Azerbaijan as tourism destination The rich historical, cultural and natural heritage of the country attracts visitors from all over the world. Untouched nature, mineral springs, the world's only oil field treatment - naphthalene, a unique ancient architecture, unique culture, cuisine, and more contribute to the formation in Azerbaijan of all types of tourism: business, sport, medical, cognitive, hunting, exotic, beach and even gastronomic. Azerbaijan is a territory of 9 -out of 11 of the world's climatic zones. Climate of our country enables to organize summer and winter holidays. Very common are ecological tours to Azerbaijan, which include visits to nature reservations, trekking and climbing routes. Midday sandy beaches offer opportunities for diving, and swimming season starts in Azerbaijan in May. Tourism sector in Azerbaijan is developing day by day, becoming one of the most important sectors of the economy. Among the most popular hotels in the capital are the chain of brand hotels such as Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Fairmont, Hilton Baku, Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott Absheron, Jumeirah Bilgah Beach , Holiday Inn, Boulvard etc. Hotels, recreation, entertainment and sports centers operate also in the regions of Azerbaijan - a chain of hotels and amusement park Qafqaz Gabaland in Gabala, the epic winter and summer tourist complex “Shahdag” in Gusar region, more than 15 Olympic sports complex having necessary infrastructure for receiving tourists all over the country, etc. All this indicates that tourism in Azerbaijan is one of the priorities of the state policy and holds great promise for economic development.
Old City The Old Town, called Ichari Shahar in Azerbaijan, extends from the curve of the Baku Bay through the hills behind it, and much of the area is close to vehicular transport. The Old Town is an ensemble of narrow alleys and winding passages neatly bordered with high fortress walls. Low stone walls of Shirvanshahs’ Palace, built in the XV-XVI c. c. , grandness of the masonry and inscriptions on the royal chambers, mosques and mausoleums are located within the Old Town. The royal complex contains a domed pavilion, a small twostory palace, courtyards, a royal mausoleum, and a mosque. On the verge of Icheri Sheher the legendary Maiden Tower opens amazing view on the bay. The purpose of the 100 -feet high tower, which was built in the XII c. , is unknown, although popular legend tells that a maiden was locked up there. Synyk Kala Minaret, located in the Old Town, is the city’s oldest building (1093).
Absheron penunsila Sightseeing excursion on Absheron Peninsula “Land of Fires”: • Atashgah Fire-Worshippers’ Temple (XVII c. ) is located within Baku in Surakhany village (9 miles from Baku). The historical roots of the monument go back to the days when Azerbaijan state was only taking shape and establishing itself, and Zoroastrism, in which the main role in rituals belonged to fire, was a dominant religion in the country. -entrance). • Survey of the oldest oil fields in Balakhany settlement (XIX- XX c. ) • “Yanardaq” State Natural Preserve Flames shoot into the air 10 feet (3. 0 m) from a thin porous sandstone layer at the base of a 30 foot-wide scarp (9. 1 m) below a hillside known as Yanar Dag near Baku, the capital of oil-rich Azerbaijan. Only a handful of fire mountains exist today in the world, and most are located in Azerbaijan. Due to the large concentration of natural gas under the Absheron Peninsula, natural flames burned there throughout antiquity and were reported by historical writers such as Marco Polo.
Qobustan Gobustan Tour, 4 hours, (65 km. from Baku) Gobustan (the territory of Gobu) is famous for its archaeological monuments. Travel 30 miles southwest of Baku along the Caspian shore to the volcanic desert where rocks are covered with carvings, standing amidst the scattered stones and mountains. There are more than 6, 000 rock carvings left by the artists of the Paleolithic period. They depicted customs of ancient tribes, hunting scenes and dances and their everyday life. The range of themes is wide and the vividness with which they were executed can evoke envy in modern artists. The oldest petroglyphs date to the XVIIIth century B. C. Long after you have left Gobustan you will remember the drawings that came down to us from the remote past. Return to Baku city and on the way to Baku visit to “Bibi-Heybat” mosque (XII c. ) and survey panorama offshore oil port and offshore oil platforms.
TEEMBULDING
QALA "Medieval masters - craftsmen and culinary specialists" Venue - "Gala" Reserve ethno park, craft shops, barbecue houses and bakeries. According to the profile of the work the reserve is established to protect historical, cultural and ethnographic monuments of one of the oldest villages near Baku city that have scientific, historical and artistic value. The goal of the game is active acquaintance with the history of the origin of the village, observation of the work of local craftsmen: potters, blacksmiths, bakers and others, training in the manufacture of simple goods, and also in the cooking of traditional regional dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine, acquaintance with the life, ethnography and folk customs of local people. Participants are divided into several teams, 4 to 6 people in each, that start competition with one another in the process of going through all stages of the game. Each team is headed by the master- guide, appointed by the organizers of the game "teambuilding" for master-classes on the below- listed types of crafts: 1. Pottery 2. Carpet weaving 3. Blacksmithing 4. Barbecue 5. Baking of national bread and lavash (flat white loaf) 6. Samovar boiling and brewing tea in accordance with Azerbaijani traditions On all indicated points the participants will be demonstrated and explained the work process of handicraft production, and then the tourists themselves will take active part in it.
"Trade Mission to the Medieval Baku" Trade caravan comes from the remote country to medieval Baku - the holy city of the Deities of Fire, located in the eastern part of the South Caucasus. The purpose of the caravaneers and traders is to sell exotic goods with high profit and buy oil (white, black and brown), local handicraft goods, great lake and boiled salt, smoked fish and sturgeon caviar, local spices and most important, to see the legendary Tower of the Goddess of Fire- "Maiden Tower". Game participants (5 -6 persons in each group), like medieval merchants and pilgrims, must go through the labyrinth of old narrow streets and find trade places and adjacent buildings - caravanserais, craft and antique shops, memorial cult places, get acquaintance with local traditions and folklore, purchase the goods and souvenir-art products, they liked. Meanwhile, according to the game legend, the participants of the “Quest” are ordinary guests of the city and tourists. Having gathered preliminary data in the Internet and made visual inspection as well as got brief information from the professional guide, the participants start to fulfill the task. According to the terms of the game, the tourists will be given various entertaining tasks and logical puzzles, they will have to be smart and clever in the work with the topographic map and compass to make search of specific objects and find their purpose, to be photographed in memorable places and, at the same time, successfully pass the whole assigned route. The team-winner will be defined by the number of gathered positive scores. After the estimation of final results, the competition jury announces the team - winner and awards its members.
"Journey into Neolith" Quest game is played in "Gobustan" natural, historical and artistic reserve / 55 - 75 km. southwest of Baku /. The route of the active part of the program (about 60 km) will pass through the rough territory and on the roads of poor quality. Along the route the participants will look for and get acquaintance with ancient rock paintings on the hunting theme, mysterious signs of the Neolithic period, settlements and sites of an ancient man in the stony and rocky area, as well as inscriptions in Latin and Arabian languages, carved on the rocks of the early Middle Ages. Tourists will be offered simple tasks: - Passing through stony areas; - Choosing places for successful ambush hunting in «chase hunting" on deer, wild boars and oxen; -Manufacture of primitive hunting weapon made of improvised or natural material prepared beforehand, that was used by the primitive inhabitants of Gobustan (bow and arrows, slings, spears, darts, slingshots, etc. ); - Shooting from home-made bow or throwing stones at the given target (the target is with the image of an animal); - Making fire from natural inflammable material found in the vicinities; - The competitive performance of the collective round dance composed once by primitive hunters ("Dance of Food" - "Yalli") to the own accompaniment on Gaval-dash stone drum. At midday or by the end of the competition - dinner in the field conditions. The team-winner will be defined by the number of positive scores.
WINTER ACTIVITIES IN SHAHDAG MOUNTAIN RESORT
RESTAURANTS
Tongal Restaurant It is the present pearl among restaurants in Baku. The restaurant of a high class with live music traditional Azerbaijan Tendir (oven made of clay in a hole in the earth), with own wine cellar which has already won wide popularity in Baku. The quality of magnificent dishes of national and European kitchen, which will be offered to you, testifies to our century traditions in cookery. Here all is delicious, everyone can find for himself a dish as desirable from the extensive menu. Besides being sure that it is prepared from the freshest products. In restaurant "Tonqal" it is possible to be enjoyed by romantic supper in idyllic conditions and to celebrate family and collective celebrations on a banquet. While visiting a Restaurant, you will get into amazing garden buried in verdure of trees and flowers. It seems that the time has stopped in this restaurant, where interiors distinguished by original furniture. The interiors of restaurant differ by original furniture and variety of subjects of antiques, withdraw the visitors to the far past. An atmosphere of a rural life here is skillfully reconstructed. Now they are exotic and among them there is real antiquarian, the original specimens preserved from XVI - XVIII centuries. Artificial waterfall and brooks strengthen the first impression and are harmoniously entered in a general picture of "Tonqal ", which is created to make your rest especially beautiful and unforgettable. Separate cabinets of restaurant would pleasure your rest, and the excellent service of the benevolent and highly skilled personnel will leave at you the best impression about the spent time.
SHIRVANSHAH Museum Restaurant We greet you to “Shirvanshah” museum - restaurant located in one of the oldest streets of our old Baku! Each guest who comes to this old place that belongs to the second part of the XIX century will have opportunity to taste rich and delicious dishes of different regions of Azerbaijan. In “Shirvanshah” restaurant that is considered to be one of the very rare museum-restaurant of our capital you will enjoy national and ethnic music in performance of our well-known musicians and mugam masters, look at art works created in different years by Azerbaijani artists, get acquainted with patterns of copper-smith, carpet art, jeweler’s art prepared by our masters, home things and jewelry, at the same time other national art patterns. Each guest will have opportunity to get sufficient information of Azerbaijan way of life, culture and art that was 100 years ago. That in this old place you, your friends, guests and family members may rest with comfort and pleasure. We are sure that museum-restaurant “Shirvanshah” become your most favorite place for having rest.
Restaurant Pencere The first in the 'window' group of restaurants (Mado, Finestra) serves up top-notch Azeri cuisine in a a pleasingly eccentric environment. Immensely popular with a mainly Azeri crowd of suits, civvies and even the odd uniform, there is something almost alpine in feel about the al fresco dining garden and its few private dining rooms, a theme which is repeated in the wood-panelled main dining hall upstairs. The food here is excellent - as at Mado, ostrich features on the menu, but it's the more traditional fare that is the big draw here. Presentation is beautiful, with dustings of sumaq, scatterings of pomegranate and artfully folded cones of lavash bread, but, as it should be, it's in the tasting that this pudding is proven. For the uninitiated, try the gurza - a little like an Azeri bite-sized samosa - lip-smackingly good.
Ресторан “Beh-Beh Club” "Beh Club" suddenly appeared at the end of last century, confidently became the leader of the restaurant business of our capital and since then (almost 15 years) this restaurant considered the best national ethnographic restaurant of city. Creation of real hospitable "area of Azerbaijani traditions" not another faceless restaurant - was the purpose of the restaurant where you can to invite guests of our country for which all truly national is exotics. It is nicely that guests of our capital already understand the importance of this uncomplicated "local" interjection "Beh-beh". Here can relax those who truly loves the national culture, who feels true love to motherland. Many visitors who met here became good friends.
Qala Bazaar Restaurant "Gala Bazaar" restaurant is one of the places which occupies the biggest part of the rest complex, involves the most personnel and loved by the city residents for its view and the diversity and quality of its foods. The traditional national and eastern cuisine makes up the basis of the menu for its colorfulness and beauty. The restaurant is consisted of eight 3 room sections, 1 banquet hall of 150 seats and summer hall of 1000 seats, stand-up party, tea house, bar and beer pub. Each of the sections built here is differed from one another architecturally. The mixed use of ravine stone, sea stone and pebble in the construction of the sections and banquet hall, provides the construction with special harmony. The traditions of Eastern architecture stand on the basis of interior: ravine, sea stone and pebble, wooden ceiling, ancient home things and naturalness gives special originality to the rooms. Along with that the decoration of each of the rooms with antique things, creates pleasant mood in the people who visit to rest there. There exist very interesting corners for the people to have a walk in the yard of the restaurant. The children’s rest is not forgotten here as well. The swans, different types of parrots, goats and horse riding are the most favorite places of the children. The national and eastern cuisine mostly dominates in Gala Bazaar restaurant. You may order and taste all beautiful meals of Azerbaijani cuisine by visiting this restaurant. That is, different types of hot meals, kebabs, salads, sweets and finally tea table will support your pleasant moments you spend here.
Restaurant “Mugam Club” Surely one of the world's most atmospheric restaurants, The Mugham Club is situated in an unusual two-storey caravansera, more on which can be found in its listing in Culture. The central courtyard is open to the stars (with a cover in bad weather) and dominated by two large fig trees, bedecked in fairy lights. Fascinating photos of yesteryear Baku adorn stone walls of recessed nooks, etched with ancient Arabic graffiti. All tables angle towards the stage, where impressive displays of traditional dance and mugham song go on throughout the evening. Food is good, service attentive and it is no surprise that this is perhaps Baku's premier tourist restaurant. Do bargain hard if buying beautiful handicrafts from shops lining the upper gallery though - this ain't a tourist trap for nothing.
Restaurant “Art Garden” ART GARDEN - the restaurant of traditional Azerbaijanian cuisine and the art center. It is located in the center of Baku - Icherisheher in "Kichik Caravanserai" of the XII century. The place, saturated with the breath of the time, where, alone with the excellent cuisine you can plunge into traditions and history. Here you can taste a wide range of national dishes , cooked in the best order to present the traditions of Azerbaijan, oriental sweets, tea from samovar and to try a fragrant hookah. In the courtyard of caravanserai, which can provide seats for up to 250 people, in the evenings there is a live jazz and folk music. In the gallery of ART GARDEN you can organize a celebration for 30 people in a unique atmosphere of fine art. For the lunch with your friends, you can choose one of 10 rooms, decorated by eminent artists of Azerbaijan. ART GARDEN provides services for organization weddings, banquets and conferences. Designers and decorators of ART STUDIO will help you to spend an unforgettable holiday.
Restaurant “Manqal”
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