The Mirakhmed Khan Palace, also known as Khan-Evi, is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing attractions in Lankaran, perhaps second only to the Lankaran Fortress. This cultural and architectural landmark is situated in the heart of the city and stands as a true palace.
In 1912, a beauty contest was held in Tbilisi, where Tugra Khanum, the wife of Mirakhmed Khan, was crowned the winner. In commemoration of this event, Mirakhmed Khan decided to construct a palace of love for his beloved, who wished to reside in a home unlike any other in Lankaran. He envisioned a structure from which the entire city could be seen at a glance. By 1913, a stunning house resembling a fairy-tale palace emerged in the center of Lankaran. Notably, this was the first pre-revolutionary building equipped with electricity and centralized heating, and it became the first three-story structure in a predominantly single-story city. Unfortunately, the name of the architect has been lost to history, but it is known that the construction was carried out by French and Italian architects.
Mirakhmed Khan passed away in 1916 during one of his visits to France and was laid to rest in Lankaran.
The palace features an eastern and southern façade clad in red brick, while the northern and western façades are constructed from a combination of white and red brick. The entrance door is made of dark wood, flanked by white pilasters on either side. Above the door are three narrow windows, and the second and third floors are adorned with balconies featuring intricate white railings. The roof resembles a dome, with a tall spire at its center and two smaller spires on either side. A large white column, embellished with decorative plasterwork, stands at the corner of the building on the first floor, supporting a narrow turret topped with a gray-steel dome and a pointed spire.
During the early years of Soviet power in the Caucasus, the building was nationalized.
Today, the Mirakhmed Khan Palace houses the Lankaran State Local History Museum. Although the museum is relatively small and not frequently visited by foreign guests, it boasts a collection of seven thousand exhibits gathered from the region and neighboring areas. The exhibition narrates the history of the region and its traditional crafts. Very little remains from the palace’s former owners, aside from a dresser and a large mirror framed in expensive wood. In a separate hall, visitors can find a replica of an ancient throne, where the Talysh Khan is depicted sitting alongside his wife amidst an array of carpets.
During restoration work, the windows on the second floor were adorned with colorful stained glass.