Shaqlawa lies at the foot of Mount Safeen in a wide valley covered with dense forests and orchards. The district is 50 kilometres from the centre of Erbil city. The shrine of Raban Boya overlooks the Safeen Valley.
Raban Boya: Pilgrimage Site and Religious Complex
The shrine of Raban Boya is a pilgrimage site, especially for Christian and Muslim women who ask the holy Boya to grant their wish to have children. It continues to be preserved as a mausoleum and houses revered relics of several holy monks, including those of the monk Boya. A large, rectangular, polished, sloping stone in the shrine is called the “fertility stone” or wish stone.
The Church of the Virgin Mary stands within the walled religious complex and provides access to the shrine. It was probably built in 1930 and renovated in 1992 after the establishment of the Kurdish no-fly zone north of the 36th parallel. A cemetery lies directly beside the church; it too was renovated.
Route and Travel Time
The route to the shrine used by visitors and pilgrims is paved along the first half; the second remains in its original, simple condition. The paving makes the climb easier, but the surface is not consistent throughout. Take this change into account when planning and check the route conditions before your visit.
Spring, both before and after Easter, is a busy pilgrimage season at the shrine; the Raban Boya festival is celebrated locally in Shaqlawa one week after Easter. The first reference therefore describes a broader seasonal period, while the second gives a specific festival date. If you plan to travel for the festival, use the Easter date as a guide and check the exact dates before booking.
Historical Perspectives in Shaqlawa and Arbela
Another historical landmark in the district is Dwin Castle, considered a historic military fortress. It adds a military-historical perspective to the religious traditions surrounding the shrine.
In the wider destination of Arbela, the Erbil Citadel is a distinct historical landmark. It is a fortified settlement on an oval-shaped archaeological mound. Such a mound formed as people lived and rebuilt on the same site over many generations. A continuous row of tall 19th-century façades gives the impression of an impregnable fortress; the town plan displays a fan-shaped pattern dating from the late Ottoman period.
Rawanduz is also part of Arbela’s wider historical context: the city was the capital of the Emirate of Soran, which ruled large areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for many centuries. Rawanduz is also considered the oldest district in Erbil Governorate.
Discover more destinations: Pirmam, Shaqlawa.
See the wider travel overview: Arbil.
