About this experience
To understand Azerbaijani culture, it is necessary not only to walk around Old Baku, but also to visit authentic villages on the Absheron Peninsula. In one day, you will visit Surakhani village with the preserved Fire Temple of Ateshgah. Experience the life of medieval settlements in the open-air museum of Gala village and enjoy traditional Azerbaijani tea with jam. In Mardakan, you will walk through Esenin's places and climb to the top of the fortress that withstood the onslaught of the Mongol-Tatars.
What to Expect
Legacy of the Fire Cult in Surakhani Village
Our first stop is the unique Surakhani Village, where you will visit the 18th-century Fire Temple of Indian fire worshippers Ateshgah. I will tell you about the history of these places, the traditions of the indigenous people, the construction of the temple, and the ancient fire cult. You will learn about new historical theories suggesting that Surakhani is older than its official age and also see oil production in the old quarters of the settlement.
Gala - Immersion into Ancient Life
In Gala village, the only historical and ethnographic reserve on the Absheron Peninsula is located, which you will visit. In the open-air museum, you will get acquainted with the ancient life of Azerbaijanis, see dwellings, household items, and rock drawings from the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. You will also see a mini-zoo, an antique museum, a non-standard museum 'From Waste to Art', and observe a medieval defensive tower from the outside. In the 18th-century courtyard, over a traditional Azerbaijani tea party with local jams, we will talk about the medieval life of the village, the unique breed of Galin sheep, and the local ancient catacombs.
Following Esenin in Mardakan Village
The ancient village of Mardakan is where Sergey Esenin lived in 1924-1925 on the former estate of millionaire and oilman Mukhtarov. You will visit Esenin's places and then observe an ancient ritual for healing diseases at a Muslim shrine. We will visit the mausoleums of Pir Hasan and Hajji Abu Turab, and by the monument to the millionaire and benefactor Tagiyev, we will talk about the life of this remarkable person. In addition, you will visit a 12th-century medieval defensive fortress that the Mongol-Tatars of Khan Tokhtamysh could not conquer: from the top of the fortress, you will see a panorama of all of Mardakan.
Organizational Details
Entrance tickets and transfers are included in the cost of the tour
