Azerbaijani president, first lady inspect "Diri Baba" mausoleum under reconstruction UPDATED

18:50

On August 12, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the reconstruction works to create tourism infrastructure at the “Diri Baba” tomb in Gobustan district.

Fuad Naghiyev, chairman of the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the work carried out at the mausoleum, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Azerbaijani presidential press service website.

It was noted that "Diri Baba" mausoleum located at 1.5 km of the Baku-Shamakhi highway was built in 1402 by order of Shirvanshahs ruler Ibrahim I. It is a monument of architecture of national importance and is under the protection of the state. A part of the mausoleum, built in honor of one of the Sufi sheikhs, is placed in the rock, so it is considered one of the unique monuments of the Caucasus. The two-storey mausoleum, several artificial caves, and grottoes situated nearby, as well as a medieval cemetery opposite and the ruins of an ancient mausoleum, constitute a single complex.

The mausoleum, as the first important stop on Azerbaijan's northwest tourist corridor, receives a large number of tourists throughout the year. The creation of tourism opportunities in this area will contribute to the formation of local small businesses and tourism value chain on a community basis, using the tourism potential of other monuments of tourism importance in the region and the creation of a regional tourism cluster.

It was reported that along with the historical and cultural significance of the monument, its tourism potential has been evaluated, and in order to prevent degradation under the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors, the State Agency for Tourism has done a number of infrastructural and restoration works here.

A spring, an altar, and a gazebo were built, the pavement was renewed, the steps leading to the mausoleum were resurfaced, the area was landscaped and benches were installed. In addition, the mausoleum was illuminated at night and communications were renewed. A channel for mudflows was also restored, the mausoleum complex was fenced, and a parking lot for 20 cars was built.

It was noted that 40 tombs were examined in the 15th-century historic cemetery, which is an integral part of the monument, and their annotations were prepared. The territory of the cemetery was improved, the burial vault of one of the sheikhs was found, and archaeological works were conducted here. Eight caves around the monument were studied, and some of them were cleaned and prepared for tourists. The stone tombstone was studied and a digital copy was made.

11:03

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Gobustan District on August 12.

The head of state and the first lady viewed the reconstruction work in the district carried out for the creation of tourism infrastructure in the "Diri Baba" mausoleum, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Azerbaijani presidential press service website.