By Liz Collins.
Beautiful scenery, a relaxed environment, and fabulous activities for all the family can be found just 3 hours drive from Baku. Gabala is an area north of Baku and sits at the base of the Caucasus mountains which are carpeted in their entirety with walnut trees, offering any outdoor lover the chance to explore the never ending wilderness.
Gabala: An Ancient City known to Pliny the Elder
As the oldest city in Azerbaijan, Gabala is abundant with history and the local museum offers a great selection of archeological finds. The 2000 year old city is mentioned in the works of antique historian Pliny the Elder in his Natural History and was known to be the capital city of ancient Caucasian Albania (not the same country known in today’s europe) for 600 years, a truly wonderful location to pay a visit.
Gabala was a city of great importance and much was discovered during an archeological dig in 1959 by S.M. Gaziyev, an Azerbaijani archeologist. Although the ruins of the ancient city are still clear to see, Gaziyev’s findings revealed so much more. He found that one section of the city had been dedicated to the work of craftsmen as remnants of pottery, water pipes and precious metals testify. Most interestingly, items with seals emanating from Syria, India, Greece, Egypt and Rome have been found, showing that at one point Gabala was a centre for international trade. It can also be credited for it’s religious freedom and multicultural society. Gaziyev uncovered a religious pir or holy place that evidenced people from many religions had worshipped there. The graves that are still evident in the local vacinity show people had worshipped Islam, christianity, paganism and Zoroastrianism. Fire worship is thought to have been the most popular religion in Azerbaijan during the first settlements in the country; with the literal translation of Azerbaijan being ‘land of fire’. If history and exploration is of interest to you, most of his findings are available for all to see in ‘modern’ Gabala’s museum.
Locals could not do more to ensure the pleasure of your stay
Azerbaijan is often referred to as a country of contrasts and arrival in the Gabala region definitely enforces this notion. Although Baku can be credited with its astonishing futuristic architecture and wealth of historical museums, it offers little opportunity in the way of outdoor freedom. Gabala on the other hand offers parks (green ones), hiking, mountaineering and the locals could not do more to ensure the pleasure of your stay in their region. In the town itself English is spoken by only a few, so much gesticulation and talking loudly is required but in any of the resorts English is spoken fluently and they are run to European standards.
Caucasus Riverside Resort
The main hotel building
Modern Gabala can boast a wealth of excellent hotels and resorts. The Caucasus Riverside Resort which sits splendidly on the bank of the Damiraparan river is ideal for a weekend getaway or a week long break to provide maximum time for exploration of the area. The resort offers a 5* hotel, superb for couples, as well as the option of staying in self catering cottages which offer all the freedom required when travelling with a couple of kids in tow. The hotel has a number of fine dining options (but make sure you like lamb), a fabulous buffet breakfast and 24 hour room service (to the cottages as well as the hotel so don’t be alarmed when your dinner arrives on a golf buggy)!! Walks through the surrounding woodland, swimming in the pool or having a hearty workout in the fitness suite, gives you the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy time away from the city.
Within walking distance from the hotel is Gabaland, a theme park of reasonable size that can be enjoyed or completely ignored! It offers activities for toddlers with soft play areas as well as tempting any adrenalin junkie with it’s water slides and rollercoasters. It is clean, well maintained and the staff are genuinely happy to help. Although theme parks are not everyone’s idea of a relaxing weekend away, as a family day out it guarantees to satisfy…
Hugo flying high
For anyone who doesn’t fancy driving 3 hours just to get plunged into a freezing cold pool of water from a great height or doesn’t feel the need to be suspended in mid air from a rope wire then the options are endless and the theme park will in no way impose on your stay. Just a short walk away from the town you feel engrossed in nature, the 500 year old chesnut groves and with natural mineral water flowing really sparks a feeling of serenity. Cow’s graze in the empty, summer river beds and horses run wild through the fields and the orchards. An ideal opportunity to relax.
After spending a few days in Gabala you will be assurred that there is much more to the city than just it’s football team.
For more information at staying at the Caucasus Riverside resort, check out: www.qafqazriversidehotel.com
