Lerik & Lenkoran Southern diamonds of Azerbaijan

Located near the Iranian border, between tall mountains and the agricultural plain, Lerik is mainly famous for the longevity of some of its citizens.

It holds the world record of human longevity: a chap called Shirali Baba Muslimov, born in the village of Barzavu, who is claimed to have died at the respectable age of 168! Like Muslimov the population of the Lerik 'rayon' is mostly Talysh (Indo-Iranian group - population is spread across both sides of the border).

The city itself seems not to be as healthy as its inhabitants, with a little help from some severe earthquakes, the most recent in 1998 left scars that are still visible.

              
           You can visit the local history museum and have a look at the Karabakh war memorial, located between of the parade ground and the modest city hall. 

Anyway, better than any human creation is the superb landscape around the town, with the Talysh mountains in the horizon. Lerik is also a good starting point for hiking.

You can reach Lerik easily from Lenkoran using the A323 road. It is a very scenic rout ealong the Lankaran river and the Chirkan Nature Reserve. Buses run regularly to Lenkoran and Baku

There are a couple of places with very decent food, but there is a only a very basic hotel. As an alternative you may try to stay at the official guest house (which is not a lot better than the hotel!).

(220 km south of Baku) 

Some photos with my guests in different parts of Azerbaijan

Exploring the rock carvings with Mr.Leo

Panoramic view of Baku city with group from Sweden

Local family meeting with Australian group

Exploring the Mud Volcanoes 

Shaki city caravansarai from 18 century.

Cooking local Azerbaijani  snack- Gutab 

Trying to solve the puzzle- stained glass workshop in Shaki.

Testing local yogurt with American group

Unforgettable taste

        Azerbaijan is an ancient country with an amazingly beautiful and diverse nature, hospitable people, and unique culture and traditions. Azerbaijani cuisine is one of the most interesting cuisines in the Caucasus and deservedly enjoys wide recognition.         A classic Azerbaijani meal typically lasts for about 3-4 hours and always begins with tea. Azerbaijanis uses mostly black leaf tea and brew it strong, usually with wild herbs (sage, thyme, mint, etc.), and drink from special pear-shaped glasses called Armudu.         After tea and a bit of friendly conversation, the salads and snacks are served. After that, a soup is served – it usually contains meat, fish, or chicken, and is sometimes even made from yogurt. Some soups such as Piti, Dushbara, Sulu-Khingal, Kyufta-Bozbash, is served for both the first and second courses.          The main course is served following the first and is also prepared with meat, poultry, and fish. The fish are native to the Caspian Sea and the range of fish dishes varies – fish Kebabs, soup Kyufta, as well as baked, fried, boiled, stewed, Pilaf with fish and even fish Dolma. Mainly sturgeon, salmon, white fish and others are used.

         Pilaf, as a king of all dishes, is always served at the center of the table. It is eaten between the second and the third course. Azerbaijani pilaf is prepared strictly according to certain rules, and differs in that all of its components are prepared separately. The type of Pilaf is determined by the previous courses. If the previous course included meat, then the pilaf is served with game or fish. If the game has been served as the first course as a soup and main dish included meat, then the pilaf is served either with eggs, herbs, or fruits. It is important to note that almost all pilafs are prepared with Saffron – the most delicious spice in the world.

        The main meat in Azerbaijani cuisine is lamb, but veal is used as well. Meat is used in the first and second courses in snacks and different dough products. Meats are abundant and versatile. They can be used as stuffing for dolma and as garnishes to pilaf.

One of the most popular dishes in Azerbaijan is Kebab, which is lamb strung on skewers and fried on a barbecue using the smoke from burning coals. For kebab, a majority of the entire lamb is used–the kidneys and liver as well as the flesh. There exists a variation of kebab called Lyu-Lya kebab, which is composed primarily of minced meat, and Tava kebab, which is lamb in the form of round or oblong cutlets friend in a pan. Kebabs made of fish, game, and vegetables are very common in Azerbaijan as well. Narsharab, a sweet and sour sauce made from pomegranate, is often served with kebab.

The Azerbaijani people eat their meals with sorbet, a drink made of sweet and sour fruit juices such as plum, lemon, grape, and pomegranate. Sorbets are served not only as a beverage, but also as a drink accompanying pilafs and meat dishes.All of the dishes served with bread called “Chorek”. Chorek is prepared from the fresh dough in a Tendir (a clay oven for baking bread and pastries).

At the end of the meal, tea is served again with the nation’s world-famous sweet pastries – Pakhlava, Shekerbura, Gogal, Badambura, Keta and others.
Different kinds of jams are served with the tea as well – walnut, sour cherry, cornel, sweet white cherry, and even rose petal.
Don’t miss the chance to cook and taste the delicious Azerbaijani dishes.

Amazing Contrast of buildings in Baku

Emancipated woman statue

Museum centre of Baku

Chiristal hall for concert

Port Paku 

Baku White City Office Building

Flame Towers

Haydar Aliyev Cultural Centre

view of Flame Towers from the old city

In my opinion for guiding you need to unite soul and love and respect to all universe.....

Me and my tourists from USA in the front of historical mosque

( 743 AD ) in Shamakha ( Friday Mosque)

Amazing tour with my Korean tourists around Azerbaijan.

Incrideble wiew of the Caspian Sea with my Canadian tourist Alex and Valeria.

Lahic - the city of coppersmiths and miracles....

Lahij (other spellings Lagich, Lahich, and Lahic)  (Azerbaijani: Lahıc) is a village and municipality on the southern slopes of Greater Caucasus within the Ismailli Rayon of Azerbaijan.

Population is approximately 860 people who speak the variation of Tati - Lahiji language of Persian language origin.

Lahij is a notable place in Azerbaijan, with its authentic handicrafts traditions, particularly related to copper. The village's carpet and rug crafts are also well known in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus. Lahij has an old sewage system (some experts claim that it was built 1000 – 1500 years ago). Due to frequent earthquakes local people have developed sophisticated and authentic construction techniques.

Information

Lahij is one of the most ancient human settlements in Azerbaijan. The Lahij District is located in the Ismayilli region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range at a height of 1211 meters above sea level.

The majority of the population of Lahij speaks the Lahiji language.  The residents of the region are usually bilingual: as well as the Lahiji language, related to the Iranian language group, the Azerbaijani language is also widely spoken.

Being situated on the left bank of the River Ghirdiman and the slopes of the Niyal Mountain Chain, the settlement of Lahij is a unique living district, with its unusual planning lay out, transport systems, and its public, private and religious buildings. Lahij is an example of early urbanization and architecture, as shown by its cobbled streets and squares, together with its developed sewerage systems and water pipelines. Subterranean kurabandis (‘sewerage system’), made from river stones, and dating back to almost one thousand years, are thought to be one of the most ancient sewerage systems used in the world.

The residents of Lahij are divided into three categories, based on their craftsmanship: Baadvan, Azavarro and Araghird. Each of these categories has its own village square, mosque, hammam and graveyard. One of the most striking features of the urban look of Lahij, is the village square of each category, which, today, still has its specific role in the public life of the village.

Earthquakes frequently occur in the region, and, as a result, a specific style of building construction has developed – which include certain styles and techniques in crosscutting stone and installation of wood. The ancient dwelling houses in Lahij have remained unchanged, as, during the past centuries, there have not been any significant changes in the urban planning. The ground floors of houses built in the main trading street are used as workshops and trade rooms. The traditional interiors of these Lahij houses include decorative tableware and other items, placed in different sized holes in the walls (known in Azerbaijan as takhcha, chamakhatan) and on wall shelves.

During the Medieval Period, Lahij became an important centre of craftsmen in Azerbaijan. Lahij master craftsmen could create forty types of items related to Folk Art.  These skilled craftsmen included jewelers, blacksmiths, carpenters, carpet makers, engravers, painters, tanners, shoemakers and bast shoe makers, sock weavers and others. Many valuable examples of the products of these skills are exhibited in famous museums and collections.

Copper work is the most important of the skills developed by Lahij craftsmen. Lahij is renowned for its production of arms and copper items, decorated with carved ornaments. The development of copper production triggered the formation of such professions in Lahij as tinsmith, blacksmith and others, together with the creation of bituminous coal. The structure and supplies of copper workshops, as well as its traditional external look and its production processes remain preserved today, as they were in previous centuries. Written sources,  as well as, the rich copperware collections that may be seen in the museums of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian and Europe, prove the existence of over 80 types of copperware equipment used in copperware manufacturing in Lahij.

Leather goods’ manufacture was the second biggest craft skill in Lahij, after that of coppersmith. The local leather goods’ master craftsmen were expert in using shagren, tumaj and yuft as raw materials for various products such as shoes, belts, leather quilted jackets, book covers and bridles. Leather production in Lahij created suitable conditions for the development of other craftsmen, with associated skills - such as saddle makers, bridle makers, cobblers, hat makers and sheepskin makers.

There is a large collection of Lahij products in the Azerbaijan Museum of National History, which reflects the many different and richly made items produced by the Lahij craftsmen. Many similar items are also to be found in the Russian Museum of Ethnography (Saint-Petersburg) and the Museum of Eastern Peoples (Moscow). The Louvre Museum in France also has a collection of items from Azerbaijan, which include a copper pot manufactured in Lahij. The Museum of Bern has a collection of firearms and weapons of cold steel, manufactured in Azerbaijan, which includes rifles, swords and sabres, richly decorated with ornamental patterns and inlaid work.

The major part of the cultural heritage of the Lahij represents interpretations of Islam, as well as folk rites, traditions, ceremonies and celebrations related to pre-Islamic faiths. Included within this heritage are the intercultural and inter-religious communications that were understood by the then peoples of Lahij.

The development of international tourism, together with more knowledge about the people and cultures, has resulted in a gradual interest in the cultural diversity of the Region. Lahij, in recent years, has attracted the attention of many tourists visiting from countries worldwide and as a result Lahij is now included in the travel tours of several leading tourism agencies.

Lahij, due to its unique and original features, has, throughout its history, been a centre of gravity for writers, scholars, artists and filmmakers, and, today, the residents make considerable efforts to promote the Region’s cultural heritage. Manaf Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani writer and journalist, who was originally from Lahij, published a book, in 1994, entitled “Lahij: Ethnographic and artistic insight”. The natural and manmade beauties of the Region are reflected in the paintings by the talented Lahij artist – Agha Mehdiyev.

The interest of scholars in the heritage of Lahij has been always at the highest level, and both Azerbaijan and foreign experts have written research papers about this unique village.

Films about Lahij and its residents have been, and presently are, shown at international contests and film festivals. The film called Emanet ("Heritage") directed in 2006, by filmmaker Shamil Najafzade, is dedicated to the unique culture of Lahij and to the current problems faced by its people. Lahij Pace (2008) directed by Fariz Ahmadov, was included in the competition at the Irpen Film Festival, which was held in Ukraine, and also at the 39th International Rushd Film Festival of Iran. This film received a prize and diploma at the Second International Festival – Turfilm-Riga-2009  – which is dedicated to films about tourism.

Both the State of Azerbaijan and the Lahij Community make continued and considerable efforts to preserve Lahij’s unique culture, applied arts and traditional system of arranging handicraft production, together with ensuring cooperation within both Lahij’s community and its neighbours.

Lahij was proclaimed a historical and cultural reserve by the decision dated 23 December 1980 of the Soviet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

Ancient capital and modern jazz.

     

Gabala (Azerbaijani: Qəbələ)  (Lezgian: Кьвепеле), also known as Qabala, is the most ancient city of Azerbaijan and the capital of the Qabala Rayon. The municipality consists of the city of Gabala and the village of Küsnat.  Before 1991 the city was known as Kutkashen, but after Azerbaijan's independence the town was renamed in honour of the much older city of Gabala, the former capital of Caucasian Albania, the archaeological site of which is about 20 km southwest.

History

Antiquity

      In the 60s BC, Roman troops attacked Caucasian Albania but did not succeed in capturing the Qabala territory. In 262 AD, Caucasian Albania was occupied by Sassanid Empire but preserved its political and economic status. In 464, it lost its independence due to years of invasions from the northern nomadic tribes and had to move its capital city to Partava(currently Barda in Azerbaijan).Gabala is ancient capital of the Caucasian Albania. Archeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of the Caucasian Albania as early as the 4th century BC. Ruins of the ancient town are in 15 km from regional center, allocated on the territory between Garachay and Jourluchay rivers. Gabala was located in the middle of the 2,500 year oldSilk Road and was mentioned in works of Pliny the Younger as "Kabalaka", Greek geographer Ptolemy as "Khabala", Arabic historian Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri as "Khazar". In the 19th century, the Azerbaijani historian Abbasgulu Bakikhanovmentioned in his book Gulistani Irem that Kbala or Khabala were in fact Gabala.

Feudal era

Gabala was occupied by Shirvanshah Fariburz, King David IV of Georgia in 1120, Mongol khan Timurleng in 1386, Safavidshah Tahmasib I in 1538, Persian Nader Shah in 1734 but was able to preserve its culture and identity. After the death of Nader Shah in 1747, Azerbaijan split into independent khanates and sultanates and Gabala became a Qutqashen Sultanate. It was also called Gabala Mahali. After Azerbaijan was occupied by the Russian Empire in 1813 it conducted administrative reforms and in 1841 Azerbaijani khanates were terminated and the territories were incorporated into governorates. Gabala area was added to Nukha uyezd of Elisabethpol Governorate. Due to archeological finds in Gabala, it was declared a National State Reserve in 1985.

Republic era

As of 2010s, Gabala is emerging as a magnet for events, such as the summit of Turkic Council in 2013. In 2013, the city was declared the Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in recognition of its long contribution to the history of Azerbaijan and the region. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Gabala embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history. Thousands of buildings from the Soviet period were demolished to make way for a green belt on its shores; parks and gardens were built on the land reclaimed by filling up the foothill of Gabala. Improvements were made in the general cleaning, maintenance, and garbage collection, and these services are now at Western European standards. The city is growing dynamically and developing at full speed on an north axis along the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Geography

The geographical position and mountainous relief of the city greatly influenced on formation of complex climate conditions in vertical droughty area, as well as on density of river network and richness of soil-vegetation cover. Relief and humid climate conditions of Gabala region led to formation of a thick river network in the area. The rivers of the city refer to the left branches of Kura basin and runs directly into Kura or the rivers of Shirvan zone.

The city is rich with chestnut and hazelnut trees.

Demographics

The economy of Gabala is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some manufacturing industries, mainly for food preserves, tobacco and silkworm cocoon drying. The city's main manufacturing industries companies involved in; engineering, construction, brewing and distilling and food manufacturing. There is also "Beltman" piano factory, founded in 1901 by Johann Beltman in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

Economy

Tourism and shopping

Gabala is considered a popular tourist destination due to the combination of a very good spring climate, woods along the mountains and excellent fauna was exploited by the construction of large numbers of hotels and apartments in city. Many sizable world hotel chains have a presence in the city.

The city contains "Gabaland" amusement park, an ice skating rink and a Greek-style theatre, built especially for outside concerts. Gabala has several shopping malls; the most famous city center mall is Gabala Mall.

Gabala is home to Tufan Ski Complex, one of the biggest ski resorts in Caucasus. The complex serves up to 3,000 people a day.

Culture

               Gabala also boasts many museums such as Historical Ethnography Museum of Gabala and Gabala Cultural Centre, most notably featuring Folk Theatre named after Jalil Mammadguluzadeh. Since 2009, city has been home of Gabala International Music Festival, which included performances from classical and jazz performers such as Al Jarreau and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Landmarks

Another landmark is the large Qabala Radar station, on the southern horizon as seen from Gabala, is one of only two Daryal-type missile early warning stations in the former USSR.Gabala is renowned for the ruins of an ancient walled city, Chukhur Gabala, dating back to the 4th century BC. The city has a large war memorial, numerous ancient stone houses and the Rashidbek monument, which is shaped as a huge book.

Parks and gardens

Gabala has large sections of greenery either preserved by the National Government or designated as green zones. The city includes "Gabalaland", which is the largest amusement park in Azerbaijan.

Sports

The city has one professional football team competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football – Gabala, currently playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League. The team was managed by former England and Arsenal player Tony Adams in 2010-11 season. The clubs holds its home games in the Gabala City Stadium.

The Gabala Horse Racing Complex is used for horse-racing tournaments. As of 2013, there is Gabala Shooting Club functions in the city.

Transport

Public transport

The city has a large urban transport system, mostly managed by the Ministry of Transportation.

Air

Qabala Airport is the only airport in the city, serves a number of domestic and international destinations including Russia.

Education

There are 4 primary schools, 4 secondary schools and 4 special schools in the town.

Healthcare

Gabala Central Regional Hospital is the largest hospital in the city, Gabala Children's Hospital and Gabala Treatment and Diagnostic Center, which specialises in rehabilitation and long term illnesses and conditions.