Agdam was a city in Southern Azerbaijan before it was abandoned during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in the 1990s. Today it is a ghost town.
Understand
Today Agdam, which bustled with life more than 20 years ago, is completely deserted and in ruins. Azeris hail it their Hiroshima as it was largely wasted when they lost it to Armenian forces during the war which saw the Azeri loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was handed back to Azerbaijani control on 20 November 2020.
Get in
Get around
Tall weeds makes visibility difficult during parts of the year. Try to locate the minarets of the Agdam Mosque and walk towards them. Climb to the top of a minaret in order to better orient yourself.
See
The Agdam Mosque was one of the few buildings not destroyed during the siege. The bottom floors are inhabited by cattle, but you can escape the stench by climbing a terrifying flight of stairs to the top of one of the minarets. From the top of the minaret you will have an opportunity to see most of the abandoned city. A must do.
An old mural on the side of a building a few hundred meters from the mosque is a reminder of the city's once vibrant past. Difficult to find, but don't miss it.
Do
Buy
Eat
Unless offered food/drinks by one of the friendly Armenian families that picnics here, there will be nowhere to get supplies. Water can be obtained from the guards at the police checkpoint.
Drink
Sleep
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