add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Dental Implants Azerbaijan | Implant Dentist Azerbaijan | Affordable... scientificdentalclinic.co... | Yoga in Azerbaijan : Azerbaijan Yoga yogafinder.com | medical tourism India, health tourism India,india medical tourism,health mdinindia.com |
Tourism in Azerbaijan is still in its infancy because the former communist regime did not allow tourism to become established. In the recent years, Azerbaijan has also becoming a popular destination for religious, spa, and health care tourism.[1]
[edit] Historical monuments[edit] Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower The ancient 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 till 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. Azerbaijan's unique architectural monument - the Maiden Tower is located in the south-western part of the Walled City of Baku or Icheri Sheher. The tower was built in two stages. Its bottom part with a height of 13.7 meters is dated by most experts to the 6th-7th centuries BC. The Maiden Tower has a total height of 29.7 meters, with a diameter of 16.5 meters. The wall thickness in the bottom part is 5 meters, reducing to 4 meters at the top. The tower consists of 8 tiers and has a 21 meter deep water well. It was built by the 12th century architect Masud ibn Davud, who was probably the father of the architect of Mardakan Round Tower (not to confuse with Mardakan castle)[2]. Its foundation are believed to be a Sasanid era Zoroastrian site.[3] [edit] Ateshgah of BakuMain article: Ateshgah of Baku  Another interesting sight in Baku is the Ateshgah temple, situated in south-western part of the Surakhani settlement in the Absheron peninsula, 30 km away from Baku. Ateshgah is a fire temple, built in the 17th-18th centuries. The temple's central stone shrine is located on a natural gas pocket. The present structure was built approximately in 1713 AD, and the building of the central stone shrine was funded by merchant Kanchanagaran in 1810. The Absheron peninsula, which is famous for oil oozing out of the ground naturally, as well as for natural oil fires.[4] Zoroastrianism has a long history in Azerbaijan and the lands of Absheron were held to be sacred by Zoroastrians due to these natural fires.[4] Some scholars have speculated that the Ateshgah may have been an ancient Zoroastrian shrine that was decimated by invading Islamic armies during the Muslim conquest of Persia and its neighboring regions.[5] The complex was turned into a museum in 1975 and now receives 15,000 visitors a year. It was nominated for World Heritage Site status in 1998 and was declared a state historical-architectural reserve. [edit] Gobustan Rock Art Cultural LandscapeMain article: 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.[6] 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. [7] 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. [edit] Mardakan Castle's There are two ancient towers in the Mardakan settlement of Baku. The one with a quadrangular form was built in the 12th century by Akhsitan, the son of Shirvanshah Mechehrin. This tower was erected on occasion of Akhsitan's victory over his enemies. The tower has a height of 22 meters. The wall thickness in the bottom part is 2.60 meters, reducing to 1.60 meters at the top. The insides of the tower are divided into five tiers. The second tower has a rounded shape and is known as Shih Tower among the local population. This tower has a height of 12.5 meters. It's inner part consists of 3 circles. The inscription on the tower wall reads that it was built by the architect Abdulmejid Masud in 1232. [edit] Palace of Shaki KhansMain article: Palace of Shaki Khans  The Palace of Shaki Khans in Shaki was a summer residence of Shaki Khans build in early 18th century. It features decorative tiles, fountains and several stained-glass windows. The exterior is decorated with dark blue, turquoise and ochre tiles in geometric patterns and the murals were coloured with tempera and are inspired by the works of Nizami Ganjavi.[8] [edit] National ParksMain articles: Environment of Azerbaijan and National Parks of Azerbaijan The climate of Azerbaijan is unique, as nine of the Earth's 11 climate zones can be found in Azerbaijan.[9] As a country located in the Caucasus and Minor Asia between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan has a rich culture, widest biodiversity among the European states and enormous natural resources. National Parks serve to the purposes of environmental protection, educational, scientific, cultural researches, etc. Azerbaijan has a total of 6 national parks. [edit] Hirkan National ParkMain article: Hirkan National Park     The Hirkan National Park is in Lankaran natural region and protects the landscapes of humid subtropics. The Hirkan National Park consists of valley area of Lankaran lowland and mountainous landscape of Talysh Mountains. The Lankaran natural region has rich fauna and flora including many rare and endemic species. [edit] Shirvan National ParkMain article: Shirvan National Park The Shirvan National Park was established on the base of the Shirvan State Reserve founded in 1969 and neighbouring areas. The reserve‘s activity is focused on the protection and reproduction of the Persian gazelle (Gazella sulgutturosa), waterfowl birds and typical plant biotypes of the Shirvan Lowland. The area is 25800 hectares, of which 3500 hectares are water reservoirs. The territory of the park used to be at the bottom of the Caspian Sea and at present it is an accumulative plain, which is 20-25 m below sea level with a slight increase in the relief westwards. In terms of climate the park lies in an area of moderate warm semi-desert and arid steppe. Summers are hot and dry and winters are moderate and dry. [edit] Ag-Gel National ParkMain article: Ag-Gel National Park The Ag-Gel National Park was established for the preservation of migrating routes, areas of wintering and nesting of waterfowl and wader birds, as well as for breeding of commercial fish species. The area of 4400 hectares covers the water area of Lake Ag-Gel. Lake Ag-Gel (white lake) reserve is situated in the Mill steppe of the Kura-Araks Lowlands, it may be called an “ornithological oasis”: this is not only a reserve area but one of the most important places of wintering in Azerbaijan. [edit] Ordubad National ParkMain article: Ordubad National Park The Ordubad National Park is located in the Ordubad district of Nakhchivan. It was established for the preservation and restoration of the number of Transcaucasian moufflon, bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus), Leopard, brown bear, Transcaucasian health cock, hyena and Tetraogallus. All the species are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. [edit] Absheron National ParkMain article: Absheron National Park The Absheron National Park is located in the Absheron peninsula. It was established on the base of Absheron State Nature Preserve for the protection and restoration of the number of migrant and wintering waterfowl-wader birds, as well as to protect Caspian seal rookeries. [edit] Altyaghach National ParkMain article: Altyaghach National Park The Altyaghach National Park was established to protect the landscape of the south-eastern ridge of the Major Caucasus and to restore diversity of flora and fauna. Such mammals as the roe deer, bear, wild boar, lynx, coon, fox, etc. and some of migrant birds are to be found on the territory of this park. Many of these species are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. [edit] MuseumsMost of the museums are located in the major cities of Azerbaijan such as Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Sumgait, Lankaran, Mingachevir and Shaki. Some of these include:
[edit] Gallery
[edit] References
[edit] External links | |||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
