Historic Azerbaijan – Shamakhi Tour & Cultural Highlights

Shamakhi Tour

Shamakhi Tour is an off-the-beaten-path trip to the center of wine-making and carpet weaving and the city of numerous Azerbaijan poets.  During Shamakhi Tour you will have a chance to see the habits of Azerbaijanis, to get information about its first mosque, and to explore the amazing view which is opening from the mountains.

In the 9th -16th centuries, Shamakhi was the capital of the Shirvan Empire, a residence of the Shirvan Dynasty it is by right considered one of the most beautiful cities of the Orient. In the mid-18th century, it used to be the center of Shamakhi Khanate. The main landmark of the city is the Gulistan fortress (11th – 12th centuries) – the last refuge of the Shirvan Dynasty built for the city’s defense. Equally interesting is the mausoleum of Yeddi Gumbez (“Seven Domes”) with numerous burial places of Shamakhi governors, Djuma cathedral mosque (10th century, reconstructed in the 19th century), numerous ruins of the 10th– 17th centuries. Present-day Shamakhi is a recognized center of winemaking and carpet weaving. Besides, it is a city of literature since it was the native land of many Azerbaijani poets. Right near Shamakhi, there is an amazing place called Pirkuli famous for its snowy hills. It is probably the only place in sunny Azerbaijan where you can enjoy an active winter pastime: skiing and snowboarding.

HIGHLIGHTS

Diri Baba  Mausoleum (Maraza Village)

The first stop of the Shamakhi tour is Sufi Dervish Mausoleum Diri Baba, located across from the old cemetery. For a long time, the residents have kept the legend that their imperishable Saint Diri-Baba had been buried. However, many other legends and mystical details are connected with this landmark. Therefore, since the 17th century, it has attracted pilgrims and simply curious visitors.

Juma Mosque, Shamakhi

The oldest and largest mosque in Azerbaijan, Shamakhi Juma, according to the legend was built in the 8th century when Shamakhi was chosen as residence by an Arabian caliph. The initial Arabian inscription on the portal of the mosque said that the mosque had been constructed in 744 AD. Therefore, Shamakhi Juma is considered one of the earliest mosques in the whole of Transcaucasia.

Shamakhi Observatory Center

The last destination of the Shamakhi tour is the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory an observatory in the Caucasus Mountains in Azerbaijan. It is named after Nasreddin Tusi (Shao). It is located on the eastern slope of Pirqulu, at an elevation of 1500 m. It has 150–200 clear, cloudless nights per year.

After we cover all the places mentioned above, we will finish the Shamakhi tour, and head back to Baku.

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