Getting There
The walking distance to the attraction from the city center is 3-5 minutes. It is located near the Ganja Executive Power’s building and central H.Aliyev square. Visitors can easily reach the address. The road to the mosque is available and convenient as it is in the city center. The visitors can use public transport, get a taxi or their own car to drive to the nearest parking area of the mosque.
What to Expect
The windows of Juma Mosque are decorated with colored glass and (shabaka art) grids. The mihrab is inside the wall and has an arched shape. Since the foundation of the mosque is solid, it hasn’t been destroyed by earthquakes that occurred many times.
At the entrance arch of the mosque, above the door there are preserved 2 stone inscriptions. One of them is in Arabic and the other one is in Persian. In 1924, the dome and roof of the mosque was painted with metal covering by Haji Ali. The central prayer hall of the mosque, which has a square shape in plan and reaches a height of 13 meters, is surrounded by arched niches from the sides. Up to now, this metal coating remains as it is.
Visitors of the mosque can get acquainted with the style of the 17th century culture. The mosque attracts visitors’ attention by its spectacular appearance.
History
Ganja Juma Mosque (it is often called Shah Abbas Mosque) is in the historical centre of the ancient city and it plays a dominant role in this place. It was built in the 17th century in Arran architectural style.
The main entrance of the building is located on the north wall, which is remarkable for its artistic design. There are 2 more doors on the west and east walls. The stalactite mihrab, which is the dominant feature of the prayer hall, is located on the south wall, deep inside one of the arches, and forms the aesthetic centre of the interior.
The shabaka style construction which was built from red bricks characterizes the national spirit of Azerbaijani architecture. As well as its unique compositional appearance, planning, structural and artistic-decorative merits make this monument very attractive. It is clear that the 64-step double minaret which completes its overall appearance has a strong influence in achieving the monumentality of the mosque together with the portal which is located near the Ganja Madrasa. First of all, this was realized as a result of the endless architectural imagination of the mosque’s designer, Sheikh Bahai.
Facilities Available
- Executive Power of Ganja city administrative building
- Ganja State Philharmonic
- Ganja Mall
- Javad Khan street
- Khan’s Garden
- Accommodation
- Cafes and Restaurants
- Pharmacy
- Taxi
- Parking
- Shops
- Public transportation
