Shamakhi- Ismayilli (Basgal)

Description

Duration: 11 hours

09:00 – Departure from Baku

10:30 - Shamakhi tour

                                                                              Shamakhi

Shemakha (or Shamakhi) is located in the southern part of the Greater Caucasus, 122 kilometers from Baku and lies at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. Founded in the V-IV centuries BC and was one of the cities of Caucasian Albania, and was also the capital of the State of the Shirvanshahs in the X century. The city is replete with mountain forests and meadows, and therefore most of the area is a resort area with many mountain water springs. It should be noted that since ancient times Shamakhi was famous as one of the centers of carpet weaving and trade in Azerbaijan.

 

Mausoleum of Diri Baba (1402)

Diri Baba - this unique monument, a masterpiece of the Shirvan architectural school, is located in the village of Maraza. For a long time, local residents believed that a saint named Diri Baba was buried and remained imperishable at this place. However, many legends and mystical details are associated with this monument. The peculiarity of the structure is that the architect "mounted" the tomb in the rock, as it were, and it seems that it is kept "on its weight", torn off the ground.

 

Seven Domes (Yeddy Gumbez) ​​(XV c.)

  Appearance of Mausoleum of Yeddi Gumbez or “Seven Domes” dates back to the XVth century. So the people call the tomb of the Shirvan rulers in Shamakhi. Seven Domes - just as many tombstones are in the crypt.

 

 

Juma Mosque (743)

The Juma Mosque is the oldest Friday Mosque in the Caucasus and the entire Middle East after the Derbent Juma Mosque. Built in 743 by Abu Muslim, as evidenced by the inscription on the wall of the mosque, revealed in 1902. This mosque is still a place of pilgrimage for Muslim Shiites.

 

13: 00-14: 00 Lunch break (in Shamakhi or in the village of Baskal)

"Nush Olsun!"- “Bon appetit!”, They will tell you in any corner of Azerbaijan, cordially inviting to a plentiful feast. The most sophisticated gourmets coming to the republic will like the sophistication and delicate aroma of Azerbaijani cuisine. The history of the art of creating recipes in Azerbaijan goes back centuries and is based on the vast experience of hereditary cooks, which is preserved today. According to the composition and variety of dishes, Azerbaijani cuisine is one of the most diverse and healthy, and is characterized by an abundance of all kinds of meat, fish and vegetable delicacies, complemented by delicate herbs and piquant spices. Tandoor dishes are widely used in Azerbaijani cuisine. A wide assortment of sweets and drinks is presented. Exclusive Azerbaijani dishes - dolma, bozbash, bozartma, chyhyrtma, hashil, barbecue, piti, pilaf, govurma - are included in the national menus of many peoples of the Caucasus.

 

15:00 Arrival in Ismayilli

                                                                             Ismayilli

At the foot of the picturesque southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, the small but beautiful city of Ismayilli, formed in November 1931, is comfortably located. The former village of Ismayilli received the status of the city in 1967, after which Ismayilli became part of 11 cities of republican subordination. At the same time, only 5 part of the entire population of the region lives in the city itself, in which there are 2 more urban-type villages and 106 villages. The rich history of this region goes back to ancient times until the Stone Age. The saturated ancient historical events of Azerbaijan certainly covered the territory of the Ismayilli region. It is known that by the end of the II or the middle of the I century BC. e., this region of Azerbaijan belonged to the ancient state of Caucasian Albania. The economy of the Ismayilli region is mainly based on viticulture, winemaking, agriculture and livestock, the main industry of which is sheep and cattle breeding. Of course, the diversity and contrast of the rich nature of the Ismayilli region is its main attraction, which the most tourist from around the world want to see.

Baskal is a village with cobbled and narrow streets in the Ismayilli district, located at an altitude of 998 meters above sea level. The village is known for its ancient history and unique natural beauty. Medieval mosques are located here, the first was built in the XIth century, the second in the XIVth century. An old bath dating from the XVIth century has survived. The village is included in the state cultural and historical reserve and is protected by the state. In contrast to the Tatian-speaking Lahij, located relatively close, the population of Baskal is Azerbaijani-speaking. The main attractions of the village are:

 Demirchi Bazaars

A wide area is the center of the village. In the past, it was the center of the Baskal culture and trade. This square offers a beautiful panorama of the Sayad Mountains, Fit and the surrounding forests. The only historical site of the hammam quarter dates back to the XVIIth century. Baskal was one of the stops on the Great Silk Road. Demirchi Bazaars, where caravans always stopped and traded, was a very busy place. In the quarter there is a plane tree, planted back in the XVIth century, in a huge trunk hollowed out at one time there was a teahouse, and then a hairdresser.

 

                                             Kelagai Academy

Kelagai people call "flowing silk - a symbol of tenderness." This material is mysterious in itself. And the way it is born, and in its characteristics. Silk thread is incredibly thin, but at the same time incredibly strong ... Silk warms and gives coolness. In a word, the ancient Azerbaijanis were right when it was chosen for the women's headdress - the kelagai. The traditional art and symbolism of kelagai, its manufacture and wearing were included from Azerbaijan in the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. Kelagai  is a silk scarf made of untwisted threads, hand-made, with a printed pattern, made in the traditional way of reserving wax. There were kelagai for different occasions, and when it was worn, there were even age and social differences: older women wore darker colors - black, navy blue, younger ones brighter - white, beige, bright blue, etc. Kelagai multi-colored were more popular. To this day, the tradition of the production of kelagai is still alive in Azerbaijan. Its center is İsmayilli.

 

Hamam of the XVIth century

The Chinar Tree, which until 1975 functioned as a teahouse

18:00 Departure from Ismayilli to Baku

20:00 Arrival in Baku (End of tour)

Group tours schedule