Azerbaijan - Qobustan, Atesgah, Yanar dag

AZERBAIJAN DAY 1

Azerbaijan is the country adjacent to Georgia,  Armenia,  Iran.

Some facts on Azerbaijan :

• Islamic country
• But modernized
• Nice picturesque villages
• Modern architecture in Baku
• Has experienced Genocide through Azerbaijan by Armenians when they tried to capture the country.
• They still have a rift with Armenia and deny visa if you have traveled recently to Armenia.

Day 1 : Qobustan,  mud volcanoes, Atesgah fire Temple, Yanar Dag, Heydar  Aliyev cultural Centre.

We arrived at 2 am in Baku International Airport. We had booked Aksent hotel and had arranged with them  for airport pick up. So our driver was waiting for us with placard and then we left to hotel.  After checking in procedures,  we enquired with the reception if there is any tour arranged by them. They immediately called the driver who had dropped us and asked him and he agreed to  take us to Qobustan,  mud volcanoes, heydar aliyev cultural center and many more places around Baku for 140 AZN.

I had read few tour prices in trip advisor and this price seemed reasonable for a private trip in his car.. We agreed and after  a good,  breakfast left for the trip.

Gobustan

We first went to Gobustan  closed museum. The entry fees is 5 AZN for each person,  1 AZN parking fees.

From there we went to open museum, where you can see the rock carvings in pre historic man. The species HOMO Erectus before Homo Sapiens  has lived there.

Visiting the closed museum first helps to understand the rock carvings in the open museum   better.

Indeed a UNESCO World Heritage site.

MUD Volcanoes

After this we changed our car and went to mud volcanoes... It's a bumpy road and if you have a nice car,  you would not want to take it there. The 2 way trip in the car with driver cost 30 AZN. Mud volcanoes were still spurting water and this is due to the pressure beneath the earth surface.

There also is a natural gas pool  in the same location.

Yanar Dag

From here we went to Yanar Dag. The entrance fees here is 2 AZN. Here the Natural gas from beneath the earth surface is continuously  getting burnt into huge flames. So it looks like fire from a rock that has been around for many many years.

The heat near the rock itself is too much  and there are scriptures written many many years ago, that the fire was burning then.

Atesgah Fire temple

We drove to  Atesgah fire Temple. The entrance fees is  4 AZN. This was the fire  temple that was worshipped many years ago by Zorastrians and Hindus. Fire in the middle of the temple was burning continuously forever. There is a well,  food storage pit,  cremation pit and many rooms. After going around the temple and feeling blessed to have visited the temple,  we left for Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre..

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre

This place is very vast and has a beautiful garden with lawn,  fountains.. Wen you climb   up the broad steps,  you reach the main building. 
Ticket price is 15 AZN  for the museum.After buying tickets,  we entered the museum, it has many floors.
In the ground floor,  few cars used by the President of Azerbaijan which are a rare make are exhibited.

In the first floor, all Miniature buildings of  Azerbaijan are exhibited.
In the second floor,  many dolls that exhibit different Azerbaijan culture and fables are displayed.

In the third floor,  many gowns and dresses of Azerbaijani women are displayed.

Also I love Baku sign is in this location.

Our trip itinerary actually included few more places in Baku,  but since it was already late,  we returned to the hotel.
We paid the same amount that was decided for the trip,  even though not all places were covered.

We also decided with the same driver for a trip to Quba for the next day . He requested 180 AZN and we agreed.

Had some food in the room and slept..