Janapar Trail () is a marked trail through mountains, valleys, and villages of the self-proclaimed

Republic of Artsakh Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh () or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (),, is a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Artsakh controls a part of the former ...

which passes by monasteries and fortresses along its route. The trail consists 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 are blue with a yellow footprint. According to the trail's official website, much of the trail became unhikable 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 territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involving Azerbai ...

, with only the Stepanakert 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 to the capital of Stepanakert over the course of a week. From there the trail continues north to the region of

Shahumian Shahumyan Province ( hy, Շահումյան, Shahumyan, also spelled ''Shaumyan'' and ''Shahumian'') is a claimed province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient ...

, and on to

Vardenis Vardenis ( hy, Վարդենիս) is a town and urban municipal community in the southeastern part 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 s ...

in Armenia. Important sites along this hike include

Dadivank Dadivank ( hy, Դադիվանք) or Khutavank ( hy, Խութավանք, translation=monastery on the hillЖеан-Паул Лабурдетьте, Доминикуе Аузиас, Армения, Petit Futé, 2007 – p. 203) is an Armenian Ap ...

monastery, Gandzasar monastery,

Shusha / hy, Շուշի , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg , image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govha ...

, 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 Tnjri ( hy, Տնջրի , from wikt:տնջրի, տնջրի ''tnǰri'', which in the Karabakh dialect means ‘plane tree’) is a -year-old giant Oriental plane tree situated nearby the village of Skhtorashen, ''de facto'' in the Martuni Province ...

Azykh Cave Azykh Cave ( az, Azıx mağarası), 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 impor ...

and Gtichavank monastery. There are also hot springs in Zar, a geyser near Karvarchar city, and other springs and waterfalls along the way. TIn 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

Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh ( ) is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh, lying between Lower Karabakh and Syunik, and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. The region is m ...

, 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 village and the city of

Shusha / hy, Շուշի , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg , image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govha ...

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

Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque ( az, Aşağı Gövhər ağa məscidi, lit=Lower Govhar Agha Mosque) is a mosque in Shusha, Azerbaijan. The designation ''ashaghi'' ("lower") refers to the location of the mosque in the lower section of Shusha town, d ...

Shusha / hy, Շուշի , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg , image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govha ...

File:Ghazanchetsots Double Rainbow.jpg, Cathedral of Shusha File:Vodopád, Náhorní Karabach.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
{{Coord missing, Armenia Hiking trails in Europe Tourist attractions in the Republic of Artsakh Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan