Basqal

Basqal is a historic village in the İsmayıllı District of north-eastern Azerbaijan, on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Archaeological finds point to at least 2,000 years of settlement here, and local tradition credits its founding to the 4th century; the village sat on a branch of the Silk Road and grew into one of Azerbaijan's leading centres of silk production and craft. Basqal is best known today for kəlağayı, the hand-dyed and block-printed silk headscarves it has produced for generations — Basqal silk was exhibited in London as early as 1862, and the craft of kəlağayı-making was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. Artisans still hand-dye silk in the village, and the Basqal Silk Centre houses workshops and a small kəlağayı museum alongside its stone-built old quarter.

By Plane

The nearest major airport is Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD IATA) in Baku.

By Car / Road

Accessible by road from Ismayilli (about 15 km). Taxi from Ismayilli is the most practical option.

Walkable.

• Basqal Silk Centre — workshops where kəlağayı silk headscarves are still hand-dyed and block-printed, with a small on-site museum.

• Stone-built old quarter and narrow village streets.

• Walking tour of the historic village and silk workshops.

• Watch or learn about the traditional kəlağayı dyeing and stamping process.

Tea.

Kəlağayı silk headscarves and other silk goods, sold directly by village artisans and at the Basqal Silk Centre.

• Ismayilli — district centre.
• Lahic — famous copper-working village.
• Sheki — historic city.