Janapar Trail () was a marked trail through mountains, valleys, and villages of the region of

Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh (, ; ) is a region in Azerbaijan, covering the southeastern stretch of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Part of the greater region of Karabakh, it spans the area between Lower Karabakh and Syunik Province, Syunik. Its ter ...

, which passed by monasteries and fortresses along its route. The trail consisted of several day hikes, taking hikers to a different village each night. Hikers could either stay with a village family or set up camp nearby. The paths have existed for centuries but markings were added in recent years specifically for hikers. Provided markers were blue with a yellow footprint. According to the trail's official website, much of the trail became impassable as a result of the

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involvi ...

, with only the

Stepanakert Stepanakert officially Khankendi is a city in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. It was the capital city of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh prior to the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in ...

to Patara and Kolotak to Gandzasar sections remaining traversable.

Janapar Trail Route

The Janapar Trail, marked in 2007, led from the southern town of

Hadrut Hadrut (, ) is a town in the Khojavend District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The town had an ethnic Armenian-majority population prior to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Numerous Armenian civilians were killed in and around H ...

to the capital of

over the course of a week. From there the trail continues north to the region of Shahumian, and on to

Vardenis Vardenis ( ) is a town in the Vardenis Municipality of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. It is located in the valley of the Masrik River, on the territory of the Masrik artesian basin at Above mean sea level, above sea level, near the south ...

in Armenia. Important sites along this hike include

Dadivank Dadivank () or Khutavank (Dominique Auzias, Jean-Paul Labourdette, ''Petit fûté Arménie''. Paris: Nouvelles éditions de l'Université, 2005, p. 203.) is an Armenian Apostolic monastery in the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan. It was built be ...

monastery, Gandzasar monastery,

Shusha Shusha (, ) or Shushi () is a city in Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Situated at an altitude of 1,400–1,800 metres (4,600–5,900 ft) in the Karabakh mountains, the city was a mountain resort in the Soviet Union, Soviet ...

, the Karkar Canyon with its high cliffs, the astonishing Zontik Waterfall and ruins of Hunot, as well as the 2,000-year-old tree, called Tnjri,

Azykh Cave Azykh Cave (), also referred to as Azokh Cave (), is a six-cave complex in Azerbaijan, known as a habitation site of prehistoric humans. It is situated near the village of Azykh in the Khojavend District. The cave is an important prehistoric sit ...

and Gtichavank monastery. There are also hot springs in Zar, a geyser near Karvarchar city, and other springs and waterfalls along the way. In 2018 Trails For Change NGO repainted the blazing on the entire trail. The trail creators advise hikers to use the Viewranger app or a GPS with the downloaded tracks, or the topographic maps made available on the Janapar website.

Janapar symbol

The symbol of the trail is a footprint with the silhouette of

, which is composed of a single wandering line, which represents a hiking trail.

Gallery

Photos from along the Janapar File:2014 Górski Karabach, Widoki ze szlaku turystycznego Dżanapar (45).jpg, The views from the Janapar tourist route. Section between the cities Shusha and Stepanakert File:2014 Górski Karabach, Widoki ze szlaku turystycznego Dżanapar (02).jpg, The view from the Janapar tourist route. Section between

Karintak Dashalty () or Karin Tak () is a village in the Shusha District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2020, the village was controlled by the Republic of Artsakh. The village had an ethnic Armenians, Armenian-majority population ...

village and the city of

File:2014 Szuszi, Meczet Ashaghi Govhar Agha (02).jpg, Minarets of Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque in

File:Ghazanchetsots Double Rainbow.jpg, Cathedral of Shusha File:Waterfall, Karabakh Azerbaijan.jpg, Zontik Waterfall in Gargarchay (Karkar) Canyon File:Kaňon řeky Karkar, Náhorní Karabach.jpg, Gargarchay (Karkar) Canyon File:Дадиванк.jpg, Dadivank Monastery File:Gandzasar Monastery1.jpg, Gandzasar Monastery File:Skthorashen-old-tree.jpeg, 2,000-year-old Tnjri tree File:Azokh Cave3.jpg, Azykh Cave File:Gtichavank.jpg, Gtichavank (old photo) File:Karmir-shuka.jpeg, Fields near Karmir Shuka

References

Sources

*Destination Janapar - Yerevan Magazine, May–June 2013 *Le Janapar Trail - Nouvelle d'Arménie, April 2013 (No. 195, pp. 68–73)
נגורנו קראבאך: מסע בארץ מצולקת

External links

Official site
Hiking trails in Europe Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan {{Artsakh-stub