OLD CITY – ATESHGAH
Duration: 1 Day (6-7 hours)
Pick-up & Drop-off: hotel (within Baku)
Guide: Personal English speaking guide (other languages on request)
Transportation: Personal Driver & air-conditioned vehicle
Tickets: Entrance fees to Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs` Palace & Ateshgah
Customizable: Yes
Not Included: Any Meals, Fees for taking photos in historical sites, Personal Expenses, Insurance
Optional Sites: Azerbaijan State Carpet Museum; Azerbaijan History Museum; National Art Museum of Azerbaijan
Tour Highlights:
Ateshgah Temple
The temple of fire worshippers Ateshgah is located at the Apsheron peninsula at the outskirts of Surakhani village in 30 km from the centre of Baku and was revered in different times by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. This territory is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu community related to Sikhs. Pentagonal complex has an open courtyard with temple- altar in the center which was the place of pilgrimage for worshippers. By the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ateshgah was declared a State historical-architectural reserve. This museum under the open sky was recently restored. Different workshops and souvenir galleries are located here now.
Shirvanshahs` Palace
Palace of the Shirvanshahs is the biggest monument of the Shirvan-Absheron branch of the Azerbaijan architecture, situated in the Inner City of Baku. The complex contains the main building of the palace, Divanhane, the burial- vaults, the shah’s mosque with a minaret, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi’s mausoleum, a portal in the east – Murad’s gate, a reservoir and the remnants of the bath-house.
Maiden Tower
The Maiden Tower also known locally as Giz Galasi, located in the Old City, Baku, in Azerbaijan, was built in the 12th century as part of the walled city. Together with the Shirvanshahs’ Palace, dated to the 15th century, it forms an ensemble of historic monuments inscribed in 2001 under the UNESCO World Heritage List of Historical Monuments as cultural property, Category III.
Juma Mosque
Located in the historic Icheri Sheher (Old City), the mosque has been rebuilt several times. The present Friday Mosque was built in 1899 under the financing of Baku merchant Haji Shikhlali Dadashov. There are traces of a Zoroastrian temple at the site. A minaret, constructed in 1437, adjoins Friday Mosque.
Double Gates, Bazar Square, Caravan Saray and etc.