Things to do in Gabala

The Gobustan Rock Art and Cultural Landscape, located on the western side of Khobstan, Azerbaijan, about 40 miles from the capital Baku, comprises three rock plateaus, with a core area of ​​537 hectares. The landscape preserves over 6,000 rock paintings dating from 5,000 to 20,000 years ago, depicting scenes of prehistoric human activity, animals, warfare, and religious dances. The area also contains Paleolithic to medieval settlement sites and burial remains, showcasing the trajectory of human settlement from the Wet Period to the Middle Ages. This region was part of the Shamaki District from 1930 to 1943 and from 1960 to 1990, and was renamed to its current name upon restoration in 1990. In 1966, the area was designated the Gobustan National Reserve and a National Historic Landscape of Azerbaijan, with the aim of protecting its natural and cultural heritage, including ancient sculptures and mud volcanoes. In 2007, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List according to cultural heritage criteria, its rock carvings documenting the connection between hunter-gatherer civilizations and the ancient Wet Period environment. Located between the Buyukdash, Kichikdash, and Jingirdagh mountains, this protected area is part of the larger Gobustan Protected Area, with a buffer zone of 3,096.34 hectares. The heritage site contains the easternmost known Roman soldier stone inscription and musical stones that produce sounds similar to hand drums. A museum at the entrance showcases the region's history through audiovisual materials and replicas of rock paintings.