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Azerbaijan
Photo: indigoprime, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Baku Region is a region in Azerbaijan, which includes the Absheron, Agsu, Baku, Haciqabul, Khyzy, Qobustan, and Shamakhi rayons.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Yanar Dağ, Burning Hillside
Yanar Dagh is a mountain whose natural gas vents have been aflame for a thousand years, even when it rains. Flames jet into the air from a thin, porous sandstone layer. A large touristy complex with small museum has been built around it, charging almost 5 times the price of 2017.
Ateshgah of Baku
A fortified religious pentagonal temple located in Suraxanı near Baku. Declared the country's historic-architectural state reserve in 2007. It stems from ancient Indians who moved here and used the natural gas coming from the ground for religious purposes. In the 1960s so much gas and oil extraction had been done that an artificial gas pipe had to be created to feed the fire, which is still burning.
Azerbaijani: Tuba-Şahi məscidi
Built in 1481.
This was built in 1187. The rectangular fortress is 22 m high. Its 76-step tower has two drinking water and 60 food wells. There is a circular tower 500 m away, is known as a "round fortress". It is also called the "Six fortress" after Sheikh Abu Said Abulkheir. It is 12 m high. The Arabic inscriptions on it suggest that it was built by architect Abdulmajid Masud in 1232.
Sumqayit is known for its industrial ruins. It offers some spectacular and picturesque sights, in the middle of which there is sometimes a herd of sheep. Beware of the dogs - if they get too close, pick up a stone (and throw), they will remember the last painful experience and run off.
Abşeron Milli Parkı
A popular national park within the reach of Baku that allows for day trips. It houses a variety of flora and fauna, including tigers and loads of snakes that escaped from their cages a couple of years ago. After the entrance it is another 7 km to the park office, where you can see snakes and the rough coast. However, the snakes a mostly active between April and summer. It is better to go in the morning or evening to see other animals. During the day, you will be mostly out of luck. Also, a 4WD is a good idea to go through the dunes. Bring your passport.
About 500 m before the park entrance there is a nice spot for a dive into the sea with a sheer endless shallow sea, allowing you to walk in several 100 meters.
Altıağac Milli Parkı
Qobustan is best known for its rock petroglyphs (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and mud volcanoes.
One of the most spectacular mud volcano parks near Baku with larger mud pools further behind, and for free, opposite the Qobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve further north. Do not miss the mud lakes! When you arrive on the road there, you will find a variety of taxis in old Soviet Lada 4x4s who will take you to the actual mud volcano. You should pay 20-30 manat for the ride there. The taxis will start off asking for 100+ manat. Be firm that the correct price is 20 manat (per car, not per person).
Last erupted in 2001, but nice for a visit and with a great view.
Отман-Боздаг
Far from the highway, but near the road. Last erupted in September 2018.
Good for a hike from the highway, but its activity varies and you might just end up with a lot of dried out mud at the top. Nevertheless, the scenery is obvious.
Gəleybuğurt
Medieval fortress near the village of the same name, on top of the mountain. In the 16th century, the traveller Diovan Mario Antonello from Venice, noting that the fortress is inaccessible due to its location on the mountains, wrote that village is great.
Hanega Mausoleum of the 12/13th century. The Hanega complex is located on the ancient trade route that once connected Shamakhi with other cities and towns of the Mideast.
The 17th century memorial complex consists of 8 octagonal stone mausoleums, each of which is covered by a pyramid tent. The area is about 150–250 m, and there were once nine mausoleums. Today, the 7 surviving mausoleums are in good condition and one is in dilapidated.
Şamaxı Astrofizika Rəsədxanası
Observatory located on the southeastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, on the basis of the "Astrophysics" sector of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, at an altitude of 1,435 m. Excursion includes a visit to the main building of the observatory and one of the telescopes.
By train
Trains from Russia, Georgia and even Turkey arrive at Baku Central Station.
By bus
International bus arrivals are available from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Belarus at Baku International Bus Terminal.
By thumb
Drivers are commonly friendly with backpackers and road trippers, so auto-stop is an option to go to Turkey and Georgia.
By boat
It is also possible to get to the region from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan by sea. Vessels arrive at Port Alat.
The best way to explore the region and whole country is probably to rent a car. Rental services are available in Baku, but Aznur might just be your best choice.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Baku · International · GYD
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