Date: 11th May 2026
Travelled: 330kms from Baku to Sheki in Azerbaijan
Visited: Diri Baba Mausoleum and the Juma Mosque
Stayed: Sheki Park Hotel in Sheki, Azerbaijan
Our last evening in Baku was spent having drinks and a meal in the hotel. The local dishes are really delicious and reasonable priced. There is a strong similarity with Turkish cuisine.
A long day in the bus ahead of us we load up and escape Baku. We are tracking north-west into central Azerbaijan today. The freeways are excellent and we make good time for 70+ kms and the traffic slows to walking pace. This goes on for an hour before disappearing as quickly as it occurred.
Our first stop is Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza Village. The mausoleum dates to 402 stands on the side of ravine. Our guide organises the ticket whist a long queue forms at the rest rooms.
Our guide tells us the stories surrounding the long living grandfather and the different faith of Islam worshiped here.
After our visit to the Mausoleum we walk the adjoining graveyard, pictured above.
Then itโs back on the bus to the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi. Our arrival luckily time with the end of prayers.
The original mosque dates to the 7th century, the first built in the caucuses but the current version being the built after the Russians took offence to the previous version as they do. However the blurb tells us earthquakes and historic battles have also required extensive repairs. Today the Juma Mosque is the largest outside Baku.
We arrive in Sheki, itโs been a long drive. Sheki was once the capital of the Kingdom of Sheki. Today a population of 68,000 people. The bus drops us at the city fortress, Sheki Khan Palace.
The organised tour was interesting, but photos were only allowed in one room. The palace coloured glass windows and frames amazing.
The palace done we have 15 minutes to wander the gardens taking in the kitch, pictured below.
Everyone is running out of steam as our guide pulls out the whip and encourages us down the hill to the Caravanserai. Built in the 17th century as a travellerโs inn on the Silk Road for accommodation and stables. It served as a trading point for local merchants.
This particular Caravanserai has been added to with a second floor thatโs a hotel for modern travellers. But the pictures show some original features.
Our visit to Sheki done, we find our bags waiting in the foyer of the hotel and we make ourselves comfortable for the night. The cover photo a late 1960 GAZ classic Russian.
Michael + Pam
