SHAMAKHI – LAHIJ
Duration: 1 Day (9-10 hours)
Distance: from Baku to Lahij 180 km
Best time: March – October
Itinerary: Baku – Shamakhi – Lahij – Baku
Pick-up & Drop-off: hotel (within Baku)
Guide: Personal English speaking guide (other languages on request)
Transportation: Personal Driver & air-conditioned vehicle
Customizable: Yes
Not Included: Entrance fee, Any Meals, Fees for taking photos in historical sites, Personal Expenses, Insurance
Tour Highlights:
Diri Baba mausoleum, Juma Mosque, Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum, Lahij village
SHAMAKHI
Shamakhi is an ancient city of Azerbaijan founded in the V century BC. In XI-XVI centuries it was a capital of the
kingdom of Shirvan and a residence of Shirvanshahs. Shamakhi was one of the most beautiful cities in the East. The most favorite place of pilgrimage for tourists is the settlement Pirqulu which is located at the distance of 22 km from the centre of the district at an altitude of 1400 m. The biggest astrophysical observatory in Azerbaijan and in Caucasus is also in the village Pirkuli.
Shamakhi district is interesting not only for its rich nature but for an ancient history as well. Despite the numerous earthquakes in Shamakhi there are many historical monuments still preserved: the Juma mosque with two minarets (743rd year), the mausoleum Shahihandan (XV century), the tomb of Shirvan Khans – mausoleum Yeddi Gumbez (Seven Domes) (XVIII-XIX centuries), the mausoleum “Diri-Baba” built in 1402, the ruins of the Gulistan citadel (XI- XIII centuries). The list of sights of the Shamakhi can be continued.
LAHIJ
The Alpine settlement Lahij located in Ismayilli region of Azerbaijan is an original monument of antique urban and architectural art. This medieval town with cobbled streets and squares is one of the most famous craft and trading centers in the Caucasus and beyond (“Copper craftsmanship of Lahij” inscribed in Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO). Lahij became especially famous for manufacturing knives and copper utensils, decorated with engraved designs. Even today a dozen workshops operate here, demonstrating hereditary blacksmiths who make various household items in front of the astonished tourists. The very first residential block in Lahij was founded in III-IV centuries. It is astonishing that the water supply and sewage system, operating in the city, is about one and half thousand years old! The 2 km long tri-level sewer is paved under the main street, to a depth of 1 m. The upper two levels of the pipes are for the drinking water and water for industrial purposes. The lower part of the sewer is a rectangular trough lined with river stone. It is designed for wastes that come through the holes provided in the yard of every home. None of the residents know where the drainage begins and where it ends, and the principle of how it works, yet the collector has been functioning for many centuries. Now Lahij is a historical and architectural memorial protected by the state and the appearance of the settlement is preserved in its original form.