Aghdam district was established in 1930. The word of “Aghdam” means “small castle” in ancient Turkish. In the early days, the Turkic-speaking tribes who lived in this area mainly constructed small fortresses to defend themselves. Aghdam region is located in the center of Karabakh – in the north-eastern foothills of the Karabakh mountain range and west of the Kur-Araz lowland which is the ancient and charming land of Azerbaijan. The climate of this region is mainly temperate hot and dry subtropical. As the altitude increases in the foothills, the climate becomes milder.
Tomb of Gutlu Musa
A valuable example of the Elkhanids’ memorial architecture has survived in Khachin Turbatli village of the Agdam Region. A construction inscription above the front door of this site, popularly called “Sari Musa Tomb”, says “Master Shahbenzeri has built this tomb for the deceased Gutlu Khaja Musa Oglu, who needs Allah’s mercy”. By this inscription, the the construction of the tomb was completed on July 15, 1314.
Most probably, the tomb of the person, who was an influential figure of Azerbaijan’s historical Khachin district, has determined the village’s name.
Palace of Panahali Khan
The palace known under this name used to be near Agdam City and has only survived as ruins. It consists of two structures. The complex is supposed to have more buildings initially. It was built in the early years after Panahali Khan left the service for Nadir Shah in Khorasan in 1738 and started creating the Karabakh Khanate.
The perpendicular buildings of the palace were not like a Khan’s luxurious headquarter, but resembled the houses of the 18th century’s Karabakh rich. Their facades used to face the yards.
Most of the territory of the district was under the occupation of Armenian forces as the result of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in the early 1990s. As part of an agreement that ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War the city of Agdam and the surrounding district was returned to Azerbaijani control on 20 November 2020
