President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Pir Omar Sultan shrine in Shamakhi on September 17 and inspected conservation work carried out there.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the historic Pir Omar Sultan shrine is located in the Avakhil village of Shamakhi district. Initial archaeological studies conducted at the site uncovered the remains of a tomb dating to the mid-14th century, as well as artifacts confirming that it belonged to Pir Omar Avakhili, the founder of the Khalwatiyya Sufi order.
During their visit to Shamakhi in 2020, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the shrine and instructed that conservation work be carried out at the monument.
The remains of the shrine, built of river and rock stones, have since been conserved with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Eight graves were discovered and orderly arranged inside the shrine, including the grave of Pir Omar Avakhili, and around its exterior, belonging to other individuals. A wall made of the same stone material was built to protect the shrine and the surrounding area after the conservation work. An 8-meter-high canopy made of an octagonal metal structure was installed above the wall. A walking path for visitors was created around the shrine and the conserved area. Particular attention was paid to ensuring that the work did not damage the environment or the surrounding graves.
The conservation of the shrine is part of comprehensive state measures to preserve religious and historical monuments in Azerbaijan. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s support for the project reflects its significant contribution to the preservation of such sites carried out at the state level.
