Although I had heard of Azerbaijan, I did not know about a place called Qabala. Azerbaijan has been chosen as a tourist destination for a quick getaway. He took a three-hour flight from Abu Dhabi on a Wizz Air flight and landed in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, at nine in the morning.
After paying $30 at the airport and getting an on-arrival visa (UAE resident visa holders can get an on-arrival visa), the driver sent by the tour agent, Ismail, was waiting for us with the car. Our first visit was to Gabala, a four-hour drive from Baku. I did not stop to enter any restaurant for the time being as I ate the snacks I kept in my hand.
When we reached Qabala, which is beautiful with its mountains, valleys and streams, it felt like we were in the same country where we landed. The serene village atmosphere, untouched by the hustle and bustle of the city, gave a lot of refreshment to the mind. Farmers engaged in work in the vast fields, grazing horses and sheep and green hills were a sight to fill the eyes and mind.
Seven-tiered waterfall
First we went to see the waterfall which is dripping in many levels (Yeddi Gozel Water Fall). This name means Seven Beauties. It flows down seven floors from the top. That’s why it got this name. There are stairs from the bottom to the top to see the waterfall. You have to go up to the highest level through the path prepared by nature. Getting there is not difficult as it is not that adventurous. There is also a small coffee shop where you can relax with the gentle touch of the splashing waterfall.
Mind blowing restaurant
Since he had not eaten much, he was beginning to feel hungry. Ismail took us to a beautiful restaurant next to Lake Nuhur. Take a seat at one of the tables arranged in an open manner next to the lake. Later, a dining area was seen above the water. You have to cross a small wooden bridge over the water to get there. There was no more thinking about owning the place for a while before someone else took over.
What a delight to eat while watching the white flamingos swimming in the blue water and the green tree covered mountains on the other side of the lake !! Turkish Kebab, spicy and tamarind dancing with different types of side dishes and hot patupath roti combined with a scene of wonder on the tongue. Lake Nuhoor does not appear to be a man-made lake. It has a charm that is so close to nature. Pedal boat and pony ride are also arranged there for the tourists.
After enjoying the beauty of the lake, we went for a cable car ride in the wild beauty of the mountains. You will wonder if the earth is so beautiful when you look at it from the sky. As if no matter how much you look at the blue mountains that are covered with mist on the top, it is not enough. Baby houses in the green valleys, grazing cows… the aerial journey in the cable car was an experience.
During the winter season, instead of the green shelter, the tourists will be attracted by the glow of nature sleeping in the blanket of white snow. By the time he came down from the airship, Surya had started to sleep. Accepting Nidra’s invitation to the warmth of the bed at Qabala Gardens Hotel, we too..
A children’s palace surrounded by nature
After a good night’s sleep and a sumptuous breakfast, set out to see Sheki Khan’s Palace. When we reached there, the rain clouds were waiting with steam. After paying five mannat for the ticket and five mannat for the guide, I entered through the gate of the palace. Built in the 18th century, this small palace was the summer residence of the ruler of Azerbaijan, Husayn Khan Mushtad. The shade and coolness spread by the plants and trees make the palace feel nostalgic.
The interior walls and ceiling of this two-storied palace are inscribed with exquisite paintings. It is amazing to see that these paintings, painted with natural dyes, remain vibrant even today. I couldn’t take photos inside because I wasn’t allowed. The guide was giving information about the palace in a good way. Another attraction here is the large windows made of stained glass.
The windows are decorated with shards of dark colored baby glass. The two huge centuries-old trees that grow tall in the courtyard of the palace have a regal splendor. He left the palace courtyard for a while, enjoying the beauty of the snow falling from the branches of the sky and moving in the wind. The wind that came with a light drizzle was covering the body and mind with a touch of coldness.
The Garden of Eden in Qabala
When the driver said that he was going to another garden, only the image of the garden that we usually see came to mind. The car turned from tarred road to off road. A rough path through the fields with tall green grass on both sides. Thin rain that paints a picture on the car window with small droplets.. A wide grassy field swaying in the wind.
I can’t sit in the car. ‘Can you stop… I want to get out…’ asked the driver. I got out of the car and filled my eyes with as much green as possible. Caressing the swaying grasses, walking a short distance with the heart-warming breeze.. the joy, the solace, the wonder, that nature bestows. By the time I got back into the car and went a little further, I reached the garden.
It is a private biogarden created adjacent to a house. After talking to the owner of the house, Ismail led us to the garden. They allow visitors to see the garden after paying a fee. A beautiful garden with a canopy of vines. The abundant presence of roses along with never before seen types of flowers was a feast for the eyes. Ismail picked some roses for us. The flowers are rich in color and fragrant.
Besides plants and flowers, chickens, ducks, pigeons and pond fish also add to that garden’s richness. After thanking the lady owner, she said something to her daughter before leaving. After paying the money, the girl took us to another garden opposite the house. An orchard immersed in greenery. Apples, plums, pears etc. are ripening. It was a terrible feeling when I picked the fruit from the tree and ate it without any pesticides applied. A heart-warming view of mountains trying to touch the soft sky in the distance.
Ismail couldn’t help but thank him for bringing him to the Garden of Eden. ‘The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they have to be felt with the heart’, the experiences that each trip imparts are true to Helen Keller’s words. I said goodbye to Qabala, a small paradise in the country of Azerbaijan, with the feeling of touching this beautiful land with my heart.