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Baku: Baku

Northern direction: Guba  Gusar Khachmaz

Northwest direction: Ganja Sheki Zagatala Shamakhi Ismayilli Gabala

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic: Please visit our Partner “NATIG” Travel’s website for more information about Nakhchivan: www.natigtravel.eu.tp

Baku
If you want to widen your knowledge about the Caucasus, you cannot avoid Baku. If you visit Baku for the first time, you will immediately feel its originality and difference from the other famous cities of Caucasus.
You will admire the architecture, be impressed by majority of theatres, restaurants, entertainment centers and you, undoubtedly, will like the kind, joyful and sociable Baku people.
The antiquity of Baku is felt easily, but it is much more difficult to learn something definite about it. The early history of the city is lost in the smoke of time, and it is difficult to fanaticize the ghost figures of the first Baku people – the builders and creators of the beauty of the “City of Gods.”
The earliest name of Baku is met in the resources in the form of “Bagavan-Baguan” (The City of Gods). Baku is one of the biggest cities of the Front East. The city embodies live history: palaces, mosques, caravansaries, bath-house and ovdans running into modern buildings, representing the contrast of Baku.
The cradled of the city is on the coast of Caspian Sea, where more than 2500 years ago, Baku people established the settlement named “Bagavan-Baguan”, which in the Middle Ages became a rich trade city.
The circle of ancient Baku, fenced with a wall is commonly called “Icheri Sheher” (Internal City). This is a treasure of architecture from the Middle Ages’ history of Baku. Impressed in the stones are the most valuable monuments of town-planning from the feudal epoch. Besides the architectural monuments, the historical value is presented by the houses, streets, lanes and squares itself. Time has kept the silhouette of the feudal city. The picturesque ligature of the narrow side-streets with stairs, unexpected turns and curves forms the typical Middle Ages picture.
In the frame of “Icheri Sheher” 43 monuments of the Middle Ages are located; as well as buildings from the XVIII-XIX centuries, with a total number of 230 are also kept, all having historical and architectural value. The real treasure among them is the ensemble of “Shirvanshah Palace” (or as it is called ‘Shahs Palace’), which was included into UNESCO’s world heritage list. Its structures are vividly located on the top of one of the hills of “Icheri Sheher”.
It is impossible to feel the time in any of the kept architectural works of Baku – except the ensemble of Shirvanshah’s Palace. The intimacy of mood and the feeling of the last centuries are created not only by full isolation of the monuments from the modern city’s noise, streets and crowds, but also by the composition of by the buildings themselves.
Architects gave unique charm to these structures, virtually using the natural peculiarities of the Absheron, rich with sun, deep blue sky and magnificent construction stone – limestone. The architecture is compared sometimes with music; this is the great work of Azerbaijan architecture compared with the solemn symphony.
The most remarkable monument of “Icheri She-her” is the Gyz Galasy (Maiden’s Tower, VIII-VII c BC) – one of the monumental and mysterious structures not only in the history of the Azerbaijani architecture, but also of all the Middle East. For nearly three thousand years, it has kept the mystery of its creation, the mystery of the great culture, which created it and disappeared.
It is difficult to find a description of Baku, where this Tower wouldn’t be mentioned. It is not less difficult to find also the graphical and architectural image of the coastal landscape of the city, where this unique monument of Azerbaijan’s ancient architecture wouldn’t be included.
The attention of many tourists, visiting Baku, is constantly attracted by the monuments of the centuries-old architectural-artistic history. There are many of them and it is difficult to give advantage to any of them: each of them has its own interesting feature and value. But there are such monuments, which couldn’t be avoided even in case of a short visit to the city. The temple of Hindu fire-worshippers “Atashgah” in the settlement Surakhany and Gobustan belong to this list.
The Surakhany fire temple “Atashgah” is one of the wonderful monuments of the past, which contributed to the vivid page of the stone chronicle of the centuries-old history of Azerbaijan, rich with events. The exclusive, historical destiny of the monument, going into great antiquity, its Middle Age history, which reflects the links of such distant monuments of our country like Azerbaijan and India, give it the special place among unique monuments of our country. Inscriptions, which are the monuments of the ancient language of India (Sanskrit), put “Atashgah” on the same line with other outstanding monuments of world culture. In different times, the temple was visited and described by travelers E. Campfer and S. Gmelin, the writer Alexander Dumas-father, the great chemist Mendeleyev, Russian Emperor Alexander III, artists Vereshagin, Bogolyubov, Gagarin, Grimm and etc.
Once visiting Baku, you will find the famous miracle of history – the rock paintings of Gobustan, which were created by ancient man eight thousand years ago in BC. Without Gobustan it is impossible to imagine our history at all. Gobustan is the real museum under sky; a mysterious and magical place, a unique picture gallery, counting for more than 6000 rock paintings.
The architecture of modern Baku has the special charm; pompous official offices and elegant villas, monumental and comfortable – a stone world, in which you feel relaxed. And among this world – is the majestic Caspian Sea, the waters of which reflect the history.
We advice you to sit on a boat and to go for a sea travel on the Caspian Sea coast, taking part in “classical” sightseeing – Maiden’s Tower, mosques, many minarets and etc.
Treasures of the museum of fine art with its wonderful collection of Western European, Russian and Azeri artists are waiting for lovers of art.
The palette of enjoyment for epicures is also immense: cuisine from various countries is also represented in Baku in abundance.
Among the traditional dishes are chicken and fish cooked using exclusive recipes as well as a variety of fried and barbequed meat. Visiting high-class restaurant can be costlier, but you will feel as if you are in other country – India, Turkey, China, Pakistan or France.
Tourists, who visit Baku for the first time, will surely identify the difference in the crowd. In the capital of Azerbaijan live people from Turkey, Pakistan, India, and China, natives to Nigeria, Egypt, Syria and Iraq, who have found their second motherland.
Baku can offer you unlimited palette of entertainment, guaranteeing you complete personal safety. Friendly Baku policemen are always ready to guard you and to serve you.
The night life of the capital is as busy as in the daytime: numerous clubs, discos, theatres, and shows.
Like in other capitals of the world, you may get acquainted with Baku hotels, without visiting them, just looking through the catalogue of hotels “The Whole Azerbaijan”, which provides you the full understanding of their design specifications and quality of service.
For example, the “Radisson SAS PLAZA” represents the classical example of a modern comfortable hotel.
But if you are used to trusting only your personal impressions, you may visit the hotel “IRSHAD.”
You will be satisfied. It is situated in the centre of Baku. This hotel of international class will impress you by highest level of service. In each room you will find all the necessities for recreation and business. Room decoration comprises exclusive style and absolute comfort, which promises the maximum pleasure to its guests. “IRSHAD” is the successful combination of European standards and individual approach.