Author: Alena MOROZ Baku
What is the best place to relax in Azerbaijan? This issue is of concern not only to the inhabitants of our country, who plan their annual leave, but also to many tourists who, while visiting Baku, also think about relaxing outside the capital - in the virgin countryside. And the magnificent nature of Azerbaijan is really able to surprise even the most prejudiced travellers.
2011 was designated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as a Year of Tourism. During this period - four-plus years - the country's tourism industry developed rapidly. This is evidenced by the large-scale construction of new hotels, recreation areas and camp sites, and the ever-growing number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan.
Fantastic nine
Let's start with the fact that Azerbaijan is really unique. First of all, thanks to the diverse climate. For example, according to K?ppen climate classification, Azerbaijan has 9 (!) of the 11 climatic zones. Agree, something like that can rarely be seen in any country.
It is difficult to imagine that, but Azerbaijan has both dry and humid subtropical (south of the country, Lankaran, Talis Mountains) and mountain tundra (highlands of the Greater Caucasus) climates. In the country, you can see semi-deserts, dry steppes, high mountain ranges and alpine meadows...
Important information for travellers: generally, in Azerbaijan the average July temperature ranges from -1° C in mountainous regions to +28° C in the lowlands. In January, the temperature ranges from -22° C to +5° C.
Given the diversity of the climate and the need to create favourable conditions for the development of the tourism industry, as well as to promote the ancient cultural heritage of the country, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan has developed tourist routes. They cover almost the entire country - from Lagodekhi (border with Georgia) to Baku, from Baku to Dagestan (Russian border) and from Baku to Astara (border with Iran). The only exception is Nagornyy Karabakh, which is occupied by Armenian armed forces. It is a natural jewel of not only Azerbaijan but also of the whole of the Caucasus, located in a mountainous, wooded area with a large number of rivers and springs. However, the occupation by Armenia of this land, which includes a total of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory, makes it impossible to develop tourism in Nagornyy Karabakh. An additional warning about the dangers of visiting Nagornyy Karabakh was recently issued by the World Tourism Organization, which adopted on the initiative of Azerbaijan a resolution entitled "Prevention of Promotion of Conflict Zones as Tourism Destinations and Using Tourism for Illegal Purposes".
But the remaining tourist routes of Azerbaijan are successfully operating and are offered by travel agencies to both local and foreign tourists. You can also use gastronomic routes, because Azerbaijan is famous for its ancient culinary traditions.
And we will go to the north...
In the summer months, especially in late July and early August, when the peak temperature is observed in Baku, many residents of the capital, as well as foreign guests gladly go to relax 160 km from Baku - in the northeastern part of the country in Xacmaz. It occupies most of the Samur-Davaci lowlands and borders on Russia in the north.
Xacmaz is perhaps the most popular holiday destination in Azerbaijan. Here you can also meet many tourists from Russia who come to relax in their own vehicles.
The popularity of this area is easy to explain: 21,000 hectares of Xacmaz District is covered with forests, the Gulalan reserve is located there, eight (!) rivers flow here, there are three artificial lakes, sources of thermal and mineral waters and, of course, the majestic Caspian. And the forest belt is adjacent to the coast, so many tourists are delighted to see such an unusual combination.
Xacmaz District is home to one of the ancient walled cities - Xudat ("Gift of God"), which was the capital of the Quba Khanate at the beginning of the 18th century. In the depths of Xudat land, there are significant reserves of drinking water, and the famous Sollar water pipeline, launched in 1917, begins from the village of Sollar here.
In Xacmaz, there are more than 60 cultural and historical monuments - 19th century mosques in the villages of Morug-oba, Uzun-oba, Tagar-oba, the Shah Abbas mosque and madrasah (15th-16th centuries) in the village of Qraqurtlu, the Sheikh Yusif mosque (15th century, the village of Sixlar), ancient settlements and barrows belonging to the Bronze Age (near the villages of Mollaburxan, Hulovlu, Qaracik, Hasanqala) and medieval villages (villages of Canaxir, Bostanci). And the ruins of Qaurqala rise on top of Mount Qaladag.
Among traditional crafts, carpet weaving is well-developed in Xacmaz, so tourists are invited to look at Azerbaijani masters weaving large and small carpets.
It is precisely in the territory of Xacmaz District where the most popular recreational area in Azerbaijan - Nabran - is located. These are endless sultry beaches with soft drinks, shady relic forest with raccoons, wild boars and deer, many restaurants and cafes offering travellers a variety of dishes, swimming pools, recreation centres and vibrant nightlife in the popular recreation areas...
In the north of Azerbaijan there is the no less magnificent Quba District. And a place called Qacras is definitely worth a visit. The two-lane, perfectly asphalted road is encircled by tall trees that form a kind of tunnel. Therefore, it is not surprising that someone who comes to this zone for the first time involuntary screams from delight - the panorama is just magnificent.
Qacras is a beautiful place where you can enjoy unspoiled forests, mountain scenery, clean air, ice waterfall sprays that can cheer up the most tired travellers, as well as the taste of national dishes and real Azerbaijani tea.
But Qacras is not the only place for a good rest in Quba. In this area, on the left bank of the river Qudialcay lies Krasnaya Sloboda - a village populated by mountain Jews not only in Azerbaijan but also in the entire post-Soviet space. The roofs of houses, each of which can be considered a true work of architecture, are covered with bright red tiles.
About an hour's drive on the highway from the district centre of Quba, on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range lies the oldest settlement in Azerbaijan - Xinaliq. It is located at an altitude of 2,100-2,200 m (!) above sea level. Residents call the village Kat and themselves - Kats, direct descendants of biblical Noah.
The village of Xinaliq is more than 5,000 years old. For centuries, it has been cut off from civilization by rocky cliffs that are hard to reach. It is precisely thanks to isolation from the outside world that its inhabitants managed to save their unique language that does not belong to any language group and their own customs and traditions.
The earliest mention of the Kats can be found in the first century BC in the writings of the Roman historian Pliny and in the famous "Geography" of Strabo. In 2007, the village of Xinaliq was announced in Azerbaijan a state historical-architectural and ethnographic reserve.
The houses of the Kats - their number is 360 - are also ancient and some are 200-300 years old. They are built from boulders and over each other, resembling high-rise buildings. The interior of the houses is very picturesque, is composed of colourful carpets, blankets, pillows, mattresses and so on. Of course, all these household items are meant not just for decorating homes, but also for preserving the heat in the homes in cold weather, when the temperatures sometimes reach -30° C.
There are also caves and archaeological sites that are still unexplored, and some of them date back to the Middle Ages. It is the mosques of Sheikh Salbuz, Abu Muslim (12th century), Pircomard (1388) and the tomb of Nabi Xidir (Middle Ages).
The relative isolation of the village of Xinaliq was interrupted in 2006 with the construction of a new paved road. Tourists began to flock here.
Proud Lahic
There are no less interesting places for tourists in the central part of Azerbaijan, for example, in Ismayilli District, where tourists can visit such a unique place as Lahic.
This village with a population of 900 people is located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus at a height of 1,375 m above sea level. It is a state historical and cultural reserve of the 15th-19th centuries (1980) and is included in the international Great Silk Road tourist route.
Lahic is an original monument of medieval urban planning and architecture. Streets, squares and residential estates of Lahic are still paved with stone slabs, and their picture is diverse. In addition to the fact that paving creates a unique and peculiar image for Lahic, it also contributes to the proper drain of precipitation.
Lahic is one of the most well-known handicraft centres of the Middle Ages, and there have been numerous furnaces and workshops here since ancient times. The development of copper production contributed to the appearance in Lahic of a number of auxiliary crafts - tinning, blacksmithing, and charcoal production. In the 19th century, there were about 40 kinds of crafts and supporting industries developed in Lahic, including leather and carpet production.
Incredibly beautiful Lahic is divided by the floodplain of the Lulcay River divided into two residential areas - the actual village of Lahic and the village of Arakird, which is made up of quarters - mahallas, which reflect the specificity of business. For example, there are neighbourhoods that were populated exclusively by coppersmiths and potters. Six such square have survived to this day. The compositional centre of the square is usually the largest building - a mosque with carved wooden columns and a flat roof with a low minaret.
Since ancient times, caravans that delivered bread, ingots of copper, textiles and ore flocked to Lahic. The village exported copper products, including tableware, which sold well both in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Dagestan, Persia and Turkey.
Today in Lahic, you can see and buy colourful rugs of incredible beauty that are in high demand on the world market. In addition, tourists are offered original leather products, cold arms, highly artistic copper products, including bowls, mugs and so on. Each piece is decorated with a unique engraved ornament.
Picturesque Saki
Another picturesque area is the city of Saki. It is located 380 km west of Baku - in the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus.
This city can be considered one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus, as many archaeological finds on its territory are more than 2,500 years old.
In the 3rd-5th centuries BC, Saki was a region of Caucasian Albania, and in 1743 - the capital of the Saki Khanate and existed in that capacity until 1819. In 1840, Nuxa County with the centre in Saki was formed, and the city was named as Nuxa in 1848 by the name of the county. In the Soviet era, the city became the administrative centre of Saki District of the Azerbaijan SSR, and in 1950, the historical name of the city - Saki - was restored.
Here you can see the proud summits of the snow-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus, reaching 3,000-3,600 metres in some places, narrow gorges, mountain forests with beeches and walnut trees, alpine meadows with plenty of pristine rivers, waterfalls, springs, mineral sources and unique attractions. One of them is the magnificent Palace of the Saki Khans built in the Persian style in the 18th century without a single (!) nail. The palace stands in the northeastern part of the city in an area enclosed by walls.
Today this museum is a monument of history and culture of world importance and is part of the Yuxari Bas State Historical-Architectural Reserve.
The Saki fortress (18th century), the Omar Afandi Mosque (19th century), the Saki Khan Mosque (18th century), the famous caravanserai (hotel, 18th century), Fort Galarsan Gorarsan (8th-9th centuries), the House of the Saki Khans (18th century), Cuma Mosque (18th century), the minaret of the Gilayli mosque (16th-17th centuries) and medieval bathes are of great interest to tourists.
Saki has its own theatre, a history museum and the house museum of the Azerbaijani writer and philosopher Mirza Fatali Axundov, who was born in this city.
Saki is a major craft centre, so you can buy luxury jewellery and engraved products of local craftsmen here.
By the way, Saki has always been famous not only as a city of artisans, but also of chefs, and the tradition and art of the masters was handed down from generation to generation. It is no wonder that Saki is sometimes referred to as the "gastronomic capital of Azerbaijan". Therefore, being in this city, it is a sin not to try the famous Saki baklava. Details of the recipe and manufacturing of the baklava are kept as a closely guarded secret. You should also taste the legendary Saki piti - a soup cooked from peas (chickpeas), lamb, chestnuts, onions, plums, saffron and black pepper. Each serving of this soup is prepared in a special low clay pot.
Ancient Qabala
On the territory of the Saki-Zaqatala zone, in the northwestern part of Azerbaijan, almost on the border with Dagestan and Georgia lies Qabala District, which also has a long history - people have lived here since the Neolithic times.
The administrative centre of the district - the city of Qabala - is located on the spurs of Mount Sahdag. Qabala is about 2,000 years old and was the capital of Caucasian Albania for more than 600 years, and then it became part of the Sirvansah State and the Saki Khanate.
The ancient ruins of Qabala are located 15 km from present-day Qabala - between the Qaracay and Courlucay rivers.
Despite the fact that during its long history, Qabala has repeatedly been subjected to devastating invasions, the city was able to keep the material evidence of its civilized past. In the city itself, the Imam Baba mausoleum and Cuma Mosque dating back to the 18th century have survived.
In the vicinity of Qabala one can see many architectural and historical monuments - a 19th century mosque in the village of Bum, a 4th century Albanian temple in the village of Amili, the 9th century Ustacan tower in the village of Bayramkoxa, the Haci-Qarib mosque and the Albanian church Cotari in the village of Nij, the 15th century mausoleums of Sheikh Badraddin and Sheikh Mansur in the village of Hazra, a 17th century mausoleum in the village of Sefili, as well as the shrines of Shix-Baba (16th century, the village of Hamzalli) and Komrad (the peak of Mount Komrad).
Qabala is framed by thick walnut and chestnut forests, each of which is about 500 years old. Some trees are even included on the list of state-protected natural monuments. Chestnuts blooming in spring on the mountain slopes at an altitude of 1,000 metres are a spectacle of unique beauty...
Alpine meadows, rivers, mountain forests, huge waterfalls, hot springs, hunting for gazelles, deer, bears, wolves, hares and other representatives of local fauna will diversify the holiday of every tourist.
By the way, it is precisely here that one of the climbing routes to the highest peak of Azerbaijan (4,466 metres above sea level) - Mount Bazarduzu - lies.
Among crafts, woodworking, pottery and carpet weaving are well-developed in Qabala.
By the way, it is precisely in Qabala District, in the village of Nij, where Udins - descendants of ancient Albanians - live. Udins, of whom there are only some 10,000 people, were able to preserve their traditions, language, material and spiritual culture.
In the village of Nij, there is a unique architectural monument of Caucasian Albania - the Udin Temple. It was built at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries on the site of an ancient Albanian church, which was once erected by the will of the Holy Elisha, a Christian preacher and educator revered in Caucasian Albania. The church was recently restored and opened to parishioners of the Udin Christian community, as well as tourists wishing to get acquainted with one of the oldest sites of Azerbaijan.
In Qabala, a modern infrastructure with excellent roads, shady parks, fountains, luxury hotels, recreation areas, playgrounds, etc. has also been created.
In addition, the Qabalaland children's amusement park, as well as the Tufandag summer and winter resort located 4 km from the city of Qabala have been constructed in Qabala and are extremely popular.
By the way, Azerbaijan's first ski resort Sahdag, which Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Qarayev calls "one of the jewels of tourism", was opened in February 2011. It is situated in the north of the country - in Qusar District of Azerbaijan. So, Tufandag, which started working recently, in January 2014, is the second winter resort in Azerbaijan, which is no less popular than Sahdag.
At the disposal of guests are multilevel ski slopes, training schools, a leisure centre, tours, trips and cable cars, which can be used not only in winter, but also in summer to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Qabala.
As you can see, Azerbaijan is a country where you can easily find a place to rest. Moreover, it does not necessary have to be expensive. In popular tourist sites you can relax for relatively little money, because here, in addition to luxury hotels, there are very inexpensive recreation areas.
RECOMMEND: