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Aghdara district is an administrative-territorial unit in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The center is the city of Aghdara. The area is 1,150 km², and its recorded population is 12,100 (as of April 1, 2024). It was part of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAR), established during the Soviet era and abolished after Azerbaijan gained independence. The district was abolished on October 13, 1992, by Decision No. 327 of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The draft law on the re-establishment of the district was submitted to the Milli Majlis in 2023. On December 5, 2023, it was separated and became an independent district again. On November 26, 1991, the administrative-territorial unit of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was abolished by the law of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to law, the name of Mardakert district was changed to Aghdara district, and it was included in the list of districts of republican subordination.

On July 7, 1993, the Armenians occupied Aghdara district and its villages, located 62 kilometers north of Khankendi, which was also one of the five administrative districts of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Before the occupation, more than 14,000 Azerbaijanis lived in 14 villages of Aghdara (Sirkhavand, Bashirlar, Garashlar, Garalar, Bash Guneypaya, Orta Guney, Khatinbeyli, Manikli, Tellibina, Narinjlar, Charaktar, Imarat-Garvand, Umudlu, Yeni Garalar) and the Ganjkhana state farm settlement. During the occupation, the entire population of the district was forcefully displaced from their native lands and settled in various regions of Azerbaijan. As a result of counter-terrorism measures carried out by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan on September 19-20, 2023, Aghdara was returned to Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev raised the National Flag of Azerbaijan in the city of Aghdara on October 15, 2023.

According to the Classification of Administrative Territorial Units, the liberated Aghdara district currently includes 1 city, 1 settlement, and 57 villages. The district consists of the city of Aghdara, the Shikharkh settlement, and the villages of Aghabayyali, Ashaghi Oratagh, Demirli, Gasapet, Bash Guneypaya, Janyatag, Gulyatag, Chardagli, Lulasaz, Megrelalay, Chayli, Sugovushan, Tapakand, Charaktar, Childiran, Davadashi, Mehmana, Dovshanli, Bazarkand, Hayad, Heyvali, Yayiji, Hasangaya, Chilaburt, Goyarkh, Maralyansarov, Hasanriz, Khatinbeyli, Imarat Garvand, Chapar, Zardakhach, Kichik Garabey, Kolatagh, Damghali, Gizilgaya, Yukhari Oratagh, Giziloba, Seysulan, Yarimja, Gozlu, Gozlukorpu, Malikli, Gazanchi, Narinjlar, Orta Guneypaya, Sirkhavand, Balligaya, Bashirlar, Garashlar, Talish, Ulu Garabey, Umudlu, Zaylik, Vangli, Chormanli, Shahmansurlu, Yeni Garalar.

Holy Elysee Temple Complex

Holy Elysee Temple complex is a historical-architectural site located at the foot of the Murovdagh mountain, between the villages of Sugovushan and Tapakand in the Aghdara district. The construction of the earliest buildings within the complex is associated with Vachagan III the Pious, the ruler of Caucasian Albania from the Arshakis dynasty. The temple complex is situated in a mountainous area with a rugged relief. The hill where the temple is located is surrounded by steep cliffs and dense forests, making access to the site difficult. The southern side of the hill, where the complex is situated, forms a vertical rock face, while strong fortress walls encircle the other three sides of the hill. The complex includes a cathedral, seven chapels, an ancient cemetery, and other ruined buildings.

The List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of National Importance

Architectural monuments

Archaeological monuments

The List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Local Importance

Architectural monuments