Bahçesaray, Van

Bahçesaray (Armenian: Մոկս, romanized: Moks, Kurdish: Miks^[2]) is municipality and district of Van Province, Turkey.^[3] Its area is 426 km²,^[4] and its population is 13,495 (2022).^[1] It was a bucak in Pervari District of Siirt Province until 1964 and in Gevaş district of Van Province between 1964 and 1987. It is at a distance of 110 kilometres (68 mi) from Van. The town is built on the banks of the Bahçesaray River.^[5]

Bahçesaray
District and municipality
Central mosque in Bahçesaray
Map showing Bahçesaray District in Van Province
Bahçesaray Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 38°07′43″N 42°48′27″E
Country	Turkey
Province	Van
Government
• Mayor	Harun Arslanargun (State Appointment)
Area	426 km2 (164 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[1]	13,495
• Density	32/km2 (82/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code	65710
Area code	0432
Website	www.bahcesaray.bel.tr

Etymology

The name comes from Persian bāghche-sarāy, which means "the Garden Palace". Its former name was Müküs, derived from Armenian Mokkʿ (Armenian: Մոկք) region. The Kurdish Miks derives from the Armenian. The word "Mokk'" in classical Armenian language means: "the place of the magic". According to the legend, Amenap'rkich (hy) ("All-Saving") monastery that was nearby Moks, has the grave of a magician by name Gaspar. Probably name of "the place of the magic" or just "Mokk" is connected with this mysterious personality. But scientific sources say that in the Urartu era there existed the Moxene tribe and Moxoene, so the names Mokk' and Moks originated from this tribe's name.

History

The district corresponds to Historical Armenia's Mok Arandznak district, which was part of the greater province of Moxoene. The district has several ancient Armenian monasteries and churches.^[6] The Aparank monastery is located in the vicinity of the town.^[7]

In the 19th century Bahçesaray was the center of the Kurdish Emirate of Miks,^[8] until the emirate was defeated by the troops of Ottoman Empire in 1846.^[9]

2020 avalanches

Main article: 2020 Van avalanches

On 4 and 5 February 2020, a pair of avalanches struck a highway in the district, leaving at least 41 people dead and 84 others injured.^[10]

Composition

There are 20 neighbourhoods in Bahçesaray District:^[11]

• Akyayla
• Altındere
• Altıntaş
• Arvas
• Bağcılar
• Çatbayır
• Cevizlibelen
• Çiçekli
• Çömlekçi
• Elmayaka
• Fekiye Teyran
• Güneyyamaç
• İslam
• Kaşıkçılar
• Paşaköy
• Şişli
• Ulubeyli
• Ünlüce
• Yaşlıkavak
• Yaylakonak