Shaqlawa: A valley at the foot of Safeen and a pilgrimage tradition

Shaqlawa lies at the foot of Mount Safeen in a wide valley covered with dense forests and orchards. The Raban Boya Shrine is a prominent religious site in the district. As a regional reference point, Shaqlawa is 50 kilometers from the center of Erbil.

The Raban Boya Shrine and its tradition

The shrine is a pilgrimage site, particularly for Christian and Muslim women who ask the holy Boya to grant their wish to have children. At the same time, the shrine continues to be maintained as a mausoleum and houses revered relics of several holy monks, including those of the monk Boya. Thus, the pilgrimage tradition and veneration of the relics exist side by side as two aspects of the site.

The shrine also contains a large, rectangular, polished, sloping stone known as the “fertility stone” or wish stone. Its shape and the names by which it is traditionally known are among the shrine’s distinctive features.

Spring pilgrimage season

Spring, before and after Easter, is an intense pilgrimage season at the shrine. The Raban Boya festival is celebrated in Shaqlawa one week after Easter. The spring pilgrimage season spans a longer period, while the festival takes place on a specific date after Easter. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the date in advance.

The route and building history

Visitors and pilgrims use the route to the shrine. The first half is paved; the second half remains unpaved and rudimentary. You should therefore expect different path surfaces and check conditions before your visit, as they may change.

The Church of the Virgin Mary stands within the enclosed religious complex through which visitors reach the shrine. It was probably built in 1930 and renovated in 1992, after the Kurdish no-fly zone north of the 36th parallel was established. The cemetery next to the church was also renovated.

Another historical site in the district is Dwin Castle, considered a historic military castle.

Shaqlawa within the wider destination of Arbela

Within the wider destination of Arbela, Shaqlawa is considered an important tourist city in Iraqi Kurdistan. Visitors come from Iraq and the region, as well as from some of the Gulf states. Temperatures in Shaqlawa are moderate; winters are very cold and bring heavy rain and snow. This seasonal contrast is a useful factor to consider when choosing when to travel.

The Erbil Citadel is another historical highlight within the wider destination of Arbela. It is a fortified settlement on an egg-shaped archaeological mound in Erbil Governorate. A continuous row of tall 19th-century façades gives the impression of an impregnable fortress; the town plan features a fan-shaped pattern dating from the late Ottoman period.

The Zagros Mountain Trail is also part of the wider geographical setting of Arbela. The 215-kilometer trail passes through 36 villages and five towns, including Akre, Dinarta, Soran, Rawanduz, and Choman, and continues to the foothills of Mount Halgurd. It is considered the longest trail in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Discover more destinations: Pirmam, Shaqlawa.

See the overview of the wider destination: Arbil.