancient Azerbaijan.

Alinjagala

Alinjagala is a symbol of grandeur and bellicosity of this land having unique nature. The castle, first of all, astonishes people with its extraordinary appearance. Castle walls starting from the feet of Alinja mountain rise upwards as steps and entirely cover the top of mountain. Spanish diplomat Rui Gonzales Klavikho, the envoy of Castilian king III Enrique in Teymurs state during 1403-1406, depicted Alinjagala as such: "Alinjagala, situating on high and precipitous mountain, is surrounded with several walls and towers. There are vineyards, orchards, cornfields, pastures, springs and ponds within the walls and the lower parts of mountain slopes. The castle is located on the top of mountain".

There are different opinions about the construction of the castle. Some historians think that it is 2 thousand-year castle. Alinja is depicted as strong fortress in "Kitab-i Dada Gorgud" epos as well. There is sufficient information about the castle in the works of many historians, namely Asoghik (928-1019), Nasavi (XIII c.), Sharafaddin Ali Yazdi (XV c.), Turkish traveler Evliya Chalabi (XVII c.) and others.

Alinja castle was the centre of resistance movement against the mighty monarchs. Especially, the resistance against Amr Teymur in 1386-1401 is significant. Teymur had kept the castle under siege for 14 years, and was able to take control just after the internal conflict. At present, Alinjagala is deemed as a symbol of bellicosity and heroism.

Ashabi-Kahf

Ashabi Kahf, which literally means the "cave people" in Arabic, is a religious place for pilgrimage. It is located 12 km far away from Nakhchivan city in natural cave between Ilandagh and Nahajir dagh. According to legend in 9-26 ayahs of "Kahf" ("Cave") surah, the youth who wanted to get rid of the prosecution enter the cave together with the dog, Allah made them asleep, woke them up three hundred of years later, and then they come across several unusual happenings. The legend spread in Nakhchivan is almost the same. Even if there are such caves in Minor Asia and Palestine as well experts underline the substantial difference of the cave in Nakhchivan and estimate it as genuine Ashabi Kahf. Thousands of people visit this place during a year. In recent years the restoration works are held here, the conditions are improved for pilgrims, and the mosques are built.

Momina Khatun Mausoleum

The monument erected by architect Ajami Nakhchivani in 1186 for the honor of Momina khatun, wife of the founder of Azerbaijan Atabaylar state, Shamsaddin Eldaniz, is situated in Nakhchivan city. Momina Khatun tomb, one of the magnificent monuments of Azerbaijan national architecture, is one of the unique samples of Oriental architecture. With the total height of 34 m, the tomb consists of the surface and underground (sardaba) parts. The sardaba part is of ten-pointed shape. According to some researchers, Shamsaddin Eldaniz, the founder of Atabaylar state, his wife Momina khatun and his son Muhammad Jahan Pahlevan were buried in this sardaba. With its original structure sardaba holds rich artistic arrangement. Arcs are made from the central column to each of the corners. The same structure of the tomb lately was used in gothic architecture in the Western world. The outside of the tomb is of ten-pointed shape (each point surrounded with inscriptions), but it is round inside. Inside the dome of the tomb, there are four round medallions with the names of the caliphs. On the head of the monument the following words are written: "We are going, and only wind is left. We die, and only the work is kept". The tomb had been more enriched comparing to former periods thanks to the turquoise glazed bricks included into composition with complex geometrical ornaments. The tomb is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the Middle Age architectural art thanks to the composition, completeness, delicate details and etc. Unfortunately, monumental buildings, grandiose Jama mosque, schools, madrasaas and other buildings at the nearby of Momina Khatun tomb have not been reached to our time.

Yusif ibn Kuseyr Tomb

This architectural monument located in Nakhchivan city is also called as Atababa tomb. On the epitaph of the tomb, it was written that the tomb was built by the architect Ajami Nakhchivani in 1162, and the name of the person who buried there is Yusif ibn Kuseyr. The ayahs (sentences) from Koran are written on the wall of the monument. The tomb consists of underground and eight-pointed surface. The underground is the tomb sardaba, and the surface is of monumental type like memorial monument. The space between these settings forming the rack of building (surfaces of the tomb) was covered with geometrical-ornamental layers, and various ornaments were put on the surface. The ornaments are made of small bricks, and were fixed to the surfaces by means of cement substances. The western surface of the tomb was made up as head-vault as different from other surfaces. Ornamental composition of the building is harmonious with architectural forms. The internal dome of double roof of the monument is pyramid-shaped. To sum up, the tomb is highly artistic architectural specimen thanks to its composition, tectonic clarity, symmetrical parts and the level of engineering.

Gulustan Tomb

Being located near the Gulustan village of Julfa district, the tomb was erected in early XIII century. The tomb is considered as one of the tower-shaped tombs of Azerbaijan. 12-faced frame of the tomb is made up with red sand and its original-shaped plinth (cube-shaped with corners cut) with planed stone. The plinth burial places at other mausoleums are located under the ground; here both levels are located above the ground. The sardaba of Gulustan tomb, distinct from other tombs of Azerbaijan, is located above the ground (on the plinth). Surfaces of the tomb are adorned with engraved geometrical ornaments and framed with decorative vaults. The part of body joining with base as well as the link to dome is surrounded by engraved girdle. The organic combination and connection of ornaments with other decorative elements serves for salient and elastic appearance of the monument.

Garabaghlar Tomb

The tomb is included into the architectural complex of Garabaghlar village in Kangarli district. Apart from Garabaghlar tomb there are also two minarets and religious building pieces between them. Since the name of Guti khatun, wife of Hulaki khan of Elkhani state, is on the head-vault, the tomb is supposed to be built for the honor of Guti khatun.

There are fundamental features of tower-shaped tombs on Garabaghlar tomb consisting of sardaba and surface parts. 12-semi-cylindrical protuberance uniting as a cluster on stone plinth makes the surface composition of the tomb. The protuberances pay the fortress-grandeur to the tomb as well as reduce the general size of the wall.

12-corner underground sardaba of the Garabaghlar tomb is stony, and the domes are made of brick. The surface is covered with red and turquoise glazed tile, and adorned with geometric-ornamental inscriptions. The inscription girdle on the top of tomb was trimmed by naskh handwriting. The inscription is white on the background of blue glazed tile. The Garabaghlar tomb is 4-head-vaulty in terms of composition feature. These vaults make the tomb 4-facade placing on the north, south, west and east. The surface of these vaults is covered with glazed tile, and is adorned with geometrical ornaments.

Sanatorium-type Recovery Centers

Duzdagh Physiotherapy Hospital

The hospital was established on the basis of ancient salt mines near the Boyukduz village of Kangarli rayon in 1979. The bronchial asthma (respiratory diseases) and other nonspecific lung-bronchial system diseases are treated here. Weather temperature is 19-20°C and humidity varies between 23-35 percent in this underground treatment center. Oxygen is 20 percent between salt layers of Underground Duzdagh Physiotherapy Hospital locating 1173 m above sea-level. In fact, abundant minerals and chemicals within the salt have positive effect on organism. In 2003, up-to-date restoration works were carried out in underground section of the hospital, and this section was enlarged and provided with modern equipment. In June 2008, very modern 5-star hotel started functioning on the bottom of salt mountains. All facilities have been served for guests in the hotel.

Daridagh Balneological Hospital

It was established on the basis of Daridagh mineral water mine at the outskirts of Julfa city in 1978. Various heart-vein system diseases, some other body parts, nervous system, skin, gynecological and etc. diseases, and anemia are treated.

Badamli Physiotherapy Hospital

It was established in 1980 on the basis of Badamli mineral water deposit located on the 1274 m above sea-level. Some kind of diseases of the stomach-intestinal, urethra and liver are treated at hospital.

Batabat climate health resort

 Batabat is a vulnerary climate health resort zone on the slope of the Minor Caucasus at 1,700 m above sea-level. The climate is subtropics, and it has snowy, mild winter and dry, not so hot summer. Alongside climate conditions, there are plenty of water sources with carbonate, hydro-carbonate, calcium-sodium-magnesium, and 0.5-g/l mineralization level. The Batabat water is used during the treatment of stomach-intestinal diseases. Its lake-view appearance with mild climate, fresh water and the rich flora particular to alpine grasslands positively affects the human organism.

Gomur resort zone

Gomur, the highland climate station, is located at 1,700 m above sea-level in 75-km far from Nakhchivan city. Quite rich mineral water resources with carbonate, salt-alkali composition have been discovered here. The climate is mild-cold, and winter is soft and summer is cool. Gomur resort zone is particularly useful for the functional diseases of nervous system, and weariness, stomach-intestinal and respiratory diseases.