Mashhan

On the territory of the village was an ancient settlement dated II – I century BC. The village of Mashkhan was founded in the XV century. The first mention of Mashkhan on the map is dated 1871.

In the Russian Empire, it was part of the Lenkoran district of Baku province. At the beginning of the 20th century, the first school was built in the village (demolished in the 1980s).

In Soviet times, electricity was drawn into the village. In the village there was a part of the Shafeg collective farm with Tangeryud. In the late 1970s, a new 10-class school was built in the village.

The village is located near the Talysh mountains. The Baku-Alat-Astara highway passes through the village.

Etymology

The name of the village comes from the Persian phrase “Ma Sheikhan”, which means “We are Sheikhs”, due to the fact that Sayyid Sheikhs Sultan Ahmed Ibn Karim and Sheikh Kerim lived in the village.

Education

In Mashkhan, there is an 11-grade school named after Nizami Aliyev, in which about 600 students study. There is also a kindergarten in the village.

Communication

The village has a post office. Also in the village there are 2 telephone towers. The village has coverage of all the largest mobile operators in the country.

Religion

In the village is the mausoleum of Sayyid Sultan Ahmed Ibn Karim (the old mausoleum collapsed, the new one was built in 1999). Also in Mashkhan there is a mosque named after Imam Hussein (founded in the XV century, the current building was built in the XVIII century).

Attractions

In Mashkhan there is a spring with clean water. This spring was discovered in the 19th century, but later a highway was laid through the spring. Later in the 1960s, a pipe was conducted leading water from the spring to the outside. Then the building was built near the spring. The people call the spring “Dzheyran Bulagy”, although its official name is “Kizlar su bashinda”.

Most of the population of the village are Shiite Muslims. There is a small Sunni community.

In Mashkhan, mainly Talysh live.