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Ashabi-Kahf — The Cave of the Seven Sleepers in Nakhchivan

Ashabi-Kahf is tied to the story of seven youths who slept in a cave for centuries. Today it's Nakhchivan's main pilgrimage site.

Ashabi-Kahf — The Cave of the Seven Sleepers in Nakhchivan
© Sefer azeri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ashabi-Kahf is a cave in the mountains about 12 km from the city of Nakhchivan. The name means "Companions of the Cave" in Arabic.

Nakhchivan mountains
© Svln4821 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The legend

The story comes from the Quran's Surah Al-Kahf ("The Cave"): seven young men and their loyal dog fled a cruel ruler and hid in a cave, where God put them to sleep for centuries. Christianity has a similar tale, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. In Nakhchivan people believe it happened right here.

What to see

A long staircase with rest stops leads up to the cave. At the bottom is a pilgrim complex with a mosque; from the top there are views over the mountains and valley. Inside the cave it's cool, with space for prayer.

Stairs to the cave
© Khagani Gasimov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Tips

  • Nakhchivan is an exclave of Azerbaijan; most visitors fly from Baku.
  • Dress modestly; women need a headscarf.
  • The climb takes 15–30 minutes — bring water.

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