Janapar

Janapar Trail (Armenian: Ճանապարհ թրեյլ) is a marked trail through mountains, valleys, and villages of Nagorno-Karabakh.[1] The trail passes by monasteries and fortresses along its route. Prior to the 2020 war, the trail was broken into day hikes, taking hikers to a different village each night.[2] Hikers could either stay with a village family or set up camp nearby. The paths have existed for centuries but were marked in recent years specifically for hikers.[3] Since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the trail is not hikable.

Sign marking the Janapar trail
Section of Janapar trail

Janapar Trail Route

The Janapar Trail, marked in 2007, led from the southern town of Hadrut to the capital of Stepanakert over the course of a week. From there the trail continues north to the region of Shahumian, and on to Vardenis in Armenia. Important sites along this hike include Dadivank monastery, Gandzasar monastery, Shusha, the Karkar Canyon with its high cliffs, the astonishing[4] Zontik Waterfall and ruins of Hunot, as well as the 2,000-year-old tree, called Tnjri,[5] Azykh Cave and Gtichavank monastery. There are also hot springs in Zar, a geyser near Kalbajar city, and other springs and waterfalls along the way.

All of the Janapar Trail can be followed using the Viewranger app.[6] In 2018 Trails For Change NGO repainted the blazing on the entire trail.[7] Hikers are still advised 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, which is composed of a single wandering line, which represents a hiking trail.

Photos from along the Janapar

  • The views from the Janapar tourist route. Section between the cities Shusha and Stepanakert
  • The view from the Janapar tourist route. Section between Dashalty village and the city of Shusha
  • Minarets of Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha
  • Cathedral of Shusha
  • Zontik Waterfall in Karkar Canyon
  • Karkar Canyon
  • Dadivank Monastery
  • Gandzasar Monastery
  • 2,000 year old Skhtorashen tree
  • Azykh Cave
  • Gtichavank (old photo)
  • Fields near Qırmızı Bazar

References
  1. "Janapar Trail". www.janapartrail.org.
  2. Huffington Post, 01/27/2012, Nagorno Karabakh: The Black Garden. Olivia Katrandjian.
  3. Walk, the magazine of The Ramblers, Summer 2009, "Up the Garden Path" p 67-69. Laurence Mitchell.
  4. New York Times, 04/08/2015, A Warm Welcome in the Caucasus Mountains. Seth Kugel.
  5. Atlas Obscura, Tnjri. Littleham.
  6. "Janapar Trail on ViewRanger GPS". ViewRanger.
  7. "TFC | Build Trails, Make History". TFC.

Sources

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