TOURISM AND HOTEL MANAGEMENT
SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM
PROJEct
AZERBAIJAN
ELCHIN MAMMADOV -20090717
Sara hacizade - 20102236
AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC
AZERBAIJAN OFFICIALLY THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN IS THE LARGEST COUNTRY
IN THE CAUCASUS REGION LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS OF WESTERN
ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE. IT IS BOUNDED BY THE CASPIAN SEA TO THE
EAST, RUSSIA TO THE NORTH, GEORGIA TO THE NORTHWEST, ARMENIA TO THE WEST
AND IRAN TO THE SOUTH. THE EXCLAVE OF NAKHCHIVAN IS BOUNDED BY ARMENIA TO
THE NORTH AND EAST, IRAN TO THE SOUTH AND WEST, WHILE HAVING A SHORT
BORDERLINE WITH TURKEY TO THE NORTHWEST. AZERBAIJAN HAS AN ANCIENT AND
HISTORIC CULTURAL HERITAGE, INCLUDING THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST
MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRY TO HAVE OPERAS, THEATER AND PLAYS.THE AZERBAIJAN
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1918, BUT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE
SOVIET UNION IN 1920.
Tourism in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a miraculous country with its rich natural resources, and ancient culture, history
and people; whose lifestyle presents a unique and harmonious combination of the
traditions and ceremonies of many different cultures and civilizations. Azerbaijan has
great potential for the development of the tourism industry - with such fascinating sights
as ancient cities, palaces, fortresses, mausoleums, and mosques. Azerbaijan has always
been famous for its sources of eternal fire - the "atashgehs". There is a place called
Yanardag (blazing mountain) in Absheron and thermal springs in some parts of
Nakhichievan, Kelbejar, Masali, Lenkoran, and Babadag provinces.
In Surakhani, there is a site of eternal flame. From ancient times, fire worshippers from
remote places, and even Indian priests, came to Absheron in search of fire, and found it
here. They built large temples here in Surakhani and in Ateshgah. There are more than 6
thousand historical architectural monuments on the territory of Azerbaijan. The natural
climatic conditions of Azerbaijan are also unique. As is well known, 9 climate zones
exist in Azerbaijan, out of the 11 in the world.
WALLED CITY OF BAKU WITH THE SHIRVANSHAH'S PALACE
Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower
The Azeri city of Baku has numerous historical and architectural monuments
dating to various historical epochs.
The Walled City of Baku is the ancient historical core of Baku. In December
2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and
Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Walled City of Baku or Icheri Sheher hosts over 50 historical and
architectural monuments from various eras. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs,
the Maiden Tower and Synyg Gala (The Broken Tower) are among the
monuments which survived until present day. The Palace of Shirvanshahs is
one of the pearls of Azerbaijani architecture. It was built in the beginning of
the 15th century. It includes a historical complex, the palace, a divankhana,
the Shirvanshah's room, a palace mosque with minarets, bath house, a room of
Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, and the Western divankhana monuments, which were
built during a later stage. The complex construction began in 1441, while the
Western divankhana was completed by architect Amirshah in 1558.
THE MAIDEN TOWER
THE MAIDEN TOWER
The distinguishable landmark of Baku is none other than the Maiden Tower.
Azerbaijanis are incredibly proud of this monument that is shrouded in mystery
and that even scholars and historians are unable to speak about its origin and
meaning. The Maiden Tower is a round bastion tower located along the ancient
coast of Baku. It may once have been part of the fortress wall that embraced the
old town. The foundations of the tower date back to the sixth and the seventh
centuries, while the main part of the building is supposed to have been
completed by the twelfth century. The tower has really unique form - it consists
of a wide cylinder connected to a wall that is trapezoidal in some of its sections.
The view from the top of the tower is stunning. It covers almost all of today's
city port, the slopes of surrounding hills and the crystal clear sea. Without any
doubt, this is one of the most impressive places around Baku.
AZERBAIJAN HISTORY MUSEUM
AZERBAIJAN HISTORY MUSEUM
Azerbaijan History Museum
Azerbaijan History Museum is considered the main Museum of the
Republic. It is located in one of the most beautiful buildings of Baku the mansion where Gadji Tagiyev, the oilman, the notorious sponsor and
patron used to live. The total number of the Museum collection artifacts
exceeds 300,000. The numismatic collection covers the entire coin
minting history and monies circulation of Azerbaijan territory.
The Museum's collection includes numerous stone and obsidian tools of
paleolith, mesolite, late Stone Age. The museum's pride is the fragment
of a 300 – 350-thousand old fossil man's jaw found in Azykh Cave (the
city of Fizuli ).
GOBUSTAN ROCK ART CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
GOBUSTAN ROCK ART CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
One of the most ancient and exciting monuments of Baku is Gobustan, famous
around the world for its rock carvings. Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
was established in 1966 when the region was declared as a national historical
landmark of Azerbaijan in an attempt to preserve the ancient carvings, mud
volcanoes and gas-stones in the region.
Gobustan is very rich in archeological monuments, the reserve has more than 6,000
rock engravings dating back between 5,000 - 40,000 years. The site also
features the remains of inhabited caves, settlements and burials, all reflecting an
intensive human use by the inhabitants of the area during the wet period that
followed the last Ice Age, from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The
site, which covers an area of 537 ha, is part of the larger protected Gobustan
Reservation.[8]
Most of the rock engravings depict primitive men, animals, battle-pieces, ritual
dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances in their
hands, camel caravans, pictures of sun and stars.[9]
In 2007 Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Universal
value. It is the most popular reserve and is an invaluable treasure-house of
Azerbaijan.
THE PALACE OF SHEKI KHAN
THE PALACE OF SHEKI KHAN
Sheki is famous for the 18th century Khan's Palace. It was built in 1762 by Hussein
khan who was also well known as a poet under his pen-name Mushtag. The twostoried building is decorated with magnificent frescos (one 24 m long) and
exquisite stained glass work, known as 'shebeke' (northern part of the city). The
Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet wrote: "If there will be no other building in
Azerbaijan it will be enough to show Khan Palace to the world".
Measuring thirty-two meters by eight and a half meters on the exterior, the palace
is a two-story brick masonry structure elongated on the north-south axis and
covered with a wooden hipped roof with long eaves. The layout of both floors is
identical; three rectangular rooms are placed in a row, separated by narrow,
south-facing iwans that provide access to the rooms.
The summer residence is renowned for the lavish decoration of its exterior and
interior. The façades are covered in tiles with floral and geometrical motives. The
interior walls of the residence are covered with frescoes painted during the
eighteenth century. Many of the frescoes feature flowers in vases, while a series
of paintings on the first floor halls depict hunting and battle scenes. Signatures on
frescoes list the names of artists Ali Kuli, Kurban Kuli and Mizra Jafar from
Shemaha, Usta Gambar from Shusha, and Abbas Kuli, who may also have been
the architect of the summer residence.
MUD VOLCANES
MUD VOLCANES
What makes the mud volcanoes near Qobustan, situated southwest of Baku, so
interesting? First, the national park Qobustan is the largest concentration of mud
volcanoes in the world - about 300. Secondly, Azerbaijani mud volcanoes are
fed by a huge underground reservoir and unlike many other popular volcanoes
of that kind never dry out. Also there are located the largest mud volcanoes some cones exceed to a height of 200 meters. The volcanoes throw not only
mud but also different gases - mainly methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen. The
combination of gases is sometimes explosive and regularly from the ground
erupt flames. For example, in 2001 one of the Azerbaijani mud volcanoes throw
out a 15-meter high fire pole. On the territory of the reserve are located not only
mud volcanoes, but over 6,000 rock paintings of primitive people. Their age is
between 5,000 and 40,000 years and they depict animals, people, battles,
warriors with spears, stars and planets.
FOUNTAIN SQUARE
FOUNTAIN SQUARE
Fountains Square (Azerbaijani: Fəvvarələr meydanı) is a public square in
downtown Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. The square was previously
called Parapet and is often referenced to by the same name now. The name of
the fountains square derives from the presence of dozens of fountains
throughout the square first constructed during Soviet rule of Azerbaijan.
The square is a public gathering place, especially after business hours and during
the weekend. It is an attractive tourist destination with many boutiques,
restaurants, shops, hotels and passage. It starts from the Istiglaliyyat Street and
walls of the Icheri Sheher and stretches throughNizami Street, also called in
popular culture as the Torgovaya street running parallel to Baku Boulevard. The
fountains square is a location where the city authorities hold many public
festivals, shows and celebrations.
In 2010, the square was renovated by Baku authorities. A "Fountains Square" salad
has been named after the square.
THE GOVERMENT HOUSE
THE GOVERMENT HOUSE
That magnificent building hosts various state ministries of Azerbaijan. It is
designed to accommodate more than 5,500 people. In 1934, the Soviet
authorities decided to build Baku Soviet Palace (later renamed to Government
House). The building of the Government House was finished between 1936 and
1952. It housed many organizations and business firms after restoration of
Azerbaijani independence in 1991. After complete renovation of the building,
all business firms were moved to other locations in the city and the offices were
provided to public organizations and institutions. Being situated in the heart of
Baku, the Government House is one of the most visited tourist attractions of
Azerbaijan.
THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS
THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain in Eurasia situated between the Black and
the Caspian Seas. The mountain is composed of two different ranges - the
Greater Caucasus in the north and the Lesser Caucasus in the south. The highest
peak is Mount Elbrus which rises majestically with its 5,642 meters. The
western part of the Caucasus is a unique place that hosts a wide range of
ecosystems and species. It is recognized as "the only large mountain area in
Europe that has not experienced significant human impact, containing extensive
tracts of undisturbed mountain forests unique on the European scale". The
Caucasus Mountains formed largely as the result of a tectonic plate collision
between theAfrican plate moving northward with respect to the Eurasian
plate. The entire region is regularly subjected to strong earthquakes from this
activity. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains on the other hand, is largely
of volcanic origin. The Javakheti Volcanic Plateau in Georgia and the
surrounding volcanic ranges which extend well into central Armenia are some
of the youngest features of the region.
YANAR DAG
YANAR DAG
Yanar Dag (Azerbaijani: Yanar Dağ, translated as "Fire Mountain"), is a
natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the Absheron
Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan,
which itself is known as the "land of fire." Flames jet out into the air 10
feet (3.0 m) from a thin, porous sandstone layer. However a visual
comparison of the photos of Yanar Dag compared to images of "Mud
volcanoes" will show the difference between this seep and the
"sedimentary volcanoes" or "gas – oil volcanoes" concealed below land
and sea in the Caspian region and which Azerbaijan has the largest
concentration globally, though others exist in Turkey, Turkmenistan and
elsewhere.
THE FIRE TEMPLE ATESHGAH
THE FIRE TEMPLE ATESHGAH
In early history Azerbaijan was called the “land of the sacred fire”.
Although the “everlasting fire” mentioned by early travelers such as
Alexandre Dumas was due to the gas and oil deposits erupting from the
earth, it became surrounded by legend and mystery. Some 2,600 years
ago, Zarathustra was formulating Zoroastrianism, one of the first major
monotheistic religions. His idea to use fire as a metaphor for the
mysteries of God probably came from witnessing the spontaneous
flames that rise so eerily from Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula. Today
some such fires still burn. Most notable is Yanar Dagh near Mammedli,
where a small hillside is constantly and naturally aflame.
On Absheron there were many temples of Fire as well. From their variety
the most famous is the well-preserved temple Ateshgah ("the Fire
Place") in Surakhany, located 20 kilometers east of the town center. The
temple was built over a pocket of natural gas that fuelled a vent
providing an 'eternal' fire. This kind of use of fire in Zoroastrian temples
led to the followers of Zoroaster (Zarathustra).
BEACHES IN AZERBAIJAN
BEACHES IN AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan have very nice beaches, a lot of foreigners don't know about it due it is not
well covered in media so I think this is good and very informative topic to help
them learn about it.
There are a lot of beaches in Azerbaijan, most famous of them are based in
Absheron peninsula such as Shikhovo, Zagulba, Amburan (My favourite), Sahil,
Min Bir Gece (One Thousand Nights), Garadagh beach and so on. Currently, a lot of
these beach sides are developing with great progress but there are also areas that
suffers due poor ecological control.
Even though Azerbaijan have very nice beaches, a lot of foreigners don't know about it
due it is not well covered in media so I think this is good and very informative topic
to help them learn about it.
There are a lot of beaches in Azerbaijan, most famous of them are based in
Absheron peninsula such as Shikhovo, Zagulba, Amburan (My favourite), Sahil,
Min Bir Gece (One Thousand Nights), Garadagh beach and so on. Currently, a lot of
these beach sides are developing with great progress but there are also areas that
suffers due poor ecological control.
RURAL TOURISM
RURAL TOURISM
Azerbaijan's attempt at rural tourism comes in the form of the tiny village of Lahic.
But don't let that dissuade you. The remote village, where Lahiji is spoken (a
Persian dialect) has been renowned for it's mastery of handicrafts, particularly
copper-ware, for centuries. Today, Lahic maintain much of it's traditional feel.
This is combination with it's beautiful natural setting in the Caucasus Mountains
make it an ideal destination for travellers. While there are a few accommodation
choices either on the outskirts of town, or a few kms out of the centre, it is
instead a down-to-earth home-stay with a local family that will make the
experience all the more special.
GASTRONOMY IN AZERBAIJAN
GASTRONOMY IN AZERBAIJAN
GASTRONOMY IN AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijani cuisine refers to the cooking styles and dishes with origins in the nation of
Azerbaijan and prepared by Azerbaijani people around the world. Throughout the
centuries, Azerbaijani cuisine has been influenced by the foods of different cultures,
though at the same time, it remained distinctive and unique. Many foods that are
indigenous to the country can now be seen in the cuisines of other cultures. For the
Azerbaijanis, food is an important part of the country's culture and is deeply rooted in
the history, traditions and values of the nation.
Out of 11 climate zones known in the world, the Azerbaijani climate has nine.[1] This
contributes to the fertility of the land, which in its turn results in the richness of the
country’s cuisine. It is famous for an abundance of vegetables and greens used
seasonally in the dishes. Fresh herbs, including mint, coriander, dill, basil, parsley,
tarragon, leek, chive, thyme, marjoram, green onion, and watercress are very popular
and often accompany main dishes. The Caspian Sea is home to many edible species of
fish, including the sturgeon, Caspian salmon, kutum, sardines, grey mullet, and others.
Black caviar from the Caspian Sea is one of Azerbaijan’s best known delicacies well
sought after in other parts of the world, including former Soviet countries