Ganja Shah Abbas Caravanserai

Ganja is Azerbaijan’s second largest city with a population close of about 325,200. For a short period, Ganja  renamed Abbasabad by Shah Abbas after war against the Ottomans. He built a new city 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the southwest of the old one, but the name changed back to Ganja during the time. 

Among the oldest surviving examples of Islamic architecture in Ganja are the Nizami Mausoleum and Shah Abbas Caravanserai, which assisted the Shahs during their siege of the city

Ganja Shah Abbas Caravanserai is one of the unique ancient historical artifacts of Azerbaijani architecture.

Shah Abbas

The Safavid ruler Shah Abbas (1557- 1628) seized Ganja in 1606. After his as­cent to the throne in 1587, he did a lot of work to expand, strengthen and deve­lop the country.

At the same time, Shah Abbas, who was a very cruel ruler, took brutal steps to maintain his power and even killed his loved ones and his son for the sake of power.

Shah Abbas Square in the city centre is 400 years old. There used a mosque, a caravanserai (17th century), the Chokak bath, the Haji Baghir underground water pipe and a khan’s graveyard here. Its se­cond name Market Square.

The mar­ket square, which  characteristic of all medieval cities, operated as a public and trade centre.

Since it was too big for its structure and size, it was also called the Big Square. The square was surrounded by 40-45 meter high plane trees.

And, first of all, also, another, furthermore, finally, in addition Legend has it that when a new city estab­lished.

Shah Abbas told gardeners, who planted plane trees around the square, “genja-genja basdirin” (plant them away from each other).

So that these long-lived and big trees do not get in each other’s way. It is believed that the city was called Ganja for this reason.