Going Underground: Discover Nakhchivan’s wellness culture, 110 metres below ground

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Going Underground: Discover Nakhchivan’s wellness culture, 110 metres below ground  Discover the natural wonders of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region – from an underground health centre to a lake perched high up in the mountains.  In partnership with Azerbaijan Tourism Board  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/10/28/going-underground-discover-nakhchivans-wellness-culture-110-metres-below-ground  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

Transcript

00:00I'm taking some time to reconnect in this episode of Around Azerbaijan.

00:07With myself and with nature.

00:09Come with me this weekend to Nakchivan

00:11to explore the region's health and wellness culture

00:14in some beautiful and unexpected places.

00:21Nakchivan is a unique place,

00:23an autonomous Azerbaijani republic wedged between Iran, Armenia and Turkey.

00:28The landscapes here are astounding,

00:30with imposing rock formations and formidable mountains

00:33that have inspired centuries of legend and folklore.

00:36Hiding beneath the surface of this arid land is a natural treasure.

00:40Dusdag Salt Caves, the largest health tourism facility in the region.

00:45I'm slowly descending 110 meters underground,

00:48and the temperature has already dropped significantly.

00:51It's a constant 18 degrees Celsius down here,

00:54perfect for escaping the summer heat.

00:56And the smell, it hits you right away.

00:58It's sharp, astringent.

00:59I never even realized salt had a smell.

01:03A former Soviet salt mine,

01:05the site now exists as a tourist attraction and sanatorium.

01:08People come from all over the world to treat respiratory issues

01:11from asthma to bronchitis.

01:13Head nurse Nurana is giving me a tour of the facilities.

01:28Tours are organized for everyone,

01:30but the beds are reserved for patients with a doctor's prescription.

01:33More than 70% are children.

01:35I strolled through the library,

01:54and admired the illustrations of animals a former patient sculpted directly into the walls of the cave.

02:07Before leaving Dusdag, I sat down for a drink in the cave's tea room,

02:11and a final moment of reflection.

02:13It's an oddly peaceful environment that feels light years away from the noise of the outside world.

02:23After finding inner peace deep underground,

02:25I'm reaching for new heights at my next stop.

02:28Lake Batabat is one of the most beautiful natural sites to visit in Nakchivan.

02:32It sits 2,500 meters above sea level,

02:35in the mountains of the Shabuz district.

02:38My guide today is Zayda from Nakchivan Travel.

02:41She knows this area better than almost anyone.

02:44Welcome to Batabat.

02:46Batabat is an attractively unusual upper valley,

02:49particularly a wooded area located in the northern part of the Nakchivan.

02:53People come here to actually have a picnic or a day out,

02:56and that's why we can say that we can choose here, these mountains.

03:00The site is popular with hikers.

03:04Zayda showed me some of the beautiful views Batabat is known for,

03:08like the quirky floating islands that skate around the lake untethered,

03:12and the Zor Bulag, a natural spring gurgling with pure icy cold water year-round.

03:18Each season brings something new to discover.

03:26There are medicinal plants and edible flowers all around the lake.

03:29In the spring and summer, you can forage for them with an expert guide.

03:32But all year round, you can buy them from little stalls like this one,

03:35which also sells fresh honey.

03:41Lake Batabat is also a popular picnic site for locals.

03:44Saida is taking me to a nearby village to buy some snacks so we can have our own.

03:49These are Azerbaijan traditional foods.

03:53It is called gutab.

03:55We are using sin daf and also different ingredients.

03:59We can use greens, herbal greens.

04:01We can see the meat and cheese.

04:03But now we are using some greens as mostly spinach and green onions.

04:09We put together quite the spread.

04:23Vegetable and meat kutab,

04:25fresh bread made in the tandir,

04:27pickled vegetables,

04:28and pastries stuffed with walnuts and onions.

04:31All Nakjivan specialties.

04:33And of course,

04:34no Azerbaijani meal would be complete without hot tea.

04:42My trip to Nakjivan has been a breath of fresh air,

04:44quite literally.

04:45From the top of these mountains

04:47to the depths of the Duzdug salt caves.

04:49It feels like a return to the essential.

04:51A chance to enjoy life stripped of all of its ornaments.

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