Getting There
You can get there by bus №216 from “Koroghlu” metro station. Bus stop near the Balakhani village, but you still need to walk at least 30 minutes.
You can also get there by taxi or private car.
What to Expect
Azerbaijan’s historical oil settlement – Balakhani village, which is known as the first oil cent on Absheron peninsula, has today turned into unique open-air art gallery, where houses are painted with colorful images.
Today throughout the village you’ll notice little artistic touches, whether it be a row of colorful birdhouses, a sculpture depicting a scene from the famous film “If Not That One, Then This One” (“O olmasin, bu olsun”), or uplifting wall paintings, all of which are the handiwork of local artists. Visitors can admire a 17th-century “Shah Safi” caravanserai frequented by traders and travelers in the days of camels and caravans who used Balakhani as a stopover on route to Baku.
History
During the so-called Oil Boom of the late 19th, early 20th centuries, Balakhani was at the forefront of Baku’s incredible grow into one of the richest cities. It was here that much of the city’s “black gold” was extracted.
In Balakhani there are also the unearthed remains of the 15th-century Gum Hamam (Sand Bath), a mausoleum erected in 1428 and a rejuvenated ovdan – a historic means of underground water storage unique to the Absheron Peninsula. You can also explore Balakhani with EZOne Tours (ezone.az).
Facilities Available
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets
- Mirza Alakbar Sabir Park
