The region of Nagorno-Karabakh is located in between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Internationally it is regarded as a part of Azerbaijan. But de-facto it is an independent state recognized only by Armenia and other unrecognized states of the Caucasian region, viz. Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
It is not possible to enter Artsakh from Azerbaijan, and the only entry to this breakaway South Caucasian micronation is through Armenia.
Historically, Artsakh was one of the provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until 387 AD when it went into the hands of Persian rulers and remained under their rule till the 7th century. For the next two centuries it was under the control of the Arabian Caliphate. In 821 AD it again became part of Armenia and was then known by the name of Principality of Khachen.
In 1000 AD the region for the first time came to be known as the Kingdom of Artsakh and was it was then ruled by the House of Khachen. The region was geographically called by the name of Nagorno-Karabakh. Like many parts of Armenia, this region also faced Turkish invasion from the 11th to 14th centuries but it continued to be ruled by the House of Khachen till the 19th century.
After the Russo-Persian War of early 19th century, it ceded to Imperial Russia. Much later in the 20th century, during the Soviet regime, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was part of the geographical area of Azerbaijan SSR. So when USSR disintegrated, the region was made part of Azerbaijan. But majority of the population of the region comprises of Armenian Christians, while the rest of Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, leading to an ethnic and religious division.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Touriosity Travelmag.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Touriosity Travelmag.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
10 Must Visit Food Streets Of India
India as a country enjoys huge diversity in every aspect, be it in terms of languages, communities, religions, looks of people, geographical terrains, weather conditions, and so on. In such a diverse country it was but natural to have a great diversity of cuisines too. As a result of the diversity of races, communities and religion, the impact of geographical advantages and restrictions and prolonged exposure to various external influences over many centuries, the various regions of the country has been able to develop a unique culinary portfolio. As such there is nothing like Indian Cuisine in general, it is a group of cuisines coming together, viz., South Indian cuisine, Punjabi cuisine, Rajathani cuisine, Goan cuisine, Kashmiri cuisine, Bengali Cuisine, Maharashtrian cuisine and so on. A great way to explore this diverse food portfolio is to visit the local street food markets while visiting different towns and cities across the country. These street food markets are heaven for foodies. They have a character of their own and you are ready to give up the idea of dining in a upmarket restaurant in order to grab that experience of eating amidst all that chaos and being a part of that character for a while.
Darjelling: The Foodies' Paradise
Darjeeling, also known as the Queen of Hills, has a colonial past. Back in the days when Calcutta used to be the capital of the British Raj, Darjeeling happened to be the most coveted hill station for the Gora Sahibs and the Mems. It was only an overnight train from Calcutta, followed by a 12-hour journey on the toy train from Siliguri. Even to date, the place is covered with buildings of the colonial era, which are now occupied by government offices.
A gastronomical trip to Kashmir
Kashmiri cuisine has been influenced by the cuisines of the Mughals, the Arabs and the local style of cooking of the Kashmiri pundits. While most of the signature delicacies of the region are non-vegetarian, there are many interesting vegetarian dishes to try as well. In the non-vegetarian dishes, mutton, chicken or fish is the main ingredient. There is abundant use of spices like cardamom, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and saffron giving the food not only exquisite taste but also rich aroma. In this article we bring to our readers 16 ‘must try’ items from Kashmiri cuisine.
Goan Curries: SEVEN CURRIES TO TRY WHEN YOU'RE IN GOA
Admit it, Goan cuisine is comfort food in itself, hitting all the right notes, while simultaneously bringing all the essential nutrition to the table!
FENI: Goa's Magic Concoction
Come March and every corner of Goa is teeming with the sweet aroma of ripe Cashew apples. Goans get ready to not only roast the cashew nut, but also to brew Goa’s favourite elixirs - Urrack and Feni. While Urrack has a very short shelf life, Feni can be stored and aged for up to 10 years! Just like wine, the more you age the Feni, the pricier it gets. A delicious drink replete with fruity, pungent and earthy aromas, Feni gets at least half of Goa’s population reminiscing nostalgically. It is an emotion stronger than wine or whiskey and it has us and many tourists, swooning over its unbeatable goodness in all its myriad flavours!
Luxury travel In The Deccan Odyssey
Experiences sometimes crystalize into key memories that we can dig into and extract a handful of happiness from - as many times as we wish. And I can close my eyes anytime and let the Deccan Odyssey slide show play.
Dream DESTINATION FOR EVERY BIKER
The sky-high mountain passes of Ladakh, accompanied by the barren landscape, the picturesque views composed of lakes and mountains, and the deserted roads beckon bikers for the experience of a lifetime. It indeed is a dream destination for every biker.
Caravan trip-On the road with a pet
Amit Singh aka Desi Tourist is a travel vlogger who recently made a long caravan trip with his pet pug Popu. The trip was not only rejuvenating because it came after months of staying home during the lockdown, it was also one of realisations about the relation between humans and their best friend – dogs. Team Touriosity loved this idea of a caravan trip, as well as travel with a pet. So we interviewed Amit for an insight into his unique experience. Following are excerpts from the interview:
7 Indian Prisons One Can Visit As A Tourist
If you are looking for a fun-filled vacation, this is not an article to please you. This is for those who like to experiment with new and unique experiences. Spending time behind bars in a dark prison cell, wearing a jail uniform made of khaki and having the basic jail food there, may be a nightmare for most, but adventure enthusiasts are increasingly being drawn to prison tourism of this kind globally. India too has caught up to the race and today there are a few prisons in India which are tourist attractions for various reasons. While some are famous historically, others have interesting museums and yet others provide pay and stay facilities. One does not really need to commit a crime to experience these prisons nor a bail for release.
PRISON TOURS as part of Dark Tourism
One of the first signs of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die. This life appears unbearable, another unattainable. One is no longer ashamed of wanting to die; one asks to be moved from the old cell, which one hates, to a new one, which one will only in time come to hate. In this there is also a residue of belief that during the move the master will chance to come along the corridor, look at the prisoner and say: “This man is not to be locked up again, he is to come with me.” – Franz Kafka in Blue Octavo Notebooks.
