An attractive destination for many Indian travellers is Azerbaijan. It’s the new kid on the tourism block, and travellers have woken up to the wonders of this Eurasian country. Its capital city, Baku, is where many Indians tourists are headed this summer season, with even just a couple of days to spare and a time crunch making a whole Azerbaijan itinerary difficult, they’re taking the time to fly to the capital and soak in all that Baku has to offer.
One of the best places to start exploring Baku is to go back to the very beginning in the Old Town, or Icherisheher, as it is locally called. This UNESCO-listed old city is the heart of Baku, and remains its focal centre even today. First constructed in the 12th century, this now-restored walled city was built to not only ward off enemies, but also protect from the strong harsh winds of the Caspian Sea. A lesser-known fact is that Baku gets wind from three different directions all through the year. The city is also extremely rich in oil and natural gases and even then, their Moat would be filled with oil instead of water to ward off enemies from entering. There are two prominent structures within the walled city, the Maiden Tower and the Shrivanshah’s Palace. Today, the old city is full of restaurants and cafes along with shops for tourists dotted across its cobblestoned streets. You can also find some lovely boutique hotels to stay in to give you a more local experience.
A carpet shop in the Old Town of Baku Shutterstock
From parts of the old town or even Highland Park, a pretty spot for sweeping panoramic views of the city by the seaside, you’ll notice a monument that has become the modern symbol of Baku – The Flame Towers. These three skyscrapers are noticeably in the shape of a flame, an homage to the country that is often referred to as the land of fire due to the abundance of natural flames and gases. The three buildings consist of residential apartments and one tower is the Fairmont Hotel. It’s a majestic sight seen from most parts of the city and has become the unofficial symbol of the city.
The modern symbol of Baku – The Flame Towers – from different angles Roxanne Bamboat
The Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center is a beautiful monument that signifies a new modern Baku while remembering the past. Designed by famous Iraqi-British architect Zara Hadid in her unique design style, it’s named after Heydar Aliyev, the third President of Azerbaijan and a beloved leader. The cultural centre is home to several exhibitions and performances. You can even visit the museum exploring the life and legacy of Heydar Aliyev as well as the mini-Azerbaijan exhibit that displays miniature versions of the country’s key landmarks. If you’re an automobile enthusiast then the unique vintage car collection is an exhibit you shouldn’t miss.
The Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, designed by famous Iraqi-British architect Zara Hadid Shutterstock
Apart from sightseeing, take a walk down Baku’s trendy Nizami Street full of shops, cafes and local restaurants. A stroll down here makes you feel like you’re not in central Asia anymore but instead walking down a cobbled stone street in any European city. It’s a great way to spend the evening after a day of exploring and you can tuck into some traditional Azari cuisine at any of their cafes. Local food is usually a mix of meat and rice, with plov being their most sought-after local dish. If you still lust for more familiar fare don’t worry, plenty of spots for fast food and cafes with pizza-pasta and cuisine you’d find in any part of the world.
Local food is usually a mix of meat and rice, with plov being their most sought-after local dish Roxanne Bamboat
Some very interesting and historic places to explore are a day trip away from Baku, so save one day from your trip to venture beyond city limits. The first stop is Gobustan to visit their museum and national park. Gobustan national park is a cultural and historic reserve which is home to over a 1,000 Petroglyphs or ancient rock carvings that are over 4,000 years old. It’s one of Azerbaijan’s unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a trip to the nearby indoor museum gives you a better understanding of Gobustan and its ancient rock art before venturing out into the region to experience it.
Petroglyphs at the national park Roxanne Bamboat
The Gobustan landscape is wild and rugged, and apart from the petroglyphs, it’s also home to a vast majority of Mud Volcanos. You can drive through and explore some of these bubbling craters up close and personal. They’re much smaller and less vicious as your main volcanoes but it’s interesting to see them bubble and sprout.
A mud volcano Roxanne Bamboat
Not far from Gobustan is a trip to Absheron peninsula which has the famous Yanar Dag and the Ateshgah fire temple. Yanar Dag, or burning mountain, is a strip of land that has its flames constantly burning come rain, shine or storm. No one knows the real reason, but most say it’s a natural phenomenon due to the excessive natural gases in the soil. Legend has it that a shepherd accidentally lit a match and it’s been burning for years ever since. It’s interesting to note that the flames appear much smaller than what is often depicted in pictures, so don’t expect an entire mountain in flames, but instead a much smaller strip on the mountain.
Tourists at Yanar Dag Roxanne Bamboat
The Ateshgah Fire Temple is an old Zoroastrian fire temple that was constructed between the 17th and 18th century. Built by those who travelled among the grand trunk road, what was once a prominent Zoroastrian fire temple is today a museum. It is said to have been looked after by travelling Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs at various different times and the complex houses many smaller shelters where travellers would rest and break their journey. Today it’s a museum with pictures and relics to depict what the temple structure must have looked like at the time.
The Ateshgah Fire Temple — a Zoroastrian fire temple Roxanne Bamboat
Travel Details
- A trip to Baku covering all the highlights and day trips can be anywhere between 2 to 5 days
- Direct flights are easy from Mumbai or Delhi, but there are several airlines that connect
- Visa is an e-visa, which needs to be applied pre-visit and it’s fairly easy and stress-free
