Nagorno-Karabakh

Advertisement

Introducing Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enigma wrapped up inside the Caucasus. It is a ‘country’ recognised by no-one. Though legally within Azerbaijan, it's populated almost entirely by Armenians following the brutal and as-yet-unresolved war of the early 1990s. Even the name is something of a mystery, being made up from words of three different languages: nagorno means mountainous in Russian, kara means black in Turkish and bakh means garden in Persian. To confuse things further, the locals refer to their region as Artsakh.

Advertisement

While there exist many questions about Nagorno-Karabakh and its political status, the beauty and cultural richness of this remote mountain landscape are undeniable. Up steep cliffs, wedged into narrow valleys and hidden in remote forests are hundreds of moss-covered churches and monasteries, and while most of them are abandoned, a few are being renovated and reopened.

The war of the early 1990s left deep scars across the landscape, but the people are moving on, rebuilding their country stone by stone. Travel here is still an adventure, involving bad roads, special permits and military-occupied no-go zones, but rapidly improving infrastructure means better hotels, restaurants and facilities in the main tourist areas. Karabakhi hospitality makes wading through the challenges a joy, even in difficult times.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. TylerBruce avatar
    RE: Photography in Nagorno Karabakh

    by TylerBruce 04 September 2011

    Not sure if you've left or not for I'm in goris Armenia having just spent 5 days there. I'd definitely get a visa especially if you…
  2. Sikario avatar
    Help with some Armenian phrases?

    by Sikario 30 August 2011

    I would be hugely grateful if any of the Armenian speakers here on lonely-planet could help me with some phrases that I think will come…
  3. ciarano avatar
    Abkhazia

    by ciarano 29 August 2011

    Hi, Despite the LP downgrading it to a couple of pages I think this quasi-country should have its own thread.

See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Nagorno-Karabakh

In our shop

Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.

See all books in our shop

Travel Insurance

Going to Azerbaijan? Make sure you're covered.

Get a quote

See all travel services

Advertisement