Tourism and recreation in the XXI century: problems and prospects

TOURISM AND RECREATION IN THE XXI CENTURY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
3-4 May 2019
252
Baku, Azerbaijan

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was the main center of the main historical reforms, important national uprisings against the enemy 
troops advancing on our homeland. 
Materials and methods 
Ancient historical-cultural monuments in Ganja city have great importance in development of 
tourism. One of the most ancient Orthodox churches in the western region of the country is located in 
Ganja, and here until now, believers perform their religious rites, celebrate important historical dates 
and holidays. And this ancient temple is protected as an important historical and architectural 
monument and the residents of the city respect the Orthodox believers. One of the largest and at the 
same time ancient German Lutheran churches is also preserved in our ancient city and is declared a 
historical and architectural monument. Despite the fact that the main part of the faithful population of 
the city is Muslim, the inhabitants of the city for centuries protected with special respect the ancient 
Albanian Christian churches, as well as the Georgian church and other monuments. 
Ganja is one of the few cities where such residential neighborhoods as “Jewish Street”, “Lezghy 
Quarter”, “Lagich (Lahydzh)” Quarter, etc., existed, where other nations lived in peace and quiet [4, p. 
118; 5, p. 34-37; 6, p. 11-13].
Ganja, the capital of the first democratic republic of the Muslim East and in the XX century, has 
retained its status as a center of national state values. In Ganja in 1918, more than 200 government 
documents, declarations and decisions on the proclamation of the native language, on the creation of a 
national army, on confirming the flag of the state, etc. were adopted. 
Ganja residents are proud, but humane, simple people. They fought against evil to the end, but 
always defended the weak, needy people. Today, these spiritual values are preserved and respected, as 
many thousands of years ago. 
The Imamzade complex, located on the territory of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve of 
one of the ancient centers of science and culture - the city of Ganja, was erected in 739 over the grave 
of Movlan Ibrahim - the son of the fifth imam Mohammed Bagir, great-grandson of Huseyn ibn Ali - 
grandson of the prophet Mohammed. This monument is one of the main symbols of the city. The word 
"Imamzadeh" comes from the concept of "child of imam" and means "a descendant of the kind of 
imams." Among the people, the name Imamzade is considered a sacred place of worship and 
pilgrimage. Many members of the “Ahli Beit” who fled from persecution and persecution during the 
rule of the Umayyad dynasty (661-750), found refuge on the outskirts of the caliphate. Hazrat Ibrahim 
(a) moved to one of the centers of Islamic culture - the city of Ganja. Hazrat Ibrahim (a) lived on this 
land until the end of his life, where he was buried. A mausoleum (turbe) was erected over the grave of 
Movlan Ibrahim, and the tomb itself became a sacred place of pilgrimage [7-9].
The territory of the mausoleum, built in the VIII century, was expanded in the ХIV-ХVI 
centuries, and the buildings around it were erected mainly in the ХVII-ХVIII centuries. The 
mausoleum is the most valuable historical monument of the Imamzade complex. Its height is 12 m, the 
height of the dome is 2.7 m, the diameter is 4.4 m. Outside, the dome is covered with blue facing [2, p. 
19-21].
In the XX century, a significant historical epigraphic pattern was discovered on the inner walls of 
the tomb - an ancient scripture that was studied by prominent historians and researchers – archeologist 
Isag Jafarzadeh, and a prominent epigraphy scientist, member of the National Academy of Sciences of 
Azerbaijan Meshadikhanum Neimatova, and read as follows:
“He, Allah, is eternal. This is the son of Imam Mohammed Bagheer Movlan Ibrahim (bless him) 
a glorious (paradise) garden. He died 120 years after his grandfather - may Allah bless him!” As a 
result of scientific research of this historical scripture, it became known that the mausoleum of Imam’s 
son was erected in 739. 
The territory of the pilgrimage site Imamzade was in the possession of the representatives of the 
kind of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi - Sheikhzamanovs. For centuries, the 
tomb of Movlan Ibrahim was holy guarded and was a place of worship. At the direction of the 
legendary commander, the last Khan Ganja Javadkhan Ziyadoglu (1748-1804), who entered his name 
in the heroic history of Azerbaijan, large-scale restoration work was carried out in Imamzad. In 1878-
1879, at the initiative of General Major Israfil bey Yadigarzadef, and at the beginning of the XX 
century - the Ganja intellectuals in the Imamzadeh complex underwent a major overhaul [1, p. 12-14; 
2, p. 44, 49-55]. Representatives of prominent famous families are buried in this holy place. For