Things to Do in Eğil: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Eğil

• 4 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 1 Nature

1 🌳 Nature

Dicle Dam Lake

The lake formed by the dam built on the Dicle River has submerged several other neighbourhoods of the district.

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i Photo: Mehmet KILIÇOĞLU (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

2 🏛️ Historic

Eğil Castle

Eğil Castle, on a rocky hill on the bank of the Dicle River, has been used since the Assyrian period. Assyrian rock reliefs and cuneiform inscriptions are found on the castle walls.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Eğil Rock Reliefs

Assyrian rock reliefs dating to the 9th century BC are found on the cliffs of Eğil Castle. The reliefs depict figures of Assyrian kings and cuneiform texts.

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4 🕌 Religious

Prophets' tombs (Nebi Harun-i Asefi, Nebi Hallak etc.)

The prophets whose tombs are visited in Eğil include Nebi Harun-i Asefi, Nebi Hallak, Nebi Harut, Nebi Zünnun, Nebi Hürmüz, Nebi Ömer and Daniel.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Royal rock tombs

The source states that royal rock tombs are present in the district today.

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6 🏛️ Historic

City-wall cisterns

According to a news report, city-wall cisterns are also among the places that host visitors.

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While you are in Eğil, you can also see the highlights of Diyarbakır province. These places are in other districts; Eğil is about 45 km from the provincial centre.

• Diyarbakır City Walls — Black basalt walls made up of the Inner Castle and the Outer Castle; the Dağ Kapı (Harput Gate), Urfa Kapı, Mardin Kapı and Yeni Kapı are the main entrances.
• Hevsel Gardens — About 700 hectares of farmland between the walls and the Tigris; with more than 180 bird species, it is the largest bird paradise in Southeastern Anatolia.
• Diyarbakır Grand Mosque — A mosque formed in 639 when the city's largest church was converted into a mosque and repaired in 1091 under Malik-Shah; it is considered the Anatolian counterpart of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and is known in the Islamic world as the 'fifth sacred sanctuary' (beşinci harem-i şerif).
• Ten-Eyed Bridge (Tigris Bridge) — A ten-arched basalt bridge over the Tigris, 3 km south of Mardin Kapı, built in 1065 in the Marwanid period according to its inscription; it links the city with Bağıvar.
• Hasan Paşa Caravanserai — Opposite the Grand Mosque, a caravanserai with black-and-white stone banding, built in 1572–1575 by Governor Hasan Paşa, son of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa; today its courtyard breakfast rooms make it the city's meeting place.
• Four-Legged Minaret (Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque) — The minaret of the mosque built in 1500 by the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Kasım Bey, rising on four monolithic stone columns; it is the only example in Anatolia.

Practical Information for Visiting Eğil

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

6 places

• 🫓

  Ciğer Kebabı (lamb liver kebab)

  Prepared by skewering lamb liver and cooking it over charcoal. An important dish at local people's tables, it is made using traditional recipes. Passed down through generations, the recipe varies slightly in each household.

• 🥟

  İçli Köfte (bulgur dumplings)

  Bulgur dough wrapped around minced meat, onion and walnuts, then boiled. Prepared using recipes passed down through generations, this dish is an important part of the region's culinary culture. It can be tasted in its most authentic form at local markets and home restaurants.

• 🍯

  Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf)

  Walnuts are placed inside fine kadayıf, rolled up, fried and soaked in syrup. Made with fresh and natural ingredients, it is a healthy option.

• 🍽️

  Üzüm Pekmezi (grape molasses)

  Grape molasses made from grape juice in Döşemeler village, which is part of Eğil.

• 🍽️

  Pestil and Cevizli Sucuk (pestil and walnut sausage)

  Pestil and walnut sausage made from a batter prepared with flour added.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Eğil

• 🏛️

  Assyrian Heritage

  In the 9th century BC, Eğil was an important border fortress of the Assyrian Empire. Rock reliefs and cuneiform inscriptions document the strategic importance of the region in antiquity.

• 🏞️

  Tigris Culture

  Eğil has a settlement tradition that developed on the banks of the Dicle River. Over history, the river has shaped the district's agriculture, transport and cultural life.

Local Products

• Fish — Freshwater fishing takes place in Dicle Dam Lake. Carp and trout are the main species caught.
• Wheat — Wheat is grown on the plain sections of the district.

Economy

Eğil's economy rests on agriculture, livestock farming and fishing. Wheat and barley are the main agricultural products. Fishing takes place in Dicle Dam Lake. Small livestock farming is an important livelihood.

How to Get to Eğil

Eğil is 45 km from Diyarbakır city centre. Minibus services run from Diyarbakır.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Diyarbakır

Eğil: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Eğil Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Diyarbakır The province's 15 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Diyarbakır

• Bağlar 3 places Bağlar Parkları ve Yeşil Alanları, Bağlar Bazaar and Bağlar Camileri
• Bismil 5 places Dicle Nehri Kıyıları, Bismil Ovası and Bismil Grand Mosque
• Çermik 5 places Çermik Hot Springs, Çeteci Abdullah Paşa Madrasa and Çermik Hammam
• Çınar 9 places Zerzevan Castle, Şikeftan Mağaraları and Çınar Ovası
• Çüngüş 5 places Fırat Nehri Valley, Karakaya Dam and Çüngüş Bridge
• Dicle 5 places Dicle Valley, Dicle Castle and Dicle Grand Mosque
• Ergani 6 places Çayönü Mound, Ergani Bakır Madeni and Ergani Castle
• Hani 6 places Şeyh Ahmed Efendi Tomb, Hani Castle and Hani Grand Mosque
• Hazro 4 places Hazro Castle, Hazro Mountains and Hazro Grand Mosque
• Kayapınar 4 places Kayapınar Parkları, Kayapınar Alışveriş Merkezleri and Kayapınar Camileri
• Kocaköy 4 places Kocaköy Castle, Kocaköy Doğal Alanları and Kocaköy Grand Mosque
• Kulp 9 places Kefrum Castle, Kanîkan Mağaraları (Kanîkan Caves) and Kale-i Ulya
• Lice 3 places Lice Castle, Lice Yaylaları (Lice Plateaus) and Lice Ulu Camii (Lice Grand Mosque)
• Silvan 6 places Silvan Castle, Malabadi Bridge and Hasuni Caves
• Sur 12 places Diyarbakır Surları ve Hevsel Bahçeleri (Diyarbakır City Walls and Hevsel Gardens), Diyarbakır Ulu Camii (Diyarbakır Grand Mosque) and Hz. Süleyman Mosque
• Yenişehir 4 places Diyarbakır Havalimanı Çevresi (Around Diyarbakır Airport), Yenişehir Parkları (Yenişehir Parks) and Yenişehir Camileri (Yenişehir Mosques)