Ganja

Ganja (Azeri: Gəncə) is a city in the Ganja Region of northwestern Azerbaijan.

Understand
Ganja is one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus, and has long been one of the most important in Azerbaijan. Having been subjected to a seemingly endless stream of invading armies, its name has changed repeatedly over the years and is very interesting architecturally. The historical name, Ganja, was restored once again upon Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. With a population of 330,744 (2016), it is the country's second-largest city. Most proudly the city was home to Azerbaijan’s national bard Nizami Gəncəvi (1141–1209).



By plane
The airport is open from 08:00 to 17:00.

By train


Ganja sits on one of the Azerbaijani primary rail lines running east–west through the country. This line now forms part of the Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, which directly connects Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. This railway connects Ganja with Baku as well as with Tbilisi in Georgia, from where passenger trains may in the future eventually connect to Akhalkalaki, and Kars in Turkey.

Check the complete timetable online:
 * Astara – 8 manat.
 * Baku – The daytime ‘express’ (6 manat) departs from Ganja at 15:50 on alternate days arriving in Baku around midnight. The overnight train 37 departs daily from Ganja at 02:56 and arrives in Baku at 08:52. The train has 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (14.81 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (8.12 manat). The overnight train 38 departs daily from Baku at 20:40 and arrives in Ganja at 02:33, before continuing on to Tbilisi. The train has 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (14.81 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (8.12 manat).


 * Tbilisi – Train 37 between Tbilisi and Baku departs from Tbilisi at 20.35 and arrives in Ganja at 02:50. Train 38 between Baku and Tbilisi departs from Ganja at 02:55 and arrives in Tbilisi at 08:55. The trains in both directions have 1st class spalny vagon (SV) 2-bed sleepers (40.67 manat), 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (23.52 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (16.58 manat).

By bus or marshrutka
The city has the following bus stations:



Specific destinations (Sep 2019):
 * Baku – Every 30 min 06:00-19:00. 4½ hr, 9 manat.
 * Daşkəsən – 0.40 manat.
 * Goranboy – Hourly 08:00-18:00, 0.90 manat.
 * Göygöl – Frequently, 25 min.
 * Ismailli – 4.70 manat.
 * Naftalan – 06:00, 08:00, and 12:00. 1-2 manat.
 * Qabala – From Ganja at 08:15, amd 08:30. 5 manat.
 * Qazakh – Regular marshrutkas, 2 hr 10 min, 4 manat. The last one departs at 19:30.
 * Sheki – From Ganja at 13:30 and 16:30, 3 hr, 4 manat. Though they can leave earlier if they fill up.


 * The other option is to take a marshrutka from the Yeni Şemkir Bus Station to Qazakh (Qazax) (2 hr 10 min, 4 manat). While the frequency is unknown one marshrutka departs at 08:00. From the same location in Qazakh (where the service from Ganja terminates) frequent marshrutkas (1 hr 15 min, 1 manat) go to the border crossing at Red Bridge (Krasny Most, Qırmızı Körpü, Tsiteli Khidi), from where you can catch a marshrutka to Tbilisi (1 hr, 5 lari). If you take this route, then a 08:00 depart from Ganja will see you arriving at Station Square in Tbilisi at 13:30.
 * The other option is to take a marshrutka from the Yeni Şemkir Bus Station to Qazakh (Qazax) (2 hr 10 min, 4 manat). While the frequency is unknown one marshrutka departs at 08:00. From the same location in Qazakh (where the service from Ganja terminates) frequent marshrutkas (1 hr 15 min, 1 manat) go to the border crossing at Red Bridge (Krasny Most, Qırmızı Körpü, Tsiteli Khidi), from where you can catch a marshrutka to Tbilisi (1 hr, 5 lari). If you take this route, then a 08:00 depart from Ganja will see you arriving at Station Square in Tbilisi at 13:30.

By taxi
A taxi from/to Naftalan can be had for 25 manat.

From/to Sheki is 50 manat or less, depending on your bargaining skills. Or just use a ride sharing app.

By car
The city is served by the M2, R19, R20, R21, R50 and R51 highways.

On foot
The Old City is best visited on foot.

By bus
There is also public bus service for 0.30 manat available. Routes change pretty often due to ongoing road construction, but #1 and #4 head to the Heydar Aliyev Park, and in the opposite direction #4 and #5 go to the Southern Bus Station (for Göygöl).

By taxi
A taxi can be convenient for the Heydar Aliyev Park, bus stations or Göygöl. Expect to pay 3 manat to/from any of the bus stations from/to the centre. Fares are generally ⅓–½ manat/km.

Old City
The Old City of Ganja was developed starting in the 16th century. Living quarters (məhəllə) from those times make up vast parts of the city to this day.



Sloboda
Sloboda or commonly Vtoroy Chast ( rus: "Вторая часть"), is the part of the city, which started to develop during Russian rule (19th-20th centuries).



Ancient Ganja
Ancient Ganja is the archeological site of the city. This part was destroyed during Mongol invasion in 13th century. After the war, the city of Ganja remained uninhabited till the 16th century.

Casual

 * Go to the "Kolkhoz bazaar" and take to breakfast fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
 * Perform a hot day in the shade of plane trees in the Khan Garden, and in the evening, get some cup of tea with old-timers in one of the cosy tea houses (Chaykhana).
 * Invite yourself to Ganjali wedding.
 * Gaming cafés are popular with locals and will only cost 1-2 manat an hour, or you pay for the tea/beer.

Buy
Ganja is well-known as a center of the carpet trade.

Eat
The list of top dishes of Ganjali cuisine (special recipes):
 * Dovğа
 * Xan aşı
 * Yarpaq dolması
 * Göy kətəsi
 * Şorqoğalı
 * Nazik
 * Gəncə paxlavası
 * Gəncə halvası
 * Şəkərbura

Drink
It is recommended to drink bottled water. However, there are a lot of tea houses offering tasty tea.



Connect
Ganja's area code is 22.
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey

Respect
Basic advice will help you to feel comfortable in most common situations.


 * Be familiar with the terms Qeyret, Adat and Namus (code of honour). Unlike Baku, Ganjalis understand causes of globalization and resist it in areas related to family and human behaviour.
 * Never joke about the name of the city also being a word for marijuana.

Ganjalis are very hospitable people, and sometimes you may mistakenly think that it's false hospitality. In fact, some people can overdo it in their desire to help you. It is your responsibility to stop them (and do so with plausible arguments), but be careful because even a hint of rejection will hurt them.

Go next
Ganja is the gateway to Lesser Caucasus region, where you can take few day trips from city:


 * Göygöl – A must visit German town in the suburbs of Ganja, formerly named Khanlar (Xanlar) and Helenendorf, founded by German farmers from Bavarian Swabia.
 * Göygöl National Park – About 20 km from Göygöl and near Toğanalı, this hiking and leisure destination can be found. Its lake was formed during a strong earthquake in 1139.
 * Xoshbulag – Most Ganjalis spend their vacations and summer weekends in this village.
 * Shamkir – Mixed Azeri-German small town. There are cognac and wine plantations.
 * Qazakh – Gateway to Georgia with hot pool in a nearby local village.
 * Gedabay – Home of Ayrum people, turkified descendants of ancient Roman soldiers.
 * Naftalan – A well-known petroleum spa resort, the centre of medical tourism in Azerbaijan.
 * Sheki – A bus ride to the north. A beautiful city in the Caucasus mountains with lots to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history.
 * Tbilisi – Many people continue further into Georgia directly from Ganja.