Azerbaijan 1) Top places to visit:

Maiden Tower, Baku:

Maiden Tower is a monumental construction at the height of 29.5 meters and diameter of 16.5 meters. Maiden Tower situated in the southern part of Icheri Sheher (Old City) and is a symbol of Baku. The Tower consists of 8 tiers and looks like a huge stone cylinder, constructed on an out- crop of coastal rock, which drops off steeply. A stone dome with a round hole blocks each tier of the tower. A connection between the tiers was accomplished with the help of a spiral stone staircase, laid in the thick part of the wall.

Shirvanshahs Palace Ensemble, Baku

Its structures are located on the highest point of one of the hills of Icheri Sheher. It is called "Baku Acropolis" by right. The ensemble is spread over three terraces and can be seen from the sea.

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It consists of 9 constructions crowned with domes: "Divan-khane" with a beautiful portal, a chapel with cupola, burial-vault, a double-cupola mosque with a graceful minaret, a mausoleum of the medieval mathematician and astronomer Seid Yahya Bakuvi, East gates and a bath. Visitors are amazed by building’s perfection and minute stone carvings. It is truly worth to travel thousands of kilometers for seeing such beauty. It has been preserved in its youth for ages and reached us in all its beauty.

Ateshgah Temple, Baku

Ateshgah Temple "House of Fire" is located in 30 kilometers from the centre of Baku. These fires have been esteemed from the ancient shrine of fire-worshippers-Zoroastrians.

Gobustan Historical & Artistic Reserve

Gobustan is a rocky region situated among north-eastern spurs of the Great Caucasus mountain chain and the Caspian Sea, 70 km from Baku. The historical reserve of Gobustan is a museum under the open sky, where evidences of the epochs of Stone and Bronze Ages are concentrated- rock paintings and ancient human sites where people lived for centuries. More than four thousand petro- glyphs are preserved in Gobustan-images of people, animals, and scenes of labor, collective hunting and dance. 2

Absheron Sea Resort & Fortresses

Dozens of kilometers of sandy beaches, generous southern sun, sea waters with colors ranging from navy blue to light green invite you to enjoy the variety of exciting and relaxing activities at the sea resorts of Absheron: from sun bathing and swimming to active water sports. Absheron Fortress Round tower in Mardakan, at a height of 16 meters, is at the center of a square yard (25x25 meters), surrounded by stone walls of 7 meters. Defensive facilities were on the upper floor. Two inscriptions state that "the tower was built in the days of Gershasp, son of Farrukh- zadeh I, the son of Manuchehr X"; the date of the tower's construction is marked as 1232

Gizilagaj Reserve The Gizilagaj Reserve is one of the biggest reserves of Azerbaijan. Here one can observe rose flamingos, as if made of transparent china. Only in the reserve and in natural conditions this rare bird can be seen.

Goy-Gol Lake & Hajikend Resort Zone, Ganja

Located 25 kilometers to the south from Ganja, at the northern slopes of Murovdag, at height of 1566 meters over the sea level the most beautiful lake Goy-Gol is spread. This lake is outspread on the territory of identity national park and is one of the most picturesque sites of Azerbaijan.

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Khans Palace, Sheki

This is located in one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan - Sheki. Double-circled walls of the palace are covered by multi-colored paintings and frescos; the ceiling design repeats the pat- terns of huge carpet covered the floor in former times. The wooden embossing of window gratings "Shebeke" strike by their amazing beauty. Each fan of mysterious exotic East tries to see this chef-d'oeuvre by his own eyes.

Hydrogen-Sulphidous Springs, Guba There are hydrogen-Sulphidous springs on Hashichay River. Here, in the narrow gorge, hot waters of medicinal features are getting out of the rocks. Each construction at the size of 2x3 m is faced with the stone wall with the shed of the tree trunks. The stone bed of the bathroom fits to the medicinal procedure strike so much that even tourists spoilt by the city civilization spend their times here with great pleasure. Semi- dark, warm water from the rock makes you relax.

2) Best Time to Visit Azerbaijan: The optimal time to visit the northern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan is during the summer, and spring’s New Year’s holiday draws vacationers to Mazar-e-Sharif for the Rose Festival, Jashn-e-Gol-e-Sorkh. The southern and western provinces are more enjoyable during the spring.

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