Ganja, previously an Iranian treasure
Ganja is Azerbaijan’s third largest city, and its name derives from the Persian word ganj, meaning “treasure” or “treasury”. The city has been a historical and cultural centre throughout its existence. It was the capital of an Iranian province until they lost it to Russia in 1804. The city has changed its name several times. However, it regained its name again in 1989.
Baku to Ganja
I have read several places in my preparation for the trip to Azerbaijan that train is not recommended. Anyway, I decided to take the train from Baku to Ganja. It seemed to be the most sufficient way to travel. There is only one train going that distance a day, early in the morning, and a return train in the late afternoon, so it is possible to make a short day trip from Baku to Ganja. I do recommend the train; it was punctual and clean.
Ganja
Ganja train station is situated about three kilometres from the city centre, and also my hotel for the night. It seemed easy to get a taxi, but since I had light luggage, I decided to walk the distance. In that way, I get a better view of the outskirts of the city centre. On the way in, the Soviet-style housing developments are evident, and they are very run down. I also saw something I had never seen before, namely two uniformed policewomen with heavy make-up, but the most unusual thing was they were wearing really high heels. Unfortunately, I did not manage to take a picture of them. I had to look twice to see they were police and not on a catwalk.
The centre
Ganja is a logical starting point for touring the lovely mountains of the Lesser Caucasus, like Shäki, as I wrote about in my previous post. The centre has several mosques and churches (most now disused or converted into theatres). At the main square, you find the imposing Stalinist city hall, the former National Parliament building. Even in this city, you find several parks and leisure places. It was also in one of these parks where I was talking to the nice guy who later turned out to be a product of his country’s propaganda and a major homophobic.
The Bottle House
This house is one of Gänjäs more off-beat attractions. The house from the 1960s commemorates the builder’s brother, who disappeared during WWII. A big portrait of the missing brother was drawn underneath the protrusion of the roof at the front. Forty-eight thousand glass bottles were used to decorate the two-storey home. Today, family members are running the house, and you are invited in for a donation.
İmamzadeh İbrahim
At about 7 km north of Ganja, you find Imamzadeh Mausoleum or Goy Imam Mosque. This complex includes walls with entrances, small mosques and funerary monuments. The mausoleum, located inside the mosque, bears the grave of Imamzadeh Ibrahim, the fifth Imam of Shià Muslims. I took a taxi there and returned back on the local bus. That was one of the worst buses I have ever been in regarding looks and standards. The bus also took some d-tours on really dirt roads.
