The main gates of the Naryn-Kala fortress

Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

The eastern gates of the Naryn-Kala citadel (called Bab-el-Alkama by the Arabs) are its main gates, actually built into the retaining wall and covered with pointed arches and slabs forming the base of the rooms of Fatali Khan's khan's office (18th century).

Derbent: One of the oldest "living" cities in the world

Eastern gate of the Naryn-Kala citadel (called Bab-el-Alkama by the Arabs) — its main gate, actually built into the retaining wall and covered with pointed arches and slabs forming the base of the rooms of Fatali Khan’s chancery (18th century).

The entrance to the citadel is made in the retaining wall because the difference in ground level inside and outside the eastern wall of the citadel reaches 5 meters. Behind the gate, within the thickness of the earth, there is an inclined passage more than 3 meters wide, bounded on the sides by retaining walls. Above the entrance opening, a heavily damaged inscription remains, mentioning Shah Abbas. Therefore, it can be assumed that at the beginning of the 17th century, when Shah Abbas carried out repair works on the fortress walls of Derbent, he built a new tower on the seashore that blocked the passage for trade caravans, and probably also rebuilt the gate. Later, a two-story building was constructed above the gate with two massive pointed arches that spread the earth on the sides of the entrance to the Naryn-Kala citadel.

Source:

https://welcomedagestan.ru/placepost/naryn-kala-kapy/

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The southern wall of the Derbent fortress

5th Nagorny Lane, 7, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The construction of the existing stone walls of the Derbent Fortress is dated to the 6th century AD. This dating is based on Arabic written sources from the 9th-10th centuries. Arabic authors associate the construction of the city of Derbent with the name of the king of Sasanian Persia, Khosrow I Anushirvan (531–579 AD). Furthermore, the reports of the Arabic authors are supported by Pahlavi construction inscriptions located on the northern wall.

Bayat-Kapy — the second gate from the Naryn-Kala citadel on the southern wall of Derbent

Orta-Kapy Street, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Bayat-Kapy are the second gates from the Naryn-Kala citadel on the southern city wall. According to Arab authors of the 9th-10th centuries, the Kala-Kapy gates did not exist before, and the Bayat-Kapy gates were the first of the three gates on the southern wall from the Naryn-Kala citadel.

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5th Nagorny Lane, 7, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The Gates of the South Wall — Kala-kapy (Fortress Gates) (from the Arabic "kala" — fortress, citadel) are the uppermost first gates from the citadel on the southern city wall. Unlike other gates, they do not lead into the city but directly to the entrance of the citadel. Therefore, there is another name for these gates — Khan-kapy (Turkic Khan's Gates, Gates of the Khan). The gate opening probably appeared when the city was under Turkish control, during the period of intensified conflict between Derbent and Shirvan.

The Kiyamat-Kapy Gate (Gate of Judgment Day) of the Derbent Fortress

3 Internatsionala St., Building 4A, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The "Kiyamat-Kapy" Gate (the Gate of Judgment Day) was discovered and excavated by archaeologists in 2002-2004. It is an arch in the northern fortress wall of Derbent, located within Nizami Park. The excavations revealed a complex presumably of ritual significance. During the studies, it was established that ritual ceremonies involving hammering nails into the wall and offering copper coins to make wishes were performed here.

Guardhouse in Naryn Kala

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The guardhouse, along with the infirmary and warehouses, was built in 1827 to accommodate and serve the needs of the Russian garrison soldiers. The construction inevitably reflected the characteristic features of the Empire style, which was dominant in Russian architecture at the time.

Dag-gates - the gates of shame of the fortress Naryn Kala

Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Among the people, they were called the mountain gates, secret gates, spare gates, and even the gates of fugitives or shame. The fact is that one of the rulers of Derbent retreated through these gates during a battle, surrendering the city to the enemy. Because of this, these gates were not used even in peacetime, as exiting through them was considered disgraceful. When Peter I inspected the fortress in 1722 and was told the story of these gates, the emperor decided to go out through them no matter what. He was once again told that it was inappropriate. However, Peter I, saying, "What do I, the Russian tsar, care about Muslim shame," still went out through them, thereby lessening the degree of disgrace.

Dash-gates (Stone Gates or Gates of Stone) — the third gates from the Naryn-Kala citadel on the northern wall of Derbent

Gagarin St., 2, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Dash-gates (from Turkic. Stone gates or Gates of stone) are the third gates from the citadel Naryn-Kala on the northern wall. They led to the quarries, from where the inhabitants took building material. Hence the name of the gates.

Maiden's Bath in the old part of Derbent

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The Derbent Lighthouse is the southernmost lighthouse in Russia, located in the Dagestani city of Derbent. It is the same age as the Makhachkala lighthouse: both are over 1.5 centuries old. The lighthouse is included in the list of protected monuments of Russia and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Juma Mosque in Derbent is the oldest mosque on the territory of the former USSR.

7, Magal St., 10, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The underground prison-dungeon, located in the northeastern part of the Naryn-Kala citadel, is a unique monument of medieval architecture. Its depth is 11 meters, and the internal area is 25 square meters. Light and air penetrated the dungeon through a hole in the stone.

The grave of Esfandiar near the Derbent citadel

Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The burial site of the rulers of Derbent — Esfendiyarov is located 35 meters south of the Kala-Kapa gate by the stairs leading to the observation deck.

Naryn-Kala — the citadel of Derbent

Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Orta-kapy (Middle Gates) — the third gates from the citadel Naryn-Kala on the southern wall of Derbent

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Orta-Kapy (from Turkic, Middle Gates) are the third gates from the citadel Naryn-Kala on the southern wall. The gates got their name from the district of the ancient city — "Orta-tepe" (Middle Hill), adjacent to these gates.

Khan's Bath in the northwestern part of the Naryn-Kala fortress

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The Khan’s Bathhouse is an architectural monument, presumably built in the 16th–17th centuries, located in the northwestern part of the Naryn-Kala fortress in Derbent. “The bathhouse in the Caucasus, as throughout the entire East, is a matter of special care… Because the bathhouse serves not only for washing but also for strengthening the body, lifting a fallen mood, for rest, for meetings and conversations about buying and selling, and for displaying skill in chess and backgammon.”

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Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The most interesting and richly ornamented carved stone palace complex in Derbent is the Khan's Palace in the Naryn-Kala citadel, built in 1768 by Fatali Khan, the most powerful feudal ruler of the Eastern Caucasus. It reached its greatest power in the years 1770–1780, during which the entire citadel was transformed into the Khan's residence.

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Rectangular underground reservoir of the Naryn Kala fortress

Makhachkala-Derbent road, 360600, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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A large rectangular underground reservoir served as the main water storage for the defenders of the citadel. Water was supplied through stone underground channels from mountain springs. The rectangular cistern was adjacent to the service yard of the khan's palace.

Dzharchi-kapy (Herald's Gate) — the first gate from the Naryn-Kala citadel in the northern wall

373F+WW Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia

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Dzharchi-Kapy (Herald’s Gate) — the first gate from the Naryn-Kala citadel in the northern wall. At these gates, the khan’s herald (from Turkic *Dzharchi*) proclaimed the orders and decrees of the city’s rulers. Arabic written sources from the 9th–10th centuries call these gates Bab al-Muhajir (Gate of the Refugees). According to legend, the Khazars who controlled the city, unable to withstand the siege by the Arab army led by Maslama in 734, secretly left the city through these gates.

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Derbent has long been known for its trade relations. Almost everywhere in the city, trade was conducted with imported goods as well as products made by local craftsmen and producers. Many of the active markets have been preserved near the fortress walls of the city to this day. One of the historical trading places was the square in the upper part of the city. The residents of the densely populated magals deliberately did not use this area so that trading places would be located directly in the historic part of the city for their convenience.

Northern wall of the Derbent fortress

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The construction of the existing northern city wall of the Derbent fortress is dated to the 6th century. Its construction is associated with the name of the ruler of Sasanian Persia, Khosrow I Anushirvan (531–579). The northern wall stretches for 3.5 km from the Naryn-Kala citadel along the northeastern slope of the Jalgan Ridge spur eastward to the sea.

The mosque with a minaret is the only ancient minaret in Derbent.

373G+WC Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia

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Currently, in Derbent, only one mosque with a minaret has been preserved, which is called the "Mosque with a Minaret" (Minarya-mesdjidi) or the "Minaret Mosque." It is located in the upper (western) part of the city near the Jarchi-Kapa gate and is the oldest mosque in the city.

House of the Decembrist Bestuzhev-Marlinsky

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The house where the Decembrist Alexander Alexandrovich Bestuzhev-Marlinsky lived from 1830 to 1834

Kilisa Mosque (Mosque Church)

pr. Agasieva, 22, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368608

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Kilisa Mosque — one of the neighborhood mosques located near the ancient trading center of the city, received its name (kilisa means church) because for some time (in the 19th century) it was used as a garrison church.

Bala Mosque in the upper part of the city of Derbent

18 Urta-Kapy St., Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The Bala Mosque is located in the upper part of the city of Derbent, near the "Orta-kapy" gate. The mosque dates from the 11th to the 19th centuries. It is a neighborhood mosque.

The Kirhlyar Mosque is located south of the Kyrhlyar-Kapa gate.

N. Krupskaya St., 2, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The mosque is located to the south of the Kyrkhlyar-Kapa gate, and apparently, the mosque's name originated from its location. The one-story building is rectangular in plan (18 x 10 meters), stretched from west to east. The central part of the building is covered by a pointed stone dome with a diameter of 7 meters.

Ancient Eastern Bathhouse (Men's)

2nd Nagorny Lane, 12, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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The ancient men's Eastern bathhouse is located near the Kilis Mosque on the territory of the old market square and is one of the oldest in Derbent. The bathhouse is constructed from well-hewn stone blocks. It has the classic layout of an Eastern hammam – with cold and hot rooms, niches for resting, domed ceilings, and auxiliary rooms.

Dubary-kapy – the fourth from the citadel Naryn-Kala

4 V. Lenin St., Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Dubary-Kapy are the fourth gates from the citadel Naryn-Kala among the preserved gates on the southern city wall.

Kyrkhlyar Gate (Gate of the Forty) — the second gate from the Naryn-Kala citadel on the northern city wall

N. Krupskaya St., 2, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600

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Kyrkhlyar Gate (from Turkic, Gate of the Magpie) — the second gate from the citadel Naryn-Kala on the northern city wall. The name of the gate comes from the nearby burial site "Kyrkhlyar." Arabic sources call the gate Bab al-Kabir (Great Gate) or Bab al-Jihad (Gate of the Holy War), which is apparently related to the numerous wars in which Muslim troops passed through these gates on military campaigns against the Khazars who had not accepted Islam.