Distance from Baku

325 km

Population

77,5 thsd person

How to get to

Bus: Scheduled bus Lankaran-Lerik, Baku-Lerik -9 hours

High in the Talysh mountains, where you can touch the sky by hand is one of the most picturesque corners of Azerbaijan – Lerik district. A Caucasian Talysh ethnic group lives here. Lerik ideally fits those tourists who want to be away from civilization, to have a breath of fresh mountain air and enjoy the view of the majestic mountains, rapid rivers and noisy waterfalls. Lerik is reasonably reputed as a homeland of long-livers. Probably the only museum of long-livers in the world where documents related to life of several dozens of long-livers from this area who have lived more than a century is located here. And the oldest villager Shirali Muslimov at the time of death in 1973 was 168. Currently in this district live dozens of people stepped over century mark and still are capable of working. The oldest resident of Azerbaijan also lives in Lerik. He is already 115 years old and has 8 children, 80 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.
Popular natural recreational zones in Lerik are Byulyudyul (20 km from the centre of the district) and Zyarigala (17 km). There are springs with delicious water there.. In the woods and along the banks of Lerik river are all conditions for hunting wild boar, hare, fox, grouses and ducks. Leopards live in hard of access parts of mountain forests. Currently a research program for conservation of this rare animal is in progress.
In addition to the unique nature this region has always been famous for its original culture and ancient history. A cave station where Stone Age people lived (called “Giz Yurdu”) has been found near mountain village Mistan at an altitude of 2430 m. An ancient inscriptions on rocks near which there were traces of ancient buildings have been discovered in Orand highland.
There are numerous historical monuments in this district.

Among the main attractions of Lerik are the following: mausoleum of Khoja Sayyid in the village Khanagah (XIV century); the mosque of XIX century in the village Lyulyukyaran; ancient settlement “Giz Yurdu” near Mistan village at an altitude of 2430 m; the mausoleum of Baba Hassan at the village Jonu; the mausoleum of Baba Isa in Mondigah village; mausoleum of Pir Yusif at the Kekonu village; mausoleum of Jabir (XII – XIV centuries) located on the road from Lerik to Dzhengemiran village. Stone statues of rams are preserved in many villages.
There is a mausoleum of Khalif Zakariya near Dzhengemiran village. Old trees as well as historical monuments are protected in this village. The famous French writer Alexandre Dumas visited the village during his trip to the Caucasus and saw the sights of the ancient monuments and talked with villagers. It was told about the woman from this village in one of the works of Dumas.
You can learn more about the history of the region by visiting regional museum in Lerik.

The following crafts are developed in this district: carpet weaving, manufacturing of various household objects made of wood and pottery. The local feature of the carpet weaving is that carpets are woven not on a vertical loom but on a horizontal one, laid out right on the floor.
You can stay in Lerik in houses of local residents and in numerous resorts located along the road from Lenkaran to Lerik, the most popular of which are the “Relax” hotel and resort, “Shelale” and “Meshachi”. You can have some snacks, lunches, or just simply delicious food in Lerik in numerous snack bars and kebabhanas, the most popular of which is the restaurant “Khayal”. Here in pleasant ambience you can enjoy traditional Azerbaijani dishes and to take some rest.
By the way, the famous film clip “Come on, Good buy” collected millions of viewings on YouTube and which made popular its authors brothers Rustamov was shot in Lerik.