Ganja - Gheos Worldguide

Ganja (Gəncə)

According to historic sources, Ganja was founded in 859, but archaeological evidence suggests that the city is much older than that. The city has been rules by many empires during its history.

In 1139, an earthquake caused severe damage and the city delined. Ganja was subsequently sacked by Demetrius I of Georgia, who took the city gates as a trophy. One of these gates can still be seen in the wall of the Gelati Monastery in Georgia.

In 1501, the Safavids came to power, but during the second half of the 16th century, the city came under Iranian influence. Iranian intermittent rule lasted until the 19th century, only briefly interrupted by the Ottomans from 1578 to 1606 and between 1723 and 1735. After these periods, the city was renamed Abbasabad for a while.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Ganja became part of the Russian Empire and the city was renamed Yelizavetpol (Елизаветпо́ль) in 1813. In 1924, Azerbaijan was incorporated into the Soviet Union. In 1935, Ganja was renamed Kirovabad (Кироваба́д). During perestroika, in 1989, the city regained its original name of Ganja. It is sometimes still referred to as Gyandzha (Гянджа), which was the Russian transliteration of its name.

Ganja has been a historic and cultural center throughout most of its existence and the many empires that ruled it have all left their mark. As a result, there are countless historic sights in the city.

Points of interest

The Ancient Gates of Ganja were constructed in 1063. In 1139, an earthquake caused severe damage and the city delined. Ganja was subsequently sacked by Demetrius I of Georgia, who took the city gates as a trophy. One of these gates can still be seen in the wall of the Gelati Monastery in Georgia.
The Butulka ev, or Butulkali ev (Bottle House) was constructed in 1966-1967 and made entirely of glass bottles. 48,000 bottles were used in the construction of the 2-storey building.
The Çökək Hamam (Chokak Bath) dates from 1606. It was restored in 2013 and it is now part of a hotel.
Flag Square is part of the Ganja River Park-Boulevard Complex. It features a flag measuring 50 by 25 m (164 x 82 ft) that flies on a 100 m (328 ft) tall flagpole. The Flag Square was inaugurated in 2012. It is located on the right bank of the Ganja River.
The Ganja City Hall was completed in 1961. It served as the administrative building of the City Committee of the CPSU. It is located in the Heydar Aliyev Square.
Ganja Fortress Gates complex houses parts of the Ganja State History-Ethnography Museum, as well as the Military History Museum of Ganja. The original gtes were built in 1063. They were damaged in an earthquake in 1139 and subsequently taken to Georgia as a trophy, after Demetrius I conquered Ganja. One of the original gates can still be seen in the wall of the Gelati Monastery in Georgia. The bastions of the fortress can be accessed through the 4th floor. The Ganja Fortress Gates complex was built between 2012 and 2014. It is located on the Baku-Gazakh highway, not far from Ganja, when entering the city from the eastern direction.
Ganja State Art Gallery was established in 1984.
The Ganja State Historical and Cultural Reserve includes the Old City of Ganja, Ganja Fortress Gates and the Tomb of Imamzade.
The Ganja State Philharmonic Hall opened in 2017. It is located close to the city's central square.
The Gəncə Dövlət Dram Teatrı (Ganja State Drama Theater) was built by the Germans in the 1880s. In 1932, all the staff and actors of the Ganja State Drama Theater in Baku moved to the theater in Ganja. In 1990, it got its current name and in 2014, the current theater building was opened. The theater is situated on the bank of Ganja River.
The Gəncə Dövlət Kukla Teatrı (Ganja State Puppet Theater) was originally built by German settlers as a Lutheran church in 1885. In 1902, it became a Russian Orthodox church and in 1986, it was converted into the puppet theater. The building is located at Ahmad Jamil Street 105.
Javad Khan Street is Ganja's main walking street. It is lined with shops and restaurants.
Javad Khan's Tomb was erected in 2005. Javad Khan was the last khan of the Ganja Khanate and ruled from 1786 to 1804.
The Khamsa Monumental Compound comprises 5 large monuments that resemble a book. The 'pages' recall Nizami's poems. The monument sits along the highway between the Ganja Fortress Gates and the Nizami Mausoleum. It was erected in 2016.
The Mahsati Ganjavi Center was inaugurated in 2014. The center commemorates poet Mahsati Ganjavi. It features his works, as well as photographs and a number of national musical instruments.
The Nizami məqbərəsi (Nizami Mausoleum) was originally built in 1947 to commemorate the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. A tomb had first been built in 1606, but it fell into disrepair and had collapsed by the 1840s. In 1925, the remains of the poet were exhumed and reburied in the 1947 mausoleum. Later, an aluminium production plant was built in the vicinity of the mausoleum and the emissions from that plant caused damage to the mausoleum, which subsequently collapsed in the 1980s. In 1991, after the fall of Communism, the mausoleum was rebuilt in its present form.
The Shah Abbas Caravanserai was established in the 17th century. The caravanserai has 54 rooms. It was built in the Oriental style using a traditional mixture of egg-white with clay-lime and red brick.
The Ugurlu Khan Caravanserai dates from the 17th century. It is located in the vicinity of the Shah Abbas karavanserai and it was built in the same style.

Museums

The Archaeology and Ethnography Museum is located in the Ganja Fortress Gates complex.
The Cultural Center was named after Mahsati Ganjavi.
The Heydar Aliyev Museum is located in the Heydar Aliyev Center. The museum is dedicated to Heydar Aliyev, who was the 3rd president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003.
The House Museum of Mir Jalal Pashayev is the house where Iranian-Azerbaijanian writer and literary critic Mir Jalal Pashayev lived.
The Memorial House-Museum of Nizami Ganjavi. Nizami Ganjavi is considered the greatest romantic epic poet in Persian literatur.
The Memorial-House Museum of İsrafil Mammadov is located in the house whete Azerbaijani Red Army lieutenant İsrafil Mammadov once lived.
The Military History Museum of Ganja is housed in the Ganja Fortress Gates complex. It displays the military history of Ganja from ancient times to 1920. The collection includes arms, ammunition and photographs. The museums also features an 'Eternal Flame' that is dedicated to the people who died for their country.
The Ganja branch of the Museum of Miniature Books opened in 2016. It has a collection of more than a thousand miniature books.
The Museum of Mirza Shafi Vazeh is dedicated to Azerbaijani poet and teacher Mirza Shafi Vazeh. The Mirza Shafi Vazeh Park was laid out around the museum.
The Museum of Modern Art.
The Nizami Gəncəvi adına Tarix-Diyarşünaslıq Muzeyi (Ganja State History-Ethnography Museum) opened in 1924, making it the oldest museum in Ganja. It houses a collection of 30,000 items that tell the history of Ganja from ancient times to the present day. Artefacts from archaeological finds and cultural monuments are on display. The ethnographic, epigraphic and numismatic collections are divided into 18 different halls. The museum building dates from the 19th century. Parts of the collection, including traditional rugs, pottery, clothes, jewelry and copper products, are situated in the Ganja Fortress Gates complex.

Religious buildings

Aleksandr Nevski Kilsəsi (Alexander Nevsky Church) was inaugurated in 1887. The Russian Orthodox chuech was built in the Byzantine style with the use of brick called plinfa. Soviet authoroties closed the church in 1931, but it reopened in 1947.
The Cümə məscidi (Juma Mosque) was completed in 1606. The Shia Islam Friday mosque was built of traditional red brick. Its minarets were added in 1776. The building was completely reconstructed in 2008. The mosque is also known as the Şah Abbas Məscidi (Shah Abbas Mosque).
The German Lutheran Church.
Saint John Church.
Saint Sarkis Church.

Parks and recreation

Fikrat Amirov Park.
Fuzuli Park.
The Ganja 2016 European Youth Capital Park.
The Ganja River Park-Boulevard Complex was opened 2017. It is situated along the bank of Ganjachay River. The boulevard boasts 15 fountains and a number of monuments. There are also cafés and restaurants, as well as a playground and amusement facilities. The complex is 1.2 km long and it includes the Flag Square.
Istiglal Park was inaugurated in 1991 on Republic day of Azerbaijan (28 May). The park features a huge monument of Azerbaijan's flag. The park was renovated in 2014.
Heydər Əliyev Park-Kompleksi (Heydar Aliyev Park Complex) was originally laid out as Memorial park in 1979. It was reconstructed between 2012 and 2014 and reopened under its new name. The park contains some 350,000 trees and plants, as well as numerous fountains and a cycling road. Other features in the park include:
- An amphitheater that can seat 5,000 spectators. It is the venue for frequent events.
- The Ganja Youth Center opened in 2016. It offers events for young people.
- The Ganjland amusement park opened in 2015.
- The Heydar Aliyev Center features the Heydar Aliyev Museum, a library, a reading hall and several conference rooms. There are also dance and carpet-weaving training centers in the building. A statue to Heydar Aliyev is located in front of the center.
- The Museum of Modern Art is located at the top floor of the Triumphal Arch.
- The Triumphal Arch is 38 m tall. It has 7 floors and houses the Museum of Modern Art at its top floor, as well as an observation deck.
- A waterfall and an artificial lake.
Mirza Shafi Vazeh Park was laid out around Mirza Shafi Vazeh Museum in 2017. It features a statue of Vazeh, who was an Azerbaijani poet and teacher.
Narimanov Park.
Xan bağı (Khan's Garden) is dedicated to Javad Khan, who was the last khan of the Ganja Khanate. He was also a naturalist. The park is one of the most popular green spaces in Ganja.

Around Ganja

Göygöl Milli Parkı (Göygöl National Park) is centered on Lake Göygöl, which is one of the most beautiful and cleanest lakes in Azerbaijan. The park measures 127.55 km² (49.25 sq mi) and it is mostly covered in forests. Animals that roam the park include badger, black bear, golden jackal, jungle cat, lynx, red fox, roe deer, wild boar and wolf, amongst others. The park is also home to a wide variety of bird species.
The Imamzadeh Complex features a mausoleum, a garden, walls with gates and several funerary monuments, as well as several mosques, including:
- The Goy Imam Mosque.
- The Qazakhlar Mosque.
- The Qirikhli Mosque.
- The Shahsevenler Mosque.
The complex is located 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Ganja. It is part of the Ganja State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
Lake Maralgöl was formed when an earthquake in 1139 caused a rockslide that blocked the Aghsu River. The lake filled up behind the blockage. The lake is regarded as one of the most beautiful and attractive lakes in Azerbaijan.

There are many hotels and restaurants in Ganja. The city has excellent rail and road connections with the rest of Azerbaijan. Ganja is located in the western part of the country, 375 km (233 mi) west from Baku.

Images