This is the town of Gabala, which is called the pearl of the Caucasus. It`s called Switzerland of Azerbaijan as well. With its fascinating geographical location,
Gabala is one of the old Azerbaijani towns.
In some sources the town is mentioned as Vostani-Martspan or Kavaqak. Great Pliny mentions Gabala in his works as Kabalaka, the major town of Albania. Gabala is located on the right bank of the Damiraparanchay River, and Tikanlichay, Qumchay and Vendam rivers flow through its territory.
Gabala, which is more than 1800 years old, was the capital of the Caucasian Albania for 600 years. Although the Caucasian Albania, which combines signs of all eras and cultures, does not exist on the world map today, Gabala has kept this culture until today. Exhibits of stone inscriptions and remnants of this ancient town, ruins of which are located 15 km from the center, the area between Garachay and Covurlu rivers are preserved in the Gabala Historical Ethnography Museum.
Having become an important tourism attraction and recreation venue, Gabala is today distinguished by its development. ... New buildings, social facilities, industrial enterprises, educational, health and cultural facilities, the state-of-the-art infrastructure. This list can be further expanded. This development, which was achieved in just a few years, turned Gabala into one of the most beautiful and modern towns in the region. Gabala is today one of the important political, economic and trade centers, which can be compared with famous towns. Gabala, with remains of great ancient buildings, castle walls and monuments of material culture, is modernizing and developing.
A new bus station was built in Gabala, with buses running from the town to Russia, Baku and Azerbaijan`s suburbs. New bus routes will soon be launched to link the town with Turkey and Iran.
Flights from the Gabala International Airport on Gabala-Moscow and Moscow-Gabala routes are carried out three days a week – Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The price of round trip tickets is between 230-300 manats depending on the booking day. The tickets can be purchased online on the website of EC Alliance company (http://res.ec-alliance.aero/newres/timetable#timetable-pricing). Apart from Gabala itself, the airport also serves other suburban regions. There are seasonal flights from Gabala to Baku. The Gabala Airport receives cargo aircrafts as well. Negotiations are underway to open flights to Turkey, Iran and Ukraine.
Having become a popular tourism attraction for foreigners, Gabala is already famous beyond Azerbaijan, which is well illustrated by the yearly growing number of foreign visitors to the town. Gabala has experienced tourism boom in recent years.
There are three and five star hotels and recreation complexes in Gabala, including Karvan, Gabala, Qafqaz Resort, Qafqaz Sport and Qafqaz Riverside hotels. In addition, tourists can rent cottages and houses on the outskirts of the town. The prices vary between 30 and 1,100 manats, and include breakfast, swimming pools, and the use of entertainment places. If you wish to stay at private houses, packages without meals costing between 20 and 500 manats are offered.
Under a special program, a golf court, a golf club, a hotel, villas and other relevant infrastructure will be built on an area of 80 hectares between the Damiraparan River flowing through Gabala and the surrounding mountain range.
There is a shooting club in the region, which includes clay shooting, one of the disciplines which form part of the shooting programme at the Olympic Games.
Though Gabala is mostly a resort place, industry is also developing here. There are a milk processing plant, a cattle-breeding complex, tobacco, cement, canning factories and winery complexes in Gabala, with production exported to different countries.
There is well known Beltmann Piano Factory in the town. Beltmann pianos are made only in the Gilan factory in Gabala, with the facility`s annual production making 1,200-1,500 pianos.
Ancient Gabala has already become a musical center of Azerbaijan, with Gabala International Music Festival bringing together popular musicians and performers from around the world every year.
Gabala is also known for innovations in Azerbaijan`s football as local club, FC Gabala, founded a first ever football academy in Azerbaijan in 2007 as part of its policy aimed at developing youth football in the country.
“Tufan” Summer and Winter Ski Resort is located four kilometers away from Gabala. This rope way and mountain skiing complex will consist of eight stations. The first station is located at an altitude of 950 meters, while the last of 1,920 meters above sea level. Two rope ways are ready to be commissioned. Assembly work has also been completed at the stations located at a distance of 1,414 meters from each other and at an altitude of 1,250 and 1,650 meters above sea level respectively. The rope way is designed to serve up to 1,800 people an hour.
Gabala has very diversified tourism routes.
Gabala is famous for its combination of a very good spring climate, woods along the mountains and excellent fauna. The Nohur Lake and Yeddi Gyozel (Seven Beauties) waterfall, as well as Leze village should be especially mentioned.
Gabala is rich with must-see-places. Strong and well-considered economic policy has led to a dramatic change in Gabala`s look, with the town presenting a perfect composition of intellect and nature.