Ismaily

Ismaily being a rather spread out town, located on the road to Sheki, just after Shemakha, Ismailly surprises the foreign visitor for the vast woods surrounding it, not quite the stereotype landscape you grow to expect of Azerbaijan or the southern Caucasus in general! Ismailli is the main town of a large rayon that confines to the north with the Quba rayon. By no means allow some of the grey Soviet buildings in the centre discourage you from visiting or staying a while. The nearby area is quite rich in historic heritage and breathtaking landscapes, inviting for long walks. In the centre near the town hall and the cinema there is a hotel with air conditioning, and a motel in the northern end of the town, by the canal.

The bus station is in the southern part of the town, there are regular lines to Baku and Sheki.
Among the most interesting buildings in the Ismailli area should be mentioned: north-east of Ismailly the 7th Javanshir fortress near the village of Talystan (you must climb 7km on foot!); the very derelict 11th century 'Maiden's tower' in the village of Khanega near the Akhokh river; the mosque and Turkish-baths in the village of Baskal; the Girdman fortress, close to the settlement of Lagich and the mosque at the same settlement, as well as the Fitag fortress near the village of Sulut.