Yelghun Aghaj Village

Yelghun Aghaj (also spelled Yulghun Aghaj) is a historic village in the Central District of Takab County, West Azerbaijan Province. It lies about 7 kilometres from the town of Takab, in Afshar Rural District. The village is known as one of the region's villages with a pleasant climate and as a tourist attraction. Alongside its rural scenery, beautiful orchards, natural springs and historic fabric, it has notable cultural and local features. Summers in Yelghun Aghaj are mild and its winters are cold, and the villagers speak Azerbaijani Turkic. Farming, orchard keeping and animal husbandry are the main occupations of the local people, and the village produces grapes, apricots, cherries, apples and walnuts. Woolen handicrafts, carpets, kilim weaving, soumak kilims and jajim weaving are also part of the village's local culture.

Yelghun Aghaj is also historically significant: it began to prosper in the Safavid period and reached its peak in the Qajar period. Its historic sites and attractions include a village fortress, a traditional bathhouse, a landlord's house and the Howzkhaneh mansion, while the famous gardens of Chaharbagh, Rejal and Darzi Bolaghi are also historical legacies of the area. The village's historic bathhouse dates from the late Qajar period and was built in the style of bathhouses of that era. The old mosque of the village, which was about 150 years old, was destroyed in a fire, and a new mosque has been built in its place. The natural springs of Isti Bolaghi and Darzi Bolaghi are located inside the village and, together with the orchards and mountain views, add to its appeal. The Chamali Moving Meadow (Chaman-e Motaharrek-e Chamali), 11 kilometres from the village, is also a well-known natural attraction around Yelghun Aghaj. The tombs of Seyyed Yadollah Alavi and Seyyed Kazem Salehi are pilgrimage sites in the village and attract visitors. In winter, the snowy slopes around the village are used for snow tubing.

To reach Yelghun Aghaj, travel from the town of Takab toward the village; the distance from Takab is stated to be about 7 kilometres. Given the village's climate, spring and summer are the better times to visit and enjoy its orchards, springs, rural scenery and historic attractions; winter is also appealing for those who enjoy snow activities and tubing. When visiting Yelghun Aghaj and the natural attractions around it, avoid damaging vegetation, leaving litter, polluting the springs or damaging historic remains, and respect the privacy and rights of local residents when visiting orchards, historic sites and pilgrimage places.