EXPLORE THE WORLD: Guba

Showing posts with label Guba. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Quba; an Historic City of Azerbaijan

Quba, Azerbaijan

Quba (also, Kuba, Guba and Kuwa; Lezgin: Куба́ Judæo-Tat: Qybə / Гъуьбэ / קאובּא) (Urdu: قوبا) is a city in and the capital of the Quba Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 38,100. The city’s suburb of Qırmızı Qəsəbə (formerly in Russian: Krasnaya Sloboda, English: Red Town) is the home of Azerbaijan's largest community of Mountain Jews and considered as one of the largest communities of Jews in the former-Soviet Union.

History:

Guba (Quba) city originated from the riverside village of Gudial. In the mid-18th century, after moving his residence from Khudat, Hussain Ali became Quba’s Khan and raised fortress walls around the city. He thereafer attempted to create a state separate from other Azerbaijani khanates. Nevertheless, Quba khanate, the same as other khanates, was occupied by Russia in the early 19th century and annexed by the Russian Empire under the agreement of 1913.

Guba Mass Grave Memorial Complex in Quba

Guba mass grave:

In May 1918, an event similar to the March Days occurred in the Guba, where Dashnak detachment, under the command of Hamazasp Srvantsyan, arrived from Baku following Armenian Bolshevist communist politician Stepan Shahumyan's order. According to the investigative commission formed by the Government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Hamazasp's unit burned and destroyed the city of Quba and killed at least 122 people.

In 2007, during the construction of a stadium, builders discovered a mass grave. Azerbaijani studies claim that the human remains found there were local residents of various nationalities, including Jews and Lezgins, who had been massacred in 1918. To date, 600 human remains have been found, including about 50 children and 100 women.

Economy:

Quba has enjoyed strong economic growth over the last decade, much of it spurred by tourism and the construction industry.

Juma Masjid in Quba, Azerbaijan

Main sights:

Juma Masjid:

This masjid was erected in the 19th century and constructed in typical Quba province style masajid. Inside of the masjid there is a big hall crowned with a huge 16 m diameter dome.

Sakina-Khanum Masjid:

Sakina-Khanum Masjid was built in 1854 by the widow of Abbasgulu Bakikhanov. The mosque was built from red bricks and is similar to faceted cylinder. Each facet has a window in the form of a semicircular arch. The top of the facade is surrounded by an original eaves made from small bricks. From top this stately building is crowned with a big white metal dome in the shape of a multi-faceted helmet. The top of the dome is decorated by a graceful thin spike.

Old Hamam:

Not far from the Juma Masjid is an old hamam. The hamam is unique in its beehive shaped dome made of brick. The hamam is no longer operational but proves to be an interesting stop on any walking tour.

Sac, a traditional meal in Quba's cuisine

Culture:

Cuisine:

Quba's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history. Quba’s signature cuisine includes Quba tıxması, spicy kebab, sac and tandir kebab.

Education:

There are seven public schools in Quba. Eleven years education in the schools and consists of primary, secondary and high school stages. There are also private schools in Quba the most wellknown of which is Quba Private Turkish High School. All villages have their own schools.

Transportation:

Main transports to Quba are buses from Baku International Bus Terminal. The buses start to travel at 8:00 a.m every day in 1 hour intervals. Taxi is also available from Baku to Quba anytime. There are also buses from neighbour towns (Khachmaz, Qusar, Shabran, Khudat). Transportation inside Guba from center to villages and different regions is performed by buses, minibuses and taxi, which are available every day.

Notable natives:

Mir Jafar Baghirov, political activist

Farhad Veliyev, footballer

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Guba, Azerbaijan; Image Gallery

Bank in Guba

A Masjid in Guba

Beautiful View of Guba

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Quba Mass Grave (Genocid Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan)

Guba mass grave is a grave site discovered in 2007 during the construction of a stadium in the town of Guba, in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani sources allege that it is the mass grave of Azeri, Jewish and Lezgi civilians killed by Armenian Dashnaks and Bolsheviks during the March days of 1918. Hayk Demoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, has pointed out that no foreign experts have examined the human remains, and that no documentary or archival evidence has been presented that mentions a massacre of Muslims having taken place in Guba.

Once the burial site was uncovered, a forensic expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was formed and sent to the location. On April 13, 2007, the first forensics report was released. According to the report, the preponderance of commingled skeletal remains suggests that the people were first executed and then thrown into the wells, 2.5 to 5 meters deep. The deepest wells had hundreds of human remains. The first finds reported 137 skeletons.

The archeological excavation works covered more than 500 sq miles and were completed on September 5, 2008. Gahraman Agayev, the leader of the forensic expedition, reported that two main wells and two canals with human bones were uncovered. The finds indicate that 24 skulls were of children, 28 were of women of various ages. Besides ethnic Azerbaijanis, there were also Jews and Lezgis. The names of 81 massacred Jewish civilians were found and confirmed.

In 2008 Lluís Maria De Puig, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, visited this mass cemetery commemorating the massacre and said that he was horrified. Members of the Diplomatic Academy of Germany, a Kuwaiti government delegation as well as students from Oman, Yemen, Pakistan, Belarus, India, Israel, Korea and Turkey.

Construction of a museum at the site of the mass grave is being planned. An initial amount of 1 million Azerbaijani manat (AZN) will be allocated for the construction.