Goychay

Goychay is a city at the corner of Azerbaijan's Sheki Region. More specifically, Goychay is said to be situated in the Shirvan region, in the center of Azerbaijan.

Understand

Goychay is the major city of the Goychay rayon. Ujar Rayon is south of Goychay rayon, Ismayilli rayon is northeast and Qabala rayon is to the northwest. In the east, Goychay is bordered by Agsu rayon and in the west, it is bordered by Agdash rayon (information given by students of Goychay's English Conversation Club).

Climate

Goychay’s climate is sub-tropical and mild. In summer, the climate is very hot and in winter, the weather is cold. It snows rarely in the winter. In fall, the weather is cool and rainy. Spring is the best season because the trees bloom and the weather is warm and sunny (information given by students of Goychay's English Conversation Club).

Get in

By bus or marshrutka

In the following the prices and times for important connections:

• Baku – 5 manat
• Ganja – 3 manat. 08:00, 09:00, 10:00.
• Yevlax – 1 manat (take the Ganja bus)
• Barda – 2 manat. 10:00, 12:00.
• Ujar – 0.40 manat. Regularly.
• Ismailli – 1-1.50 manat. 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00. 1.5 hr.
• Mingecevir – 2 manat (bus passing through Goychay to Baku)
• Sheki – 3 manat (passes through Goychay to Baku)
• Zaqatala – 5 manat (passes through Goychay to Baku)
• Balaken – 6 manat (passes through Goychay to Baku)

By shared taxi

Shared taxis generally leave when full. The prices per person for shared taxis in the following:

• Baku – 7 manat
• Ganja – 4 manat
• Yevlax – 2-3 manat
• Barda – 3 manat
• Ujar – 1 manat
• Ismailli – 1.60 manat (10 for the full taxi at night)
• Mingecevir – 3 manat
• Xaldan – 2 manat (there are buses to Sheki, Zaqatala and Balaken from Xaldan)

Get around

Walking is throughout possible.

Do

The Pomegranate Festival

• Pomegranate Festival. The festival usually takes place end of October or beginning of November, more often in November though. In 2018 it took place Nov 3rd. Be flexible with your planning, check Facebook. Come and celebrate Goychay's most popular product, pomegranates! Every year, Goychay host a festival to promote this product. At the fair, a parade is held with traditional entertainment like tightrope walkers. Dancing and music are found along the parade route, but without a doubt, the star of the show is pomegranate. Taste juices, eat local dishes, enjoy the pomegranate juicing competition and more. The pomegranate holiday is very interesting. There was a game in which every player had to eat a pomegranate very fast. If seeds dropped to the table, the player was disqualified. The winner got 500 manat. There was also a competition for the biggest pomegranate. About 5,000 people came to the festival and enjoyed the sights. (updated Aug 2019)
• Visit the Heydar Museum.
• Relax musical fountain which is on during warm weather nights.
• Eli Kerim park is near the stadium on the edge of the city.

Buy

Pomegranates

Pomegranates everywhere ...

Called "nar" in the native language, this fruit can be found in various states; from jam and preserves to juice and sauces, Goychay is renowned for its tasty pomegranates in both red and white variations. They even have a pomegranate festival every year (information given by students of Goychay's English Conversation Club).

• Pomegranates (red/sour and white/sweet)
• Pomegranate juice
• Pomegranate sharab (a sauce from pomegranate used on fish, but tastes great on anything)

Eat

• Doners kebap and peroshkis are available near the Heydar Park.
• Karavan Saray Restaurant is located in the city center and is open to both males and females.
• Zeynub wedding palace/restaurant is located near school number 7.

Sleep

• 1 Çinar Otel Göyçay. (updated Aug 2019)

Go next

• Sheki (Şəki, formerly Nukha or Nuxa) – The capital of the Sheki region and a beautiful city in the forested Caucasian Mountains with lots to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history.
• Qabala (Gabala) – New resort town deep in Caucasian Mountains, which has taken its name from the archaeological site about 20 km southwest.
• Lahich (Lahıc, Lahij) – A cozy and remote highland village. Famous for its copper work.
• Nij (Nic) – An enormous village of an endangered Christian ethnic group, the Udins.
• Ujar (Ucar) – The capital of the Ujar rayon.
• Mingecevir – The city is crossed by the Kura River that divides it into two.
• Ganja – Azerbaijan's second largest city has a long history, some important sites and an interesting and manifold architecture.