Ateshgah (Temple Of Fire), Mardakan Dendrarium, Yanardag (Burning mountain)

Description

Duration: 4-5 hours

10:00 Departure for excursion

                       Mardakan Dendrarium (1880)

Perhaps one of the most interesting monuments of Mardakan is the Mardakan Arboretum located on its territory. This beautiful garden was laid by the oil tycoon Murtuza Mukhtarov in Mardakan. This happened around 1880. More than two thousand most amazing representatives of the flora kingdom of Australia, Africa, America, the Mediterranean countries, Japan, China, Central Asia, the Far East, the Caucasus and other areas of the globe were collected in the Mardakian Arboretum. It was here that the episodes of the famous films  Arshin Mal Alan, Not That, So This,  Headless Horseman  were filmed. At the beginning of the twentieth century  the great Russian poet Sergei Yesenin lived here for some time and was convinced that he was being taken to Persia. In fact, he never visited Persia but  being in the Mardakans, he fell so in love with the atmosphere here that he later wrote the famous cycle of poems  Persian Motives.

Ateshgah (Temple Of  Eternal Fire of the XVI-XVII cc.)

Ateshgah  is a temple of fire in Azerbaijan, on the Absheron Peninsula, 30 km from the center of Baku, on the outskirts of the Surakhani village at various times revered by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Originated in the XVII - XVIII centuries in place of the  eternal  inextinguishable fires - burning natural gas outlets, thanks to which the temple bears the name  Ateshgah, which means  House of Fire,  Place of Fire.  The architectural complex is in terms of a hexagon with a jagged exterior wall and an entrance portal, in the center of the courtyard of which rises the quadrangular main temple - the altar, which was a place of pilgrimage for fire worshipers. Above the entrance portal is a traditional Absheron guest room (balakhana). The altar of fire to some extent reflects the ancient tradition of building altars, common in the territory of Azerbaijan in the Median era.
The first buildings of the temple Ateshgah belong to the II and III centuries. At that time, Zoroastrianism spread in Azerbaijan, in connection with which Zoroastrian temples were built in the regions. Temple Ateshgah acted until VII century. However, in the XVI-XVII centuries, he received a second life. At that time, the famous Silk Road passed through Azerbaijan, which attracted flows of people here. The pilgrims who came here from various countries, including from India, worshiped fire here. Pilgrimage Zoroastrians settled in cells of 3-4 people. Ateshgah consists of 26 cells and a central altar, which was considered here as the most sacred place. The temple has 20 valuable stone inscriptions located on cells. One of Zoroaster left them. The cells were used as living quarters, chapels, and caravanserais. Over the past year, two new cells have been opened. In these cells are collected some samples of objects belonging to the period before our era. Above the main entrance there is a traditional Absheron guest room. Not far from the temple there is a large burial pit, where earlier the bodies of dead Indians were cremated on sacred fire. Ateshgah temple is included in the original UNESCO World Heritage list.

14:00- 15:00 Lunch break (Master class on request)

 “Nush Olsun!” - “Bon appetit!”, They will tell you in every corner of Azerbaijan, cordially inviting you to an abundant feast. The most sophisticated gourmets who come to the republic will like the refinement and delicate aroma of Azerbaijani dishes. The history of the art of culinary recipes in Azerbaijan goes back centuries and is based on the vast experience of hereditary chefs that is preserved today. In terms of the composition and multiplicity of dishes, Azerbaijani cuisine is among the extremely diverse and healthy and is distinguished by an abundance of all sorts of meat, fish and vegetable delicacies, complemented by tender greens and savory spices. The dishes in tandoor are widely spread in the Azerbaijani cuisine. Trere are a large assortment of various sweets and drinks. Exclusive Azerbaijani dishes - dolma, bozbash, bozartma, chyhyrtma, khashil, kebab, piti, pilaf, govurma - are included in the national menu of many peoples of the Caucasus.

Yanardag (Burning Mountain)

Yanardag is one of the most amazing natural attractions of the Absheron Peninsula.  It is a flaming mountainside, which cannot be extinguished either by rain or covered with sand, which has been burning for several millennia. Not so long ago Yanardag was given the status of a historical reserve of Azerbaijan, the mountainside is on the protection of the state. Another local attraction is a cave located at the top of the mountain with the ominous name “Wolf Gate”. It is said that a pack of wolves once lived here, others claim that the rock paintings on the walls of the cave are evidence of the presence of primitive people here. 

14:30 End of the tour

Group tours schedule