Balakhani settlement, known as the place where the first oil wells of Baku were drilled and rich in historical monuments, now draws attention with its renewed appearance. The landscaping works carried out in Balakhani, along with all infrastructure projects—renovation of sewage and electricity lines, buildings and their roofs, roads and streets—serve to ensure comfortable and improved living conditions, employment opportunities, and a better environmental situation for local residents.
The improvement works in Balakhani cover the historic part of the settlement dating back to ancient times and the early 20th century. This area spans approximately 10 square kilometers and is home to about 16,000 residents.
As a result of the works carried out in the settlement, the central sewage system and the lines extending to individual houses (35,000 linear meters) have been renewed; the central electricity line has been upgraded, and individual houses have been connected to it (31,000 linear meters); and 60,000 linear meters of new communication lines have been installed. Most of these utility lines have been placed underground.
The landscaping activities in Balakhani covered Dirchalish, Safavilar, Yanardagh, Samed Mansur, J. Jahangirov, M. A. Sabir, and Rahib Gadimov streets, where stone paving and lighting lines were installed. At the same time, dilapidated walls along the streets were demolished, restored, plastered, and painted.
A total of 70,000 square meters of new asphalt has been laid on the settlement’s roads; building façades have been restored (50,000 square meters); and 42,000 square meters of roof covering has been renewed. Fifteen thousand square meters of stone paving has been installed on historic streets. More than 100,000 trees and plants—including pomegranate, olive, Eldar pine, and grapevines—have been planted. Additionally, as part of employment initiatives, 120,000 lavender and rosemary plants and 15,000 rose bushes have been planted.
To support local employment, 1,000 people have been engaged in the works carried out in the settlement, 700 of whom—70 percent—are local residents. At the same time, food and beverage establishments, cafés, teahouses, and workshops specializing in painting, and carpet weaving play a significant role in providing jobs for local residents.
Before the oil boom of the early 20th century, Balakhani held strategic importance as it was located along the Great Silk Road. For centuries, it served as one of the main stops on the trade route stretching from China to Spain. For this reason, Balakhani is rich in historical architectural monuments. During the restoration works, the historical appearance and architectural heritage of these monuments were carefully preserved.
The Mirza Alakbar Sabir Park in the settlement has also been restored. The Shah Safi Caravanserai (1635–1636), commonly known among the population as the Khaja Ruhulla complex; the Haji Shahla Mosque (14th century); the Shakir Agha Mausoleum; the “Sand Bathhouse” (14th century); and the 40-Step Ovdan (14th century) have all been restored. To collect water from the source of the 40-Step Ovdan, one must descend 40 steps. Historically, this ovdan provided Balakhani with drinking water.
At one time, there were 18 bathhouses in Balakhani. Nearly every neighborhood had its own bathhouse, each differing in name and architectural style. The “Sand Bathhouse” of Balakhani consists of three interconnected sections and is considered one of the ancient structures of the settlement.
As a result of the improvement works carried out, Balakhani has now been designated as a new tourism route. This will encourage the establishment of new business entities in the settlement, particularly in the fields of craftsmanship, services, and trade.
