Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital can be described as a traveler’s dream with verdant landscapes and a glimpse of paradise. Baku, located at the confluence of Europe and Asia, is an underrated country that is completely off the radar, even for intrepid travelers. It is an unexplored treasure with an age-old history and futuristic architecture contrasting against the golden-hued old city giving it a mysterious charm. No one can possibly come up with a finer description of the city than Lonely Planet, who describes it as the architectural love child of Paris and Dubai. That’s exactly what it’s like: Epitome of east meets west.

Baku is also the largest city in Azerbaijan, with a population of 2,374,000 people. The capital’s name itself is interpreted as “wind blow” or “city of winds.” It is also the world’s lowest-lying national capital, as well as the largest metropolis located below sea level by 28 meters. The port city of Baku is located on the western Caspian Sea, on the bay shoreline in the southern portion of the Apsheron Peninsula, which is rich in oil resources.

Today Baku is known to have 30 museums, 7 theaters, a philharmonic, an opera house, a film studio, cinema theaters, and libraries housed in the city’s most beautiful buildings, all of which have an interior decoration that is every bit as good as their interior cultural content. There is little doubt that many things will alter over the next decade. Therefore: Now is an excellent time to go!

Planning the departure

Festive season calls for vacation. We, like everyone else, had no idea what a beauty Baku was. With time constraints and visa issues, our options were limited. We had heard a lot of good reviews about Lucky Holidays, so we decided to go with them for our travel plan. They were the ones who suggested this gem to us. After doing some research of our own, we realized it was a destination we should not miss, and we locked in Baku as our destination. The process of applying for and getting the visa couldn’t have been any easier. We applied for our e-Visa through Lucky Holidays, which arrived within two days. Excluding the customary documents, we were asked to keep our COVID vaccination card on hand for immigration. Everything, regarding the transportation and accommodations, was taken care of by the agency, which made our journey comfortable and stress-free.

Flight Details

We flew with Jazeera Airlines from Kathmandu to Baku, which included a short transit in Kuwait. Round-trip air tickets, as well as 30 kg of luggage and 7 kg of hand luggage, were included in the package price, as were all meals on board. For the meal we could choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The meal consisted of a wrap, chips, and soda, which was not as bad as the cliché “airline food is the worst.” The seats were very comfortable, keeping in mind that it was a budget airline. The toilets were clean and there were two of them. Extra pillows, blankets, and headphones were not provided and had to be bought, which is understandable considering the cost. The duty-free menu option was available on the plane and included a variety of goods like chocolates, hot meals, gifts, perfumes, jewelry, and much more. Jazeera Airlines had their own portal and a range of shows and films we could watch during our flight, making it easier for us to kill time. The total flight duration was about 6 hours from Kathmandu to Kuwait, an hour for transit, and then 2 hours from Kuwait to Baku. All VAT and airport taxes were included, and there was a private airport pick-up and drop-off service.

Getting to the hotel

We were divided into groups of eight, and our group consisted of me and my husband, a wonderful family of five, and an adventurous solo traveler. We bonded immediately, and the trip was made even more special as a result. We were picked up by our tour guide/driver at the airport in a luxurious car and taken to Hotel West Shine. It was a short drive to the hotel, and we were already mesmerized by the beauty of Baku. We didn’t know what to expect from the hotel, as it had been chosen for us by the agency, but all our doubts were brushed aside the moment we arrived. The service was excellent, and the staff were friendly and eager to help. The rooms were spacious, clean, and came with all sorts of complimentary items like toiletries, appliances, a robe, slippers, and a mini bar. As the hotel was located in the heart of Baku, we wasted no time in exploring the city. After a short rest, we decided to go for a walk, which instantly turned into a shopping and food hunting session as everything was located within walking distance from the hotel. In the morning, the hotel provided wonderful continental breakfast buffet with an array of options to choose from that got us ready for the adventure. Every evening, returning to the hotel after our excursion became an opportunity to do something new instead of calling it a day.

Itinerary

Our itinerary included five nights and six days. The first day was reserved for arrivals and checking in at the hotel. After getting a glimpse of the city, we were pretty excited for the trip to actually get started. The excursion program included:

The Flame Tower Complex – It is the city’s tallest building with the height of 182 m. Flame Towers, consisting of three high-rise buildings in the complex, give it the shape of a flame. It was quite a sight to behold when they projected a flame on the Flaming Towers.

Upland Park – It is the highest point in the Azerbaijani capital, opening a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the city and its bay. Just after some stairs, a little walk, and lots of pictures, we reached there and were almost carried away by the wind and Baku’s scenic beauty.

Old City Tour – Baku started from the Old City, as it is obvious from the name.

It is also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Defensive walls surrounding the area date from the 12th century, and within that was a city of winding and narrow streets, which passed a number of historical sites, including the Maiden Tower, a large stone fortress built in the 12th century amidst beautiful crisscrossing old streets that made us feel like we were traveling in time, and the Shirvanshahs Palace, a 15th-century palace complex consisting of the palace, the burial vaults, and the shah’s mosque giving us the royal vibes.

Fountain Square – The Torgovaya Street, which runs parallel to Baku Boulevard, is another name for the Square that is used in popular culture. It fulfilled our leisure fantasies, strolling around with Starbucks beverage in hand, shopping and enjoying.

Baku Boulevard – This 4-km-long promenade is located along the coast of the Caspian Sea. It is considered one of the longest promenades on the planet, with a total length of 5.75 km. It wasn’t just strollers, green areas, park benches, and the sea; there was also a 75-meter-high parachute jump tower, the new Carpet Museum (built in the shape of a rolled-up carpet), the International Mugham Center (Azerbaijani national music), and even the charming “Baku Venice,” one of the most photogenic places with a small network of waterways built to look like Venice, we definitely lived our Venice dream there.

Temple of Fire – The temple featured a natural, eternal flame, giving it its name. Unfortunately, the eternal flame went out in 1969 after a century of gas exploitation in the surrounding area. The fire is now re-lit thanks to a gas pipe brought in from another city. The temple itself is located in a castle-like fortification, with the fire located at the center, while the rooms of the museum surround the temple itself.

Fire Mountain – It is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously, which is the only remaining Fire Mountain now. Flames jet into the air 3 meters from a thin, porous sandstone layer. Thus, the fire was not as thrilling and wide coverage as we expected.

The Heydar Aliyev Center –It is probably one of the most beautiful and significant modern pieces of architecture in the entire city. It is a wave-like building rising from a bed of concrete. Its immobile white walls looked as though they had been frozen mid-ripple. The

Abstract architecture was unlike anything else in the capital city.

Gabala – It is small city about 200 km away from Baku, and it took us an entire day for this part. It consisted of a waterfall, Nohur Lake, and a hillside with a cable car. The road trip was great, but the view was not so much for us, who actually came from Nepal, a country of lakes and queen of natural beauty.

The last day was a free day which we utilized by going to the beach, where we soaked up quite well. After swimming a bit, collecting sea shells and making sand castles, we went to see the mud volcano next. Due to the water from the Caspian Sea, the mud volcanoes were surprisingly cold. Moving ahead, we went to try authentic food there and can say for a fact that it did not appeal our Nepali spice-filled palate; thus, we opted for pizza and the world-famous baklava in the end.

Safety

Baku was generally very safe. The citizens were very polite, approachable, and helpful. Even the taxi drivers and shopkeepers did not try to scam us. The eve teasing for women was nonexistent, and the citizens were pretty respectful toward girls. It is very safe to travel to Baku on any occasion alone, with a partner, with friends, or with family.

Budget

The total package cost was about 92,000 per person including flight tickets, accommodations and tickets to the places we visited. Baku was relatively cheaper in terms of shopping, so even with splurging on clothes, gifts, and fancy items for every meal; we spent about 250 dollars per person. Thus, it is also a pocket-friendly shopping destination where you can enjoy the vibes of Dubai, Paris, Venice, and London in a single trip.

– By: Neha K.C.