Baku Map

About city :

Baku, also known as Baki apart from being the capital  and the largest city is the scientific, industrial and cultural center of Azerbaijan. It is the largest city of the Caucasus region. The name Baku comes from its Old Persian name, Bad-Kube meaning wind pounded city. Even today, the city experiences harsh stormy winds.

Records of the city exists from around 1st century AD. During the eighth century it was ruled by the Arab Caliphate and came under the rule of Shirvanshahs who were a Persianized dynasty of Arabic origin who established the Azeri state. In 12th century, the ruling Shirvanshah, Akhsitan I chose Baku as his capital. The city was conquered by Peter the Great of Russia in 1723. After prolonged conflict, Baku was formally ceded to the Russians by the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, Baku continues as the capital of Azerbaijan. The huge oil reserves of the area have helped in its economic prosperity. Today, the city occupies an area of 2,130 sq km and had a population of around 2.1 million.

Geography :

Baku is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea on the southern shores of the Absheron peninsula. The city lies 28 meters below the sea level making it the only capital of the world as well as the largest city that lies below sea level. The city is actually located on the wide Bay of Baku and is sheltered by the Baku archipelago. Several mud volcanoes like Keyraki, Bogkh-bogkha, and Lokbatan are located around the city. A number of salt lakes like Boyukshor and Khodasan are also present.

The city has a subtropical semi arid climate with hot humid summers and cold wet winters. Strong winds from the north and the south are common, especially in winter, southern Baku receives very little rainfall. This region is one of the worst affected areas of the world from air, water and soil pollution.

How to reach (transport) :
You can reach Baku in the following ways :

• The city is served by Heydar Aliyev International Airport that is located about 25 kms from the city center. Several flights connect the city with various destinations of Europe and Asia.
• Train journey is one of the cheapest options to travel to Baku, especially from other areas within the country. Train connections also exist with Ukraine and other parts of Russia.
• Bus routes connect Baku with Iran and Turkey.
• You can also reach Baku by sea. Ferries operate between Baku and Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

When to visit :

The best time to visit Baku is from January to April and September and October. These are the times when the weather is at its best. Winters are best avoided because even though snow is rare, strong, chilly gale force winds batter the city during this time.

Culture (fairs and festivals) and traditions :
All these are exhibitions are there not any traditional cultural festivals

Baku is not only the administrative but also the cultural capital of the country. Various festivals are celebrated in the city. These are:

• The International Baku Jazz Festival is one of the biggest events in town. Performances are given by various artists and groups.(This is not an annual event please verify)
• The Azerbaijan international Auto Show is held in May and attracts huge attention as many cars are imported. Cars, buses, trucks, motor cycles, equipments and spare parts are put on display.
• The World Food Festival is another important festival in Baku. The progress of the domestic food production is showcased with the display of canned, preserved, dairy, vegetable and meat products.
• The Caspian International sea food and fishery exhibition is held in May. Exotic fish, canned and processed fish products are displayed for both consumers and businessmen.
• The Agrihort Azerbaijan is a huge agricultural exhibition which seeks to explore the agricultural sector. The various products and equipment are displayed.

Points of interest (places to visit) :
There are several interesting sights in Baku. They are :

• The walled fortress of the Old city or Icheri Sheher has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It contains the Palace of the Shirvan Shah and the Maiden’s tower. The latter is a 29 meter stone tower which may have served as a beacon or a defensive tower or an astronomical observatory.
• Martyrs’ Lane in the southeast corner of the city is dedicated to those who died in the attack of the Red Army in 1990. A fine Turkish style mosque and a beautiful garden make it worth a visit.
• The Carpet museum contains over 1000 exhibits of rare and exquisite carpets from Azerbaijan, Iran and Dagestan. Apart from these, the Historical Museum, the Baku Boulevard, the Atashgah fire temple, the Armenian Church etc are other important sights of Baku.

Accommodation :

For a pleasant and relaxing stay, there are a number of stay options in Baku. Five star accommodations is offered by Golden coast, Marriott, Four seasons, Fairmont, Kempinsky, Hilton, Excelsior etc. A vast number of four star hotels are available like Austin, Yacht Club, Park Inn, Anatolia, Premium, Chirag Plaza etc. Three star hotels include Titanik, Giz Galasi, Swan, Alstadt etc. There are also a fair number of two star hotels, budget hotels and hostels in the city.