Ganja Tour Guide
About Ganja
Ganja is one of the most important regions of Azerbaijan in terms of economy, especially for the promotion of tourism. Ganja is located on the both banks of the fertile Ganjachai River; the Azerbaijani city of ganja has seen many fate trials while going through devastating raids by foreign invaders or being at the epicenter of a devastating earthquake. Despite all these forced majeure situations, the city revived again in an even more beautiful appearance. Today, Ganja is one of the three largest cities in terms of size and population among other Azerbaijani cities Ganja is also one of the industrial, scientific and cultural centers of the country. Apart from its economic significance, Ganja and its surroundings are known for their rich historical and natural heritage that makes the city the largest tourist center of Azerbaijan and makes the country proud. Ganja has preserved many architectural monuments: ancient mosques, bridges, towers, madrasas, bathhouses and caravanserais. Being the birthplace of the great poet Nizami Ganjavi, Ganja still attracts the travelers and connoisseurs of antiquity from around the world. Ganja is now one of the top tourist attractions of the country and plays vital role for the development of tourism industry of Azerbaijan.
Bottle House
This is a wonderful house in Ganja region. In 1966-67, a resident of Ganja Ibrahim Jafarov built his own house using unusual material of glass bottles. A total of 48,000 bottles of various shapes and sizes were used as well as colored stones that were brought from Sochi (Russia). Ibrahim Jafarov dedicated the construction of the house to the memory of his brother Yusif Jafarov who was missing in the Second World War 1941-45.
The words Ganja and glory made from bottles decorate the façade of the building. On the back wall, one can also see the inscription “eternal glory to the unknown soldier” and under the roof – portraits of the owner of the house and his brother. The house is still residential today. For many years, the unusual house has been now one of the top tourism attractions of Ganja.
Ganja Cuisine
While visiting Ganja one must try local dishes. The most important among then are Shah Pilaf, as well as Kata and dovga that are good news for the tourists who are fond of food. The name of Shah Pilaf dish comes from its shape, which is similar, the crown of a medieval oriental ruler. Unlike the ordinary Pilaf, ‘shah pilaf’ is served on the table in its “locked” form, i.e. rice and garnish are baked together in a gazan (sauce pan), the bottom and walls of which are covered with lavish flatbreads. After cooking, the dish looks like a big cake filled with flavored Pilaf. The dish is served in many restaurants of the city. For dessert, one should try the Ganja pakhlava which cannot be confused with anything else. The walnuts for its filling are completely cleaned from the skin, which makes the pakhlava look very light. The rose flower-based infusion called gulab is surely added to the pakhlava dough and cardamom – to the filling. You can also buy it in numerous pastry shops throughout the city.
Heydar Aliyev Park Complex
The Heydar Aliyev Park Complex is the largest in Azerbaijan and in the Caucasus; it is among the five largest parks in the world. Its total area is 450 hectares! In 1979, the complex was built on the basis of the Heydar Aliyev Park. Later on the expansion and reconstruction work took place from 2012 to 2014, now the park is reopen for the tourists around the globe and is one of the top tourism attractions of Azerbaijan.
At the entrance to the park, visitors are “greeted” by a big triumphal arch. This building is 20 meters wide, 50 meters long and 38 meters high. One can climb to the top of the arch using a special staircase or the elevator. Upstairs, the arc has a museum, a café and an observation platform, which offers beautiful view of the city and its surroundings. Passing through the triumphal arch, visitors enter a wide valley that is almost 2km long, which stretches up to the end of the complex and leads to the Heydar Aliyev Center. The park has total 16 fountains made in a modern architectural style and decorated with granite that makes the park beautiful. The local amphitheater, a museum of modern art, a waterfall and an artificial lake give special attraction to the park. The complex has a café, an entertainment center, a recreation center, bike rental service, as well as various children’s attractions.
Imamzade Complex
Imamzade Mausoleum is a historical monument and one of the top tourist attractions of Ganja, which was erected in the 8th century. It is located at a distance of about 7 km from the city of Ganja, near the ruins of the ancient Ganja city. At that time, the son of the fifth Shiite Imam Mohammad Bagir-Ibrahim- was buried here. The mausoleum itself was built in the late 14th – early 15th centuries. Later, in the 17th -18th centuries, a series of structures were added around the brick structure – a mosque, a tomb, other mausoleums, houses similar to caravans as well as a large cemetery. In 2010, the monument was restored and now it is open to the tourists around the world. The local tourism authorities decided to build here a library, a museum, set up fountains and carried out gardening work.
Juma Mosque
Juma Mosque is one of most attractive peace of architect and history. This architectural complex created by the architect Sheikh Bahauddin, which includes the Juma Mosque (the mosque of Shah Abbas), Chelak-Hamam (medieval bathhouse) and the Caravanserai. The Juma Mosque was built in 1606 upon the order of Shah Abbas I the great. This mosque is often called “the mosque of Shah Abbas”. The building of the mosque was designed by the architect, astronomer and vizier of Shah Abbas – Sheikh Bahauddin Mohommad Amil, the direct descendant of Nizami. The building was built from the traditional Ganja red bricks, while using a mixture of egg white, clay and lime. The windows of the mosque are decorated with patterned shebeke lattices. Inside the mosque there is a carved arch (mimbar for Imam) of fine work, which was made of sandalwood.
Sheikh Bahauddin was known as an excellent astronomer and he applied his knowledge in the construction of the mosque: at exactly noon, the shadow that falls on the western wall of the building disappears. This informed the believers that the time of the midday namaz came. Until now, Ganja dwellers continue checking time by the disappearing shadow. The mausoleum of Javad Khan – the last ruler of the Ganja Khanate (1786-1804) is located in the territory of the Juma Mosque in the center of Ganja.
Khan Baghi Park
This is one of the oldest parks of Azerbaijan name after ‘Khan Baghi’ that was erected about three centuries back in 1700. For more than three centuries, the center of Ganja has housed a picturesque park called ‘Khan Baghi’ (Khan’s garden) – one of the oldest parks not only in Azerbaijan, but throughout the Caucasus, too. Occupying a total area of 7 hectares, the park has not only centuries old trees planted at the time of its foundation, but also many other flora species brought from various parts of the world. The park is an ideal place for bird watchers. The park has two fountains and a modern lighting system. Visitors will find here a little Venice, a green theatre with 350 seats, an artificial lake, wooden bridges, benches, cafes, as well as childrens rides and swings. The park is now being visited by thousands of local visitors and the foreign tourists and is now one of the top tourism attractions of the region.
Mahsati Ganjavi Center
The Azerbaijani poetess Mahsati Ganjavi, who lived in the late 11th– early 12th centuries, is also a native of Ganja. She was not only the first outstanding poetess of Azerbaijan, but also the first woman chess player, the first famous woman musician and the first woman composer of the country. Ganja has a center dedicated to Mahtasi Ganjavi, that reflect about her life and the rich heritage she contributed as the poetess. In front of the center, there is a majestic monument to the poetess and a beautiful garden that is named after her ‘Mahsati’. Constructed in classical architectural style, the building houses an art gallery dedicated to the work of the poetess and a reading room. The Center has an electronic kiosk, which presents the rubai (poems) of Mahsati in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. In addition, the center has an electronic kiosk, which presents the rubai (poems) of Mahsati in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. In addition, the center has a collection of national musical instruments and national costumes, a music studio, a music library, a mugam and piano department, as well as a meeting room.
Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum
The Mausoleum is must visit while visiting in Ganja. The mausoleum of the great poet Nizami Ganjavi was initially built in the 13th – 14th centuries on the grave of Nizami Ganjavi. In 1947, a new mausoleum was constructed, while the present day building dates back to 1991. This monumental construction is a combination of elements of ancient and modern architectural techniques, and looks like an obelisk of marble 20.9 meters high. An alley 125 meters long and 40 meters wide leads to the mausoleum. Near the mausoleum there is a sculpture complex depicting the great poet and surrounded by the characters of his works. An artificial lake was also constructed here, surrounded by five fountains that symbolize the five main poems of ‘khamsa’. The Mausoleum is now one of the great tourism attractions of Azerbaijan.
The Fortress Gates of Ganja
One can start visiting Ganja by getting to know the history and culture of the city at the Ganja Museum of Archeology and Ethnography that is located in the new large architectural complex called “the fortress gates of Ganja”. Built in 2014, the complex is located on both sides of the Baku-Gazakh highway at the eastern side of Ganja. The building’s architect is similar to an ancient fortress and consists of two tall towers connected by an underground tunnel 62 meters long, through which visitors enter the art gallery. The exposition of the museum complex is extremely rich and interesting. The first of the towers houses the Ganja Military History Museum, the ethnographic museum, an art gallery and a restaurant offering variety of dishes of national cuisine. Visitors can also climb to the open observation platform at the top of the tower, from where a breathtaking view of the surroundings can be witnessed. In the second tower, there is an exposition of the museum of civilization as well as a collection of exhibits of national costumes.