All the following can be found in Iğdır: a traditional nomadic way of life in the unspoilt nature of the highland plateaux (yayla), terrain that is suitable for many outdoor pursuits including mountain-biking anId horse riding, nesting grounds for many types of birds that are not found elsewhere in Turkey, the places mentioned in the tales of the famous Turkish story-teller Dede Korkut, and, climbing impressively into the sky, the snow-capped peaks of Mount Agrı. This is the second highest volcanic peak in the world and the highest mountain in Europe plus it is the mountain on which Noah’s Ark came to rest after the Great Flood which is mentioned in various Holy Scriptures. You can experience everything that Iğdır has to offer by spending a few days here.
CULTURAL CROSSROADS
Iğdır has borders with three different countries which makes it one of the most unusual places in the world. From the same vantage point you can see different civilisations and different cultures, albeit from a distance. The Aras River doesn’t just form the border of the province but is also the border of the country. Mount Ağrı, which rises in the south of the province, marks the border with another country: Iran. Turkey’s most eastern extreme, the Plain of Dil, is within the province’s borders. Thus Igdir more than deserves the title “cultural crossroads”. In fact, an examination of the thousands of years of history in the province, demonstrates that it has been home to many civilisations and it is possible to find the remains, in the form of cultural works, of various civilisations at different places in Iğdır.
Even if the historical past of the city goes back much further, the first civilisation we find evidence of is that of the Urartu. The Urartian state covered much of eastern Anatolia and they founded cities here. At Sürmeli Çukuru there is a place called Karakale where there are remains that have survived to the present day and which were built on top of an Urartu city. Other civilisations which left a still visible cultural mark on Iğdır province are the Seljuks and Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu states. Although they did not exist for very long, the Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu states bequeathed to the local cultural heritage tomb stones and monumental tombs that can be seen today. And the Seljuks left behind the caravanserais which were used for accommodation of the merchants on the historic Silk Road.
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
Frequently in the Iğdır Plain you come across ram-headed tombstones; as well as their mystical significance these also throw light on the Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu periods. Especially in Karakoyunlu district, which is named after one of these civilisations, we can understand, because of the number of ram-headed tombstones we encounter there, that it was important for them to exalt their heroes and keep their memory fresh for ever. Every single ancient cemetery is also an open air museum and the vast number of ram-headed tombstones encountered in them are also historical documents of social life that tells us about the Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu culture. It is possible to work out the profession of every person buried there by the symbols engraved on their tombstones.
It is not surprising that such locations were chosen for eternal rest as they have great views of Mount Ağrı and the Aras River. And for this reason there are other important historical remains and tomb sites near to these tombstones. The first of these sites is the Gödekli Kümbeti situated 15km from Aralık district in an out of the way place chosen for its peacefulness. Opposite the entrance to this monumental tomb are three tombstones two of which are blue-coloured. The inscriptions on these tombs help explain who were the occupants that chose for themselves this monumental tomb for their endless sleep.
The monumental tomb called Kul Yusuf Kümbeti, with its precise dimensions in its east to west walls that hardly deviate and are very straight, is found in the Village of Çakırtaş close to the centre. There is an inscription above the entrance of the monument from which we learn that it was built in 1485 for an individual called Kul Yusuf and architecturally, it has all the characteristics of the Akkoyunlu period.
Iğdır is located at the intersection of the roads to Batum, Tebriz, Tiflis and Erivan which were among the most important cities on the historic Silk Road. Amongst the ruins dating from the Silk Road you will encounter the Harmandoven Caravanserai. It welcomed caravans travelling between Batum and Tebriz for hundred of years and was built in the 12th C. A.D. during the Seljuk period. It is notable especially for its fine stone decoration above the entrance.
We have already noted that Igdir is remarkable for the number of civilisations to which it has been home. Just as it is possible to see evidence of these different civilisations in different places it is sometimes possible to see signs of all the different civilisations in a single building. This is best seen in some of the castles that you come across in the province. Built to overlook and defend the trade routes below these castles were not used by just one civilisation but rather they served every civilisation that settled in Iğdır.
One of these castles is the Iğdır Castle (Igdir Fort) situated on the northern slopes of Mount Agrı in the district of Aralık. It was conquered by by the Seljuk Sultan Melikshah and his famous vizier, Nizamülmülk. It was subsequently taken by Tamerlane during his Anatolian campaign. The story goes that Tamerlane had all the castle doors removed and that he decreed that no doors should ever be constructed for the castle. Even though the walls of the castle are now in ruins it is still clear just how big an area this fortress covered. The remains of buildings of various purposes inside are worth noticing. Another belief is that the castle was inhabited until the 17th C. When it was destroyed by a great earthquake the survivors moved to the west and laid the foundations of today’s Iğdır.
Another castle in the province is Kara Kale which can be found in the ruins of a city founded by the first settlers of the region, the Urartians, in Surmeli Çukuru. This castle was conquered by the Seljuk Sultan Melikshah and his vizier, Nizamulmulk. Situated close to the River Aras it was the setting for many battles and continued to be much valued by many civilisations as a point of defence. After the Seljuks the castle passed to Tamerlane and later still was under the sovereignty of the Karakoyunlu state. Its location, Surmeli, is believed to be the first city established by Noah’s descendants after the flood. Although the walls of the castle have been destroyed by earthquakes you can still make and explore the boundaries of the castle.
Iğdır Cuisine
The most famous dish of Iğdır is bozbaş made from lamb shank to a special local recipe. Along with this should be mentioned the tasty local speciality taş köfte (a local meatball dish) and yoghurt soup with ingredients such as spinach, parsley and rice. As these dishes are not found outside of the Igdir region we strongly recommend that you give them a try.
Climate
Because the IğdırPlain and its environs are set in a basin surrounded by mountains the region has its own “micro climate”. Generally there is a decrease in temperature as you go from east to west. In the winter, excluding the periodic extremely cold snaps, the region is generally milder than the surrounding areas. The semi arid climate seen in Iğdır makes it one of the places in Turkey that has the least rainfall.
Annual Average Temperature: 11.6
Hottest Month August : 41.8
Coldest Month December : -30.3
Transport
It is only possible to reach Iğdır from the surrounding provinces and countries by road. There are not presently any railways or airports. Just as there are road connections in Igdir to the areas of Kars, Erzurum and Doğubayazıt there are routes to the neighbouring countries of Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Iğdır to Dogubayazit road that crosses the Pamuk Gediği Pass is 52 km long. This road connects Iğdır to Gurbulak Border Gate and via Çaldıran to Van and Agrı. The distance from Igdir to Kars is 130 km. It is possible to reach, going via the Kars road, Artvin, Hopa and the Black Sea Coast. The distance between Igdir and Erzurum is 280 km.
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