A traveller's reflection: Caucasus 2018: 05 Yerevan/Koyayk/Lake Sevan, Armenia

"We meet people for a specific reason. They're either a blessing or a lesson..."

(The Temple of Garni)

Day 05: 19 April 2018 (Thursday)

Route: Yerevan/ Kotayk Province/ Lake Sevan
Hotel: Hotel Olympia Yerevan, Armenia

This morning there was a commotion in the dining room while we were having our breakfast. The front desk officer was not pleased for our group to have breakfast early. In this hotel, breakfast was normally served after 8.30 am.

(Very early breakfast in the hotel)

(Magnificent view of Mt Ararat from our hotel room)

The van picked us up around 9.00 am. We travelled to Kotayk district and visited the attractions there. Our first stop was at Charent's Arch Viewpoint. The arch was erected in 1957 and named in honour of Armenian poet Eghishe Charents, who wrote the best poem dedicated to Armenia.

(Mt Ararat viewed from Charent's Arch)

(A strategic viewpoint)

(A beautiful patriotic song dedicated to Armenia)

From the Arch viewpoint, we had a good panoramic view of Mt. Ararat. There were locals singing the mountain song and selling their CDs and souvenirs. We watched a group of Japanese doing some vegetation study around the area too.

(A couple shot and Japanese scientists at work)

(Another beautiful view of Mt Ararat)

Mount Ararat is a snow-capped and dormant volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat, the highest peak in Turkey and the Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 m and Little Ararat, with an elevation of 3,896 m. The Ararat massif is about 35 km wide at ground base.

(A panoramic view of Ararat Mountain and plain)

(Local handicrafts and souvenirs)

Despite the scholarly consensus that the mountains of Ararat of the Book of Genesis do not refer to specifically Mt. Ararat, it has been widely accepted in Christianity as the resting place of Noah's Ark. It is the principal national symbol of Armenia and has been considered a sacred mountain by Armenians. Along with Noah's Ark, it is depicted on the coat of arms of Armenia.

(A ticket entrance to Garni Monument)

(The history of Garni, a temple or a tomb?)

(Walking with purpose to the monument)

From Charent's Arch we headed towards Temple of Garni, the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. This Ionic temple located in the village of Garni is the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. The structure was probably built by King Tiridates I as a temple to the sun god Mihr. According to some scholars it was not a temple but a tomb and thus survived the universal destruction of pagan structures. It collapsed in a 1679 earthquake and reconstructed again. After the visit, we bought some souvenirs, dry nuts and fruits.

(The majestic monument against the mountain range)

(Huge columns, some are reconstructed)

(The monument survived a major earthquake)

(The remaining walls around the monument)

(The bath chambers and pool)

(Ancient artifacts on display)

We travelled a short distance to Geghard, a medieval monastery being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. Thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning ‘the Monastery of the Cave’. The name commonly used Geghardavank, meaning ‘the Monastery of the Spear’, originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury.

(Khachkars placed along the path)

(Armenian Cross-stones carved on the rocks)

(The entrance to the medieval monastery)

(Contains churches and tombs)

(The main prayer hall of the church)

(The smaller rooms in the monastery)

(The entrance cut into solid rocks)

(The burial chamber in the cave monastery)

(One of the many large columns)

(Landscaped against the Upper Azat Valley)

(The Kathoghikè main church is in the classic Armenian form)

(Basking in the warm sunny weather)

(The Matagh, a sacrifice site next to the bridge)

The spectacular towering cliffs surrounding the monastery are part of the Azat River gorge, and are included together with the monastery in the World Heritage Site listing. Some of the churches within the monastery complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, while others are elaborate structures, with both architecturally complex walled sections and rooms deep inside the cliff. The numerous engraved and free-standing khachkars is a unique sight.

(Towering cliffs at the entrance to the Azat Valley)

(Caves housing monastic cells built by monks)

(A landscape of great natural beauty)

After visiting Geghard we headed to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude alpine lakes in Eurasia. The lake is at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. The lake itself is 1,242 sq km and is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Only 10% of the incoming water is drained by the Hrazdan River, while the remaining 90% evaporates. The lake provides some 90% of the fish and 80% of the crayfish catch of Armenia. Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value.

(The monastery complex)

(Lake Sevan is a popular tourist attraction)

Its only island, now a peninsula, is home to a medieval monastery. We had to climb more than 300 steps to visit the monastery complex on top of the hill where we had a breath-taking view of Lake Savan and the surrounding area.

(Fried trout for dinner again)

(A beautiful view of Lake Sevan)

(The lake is 1900 m above sea level)

(Climbing the uneven steps to the top)

Hayravank is a 9th to 12th century Armenian monastery located just northeast of the village of Hayravank along the southwest shores of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province. The monastic complex consists of a church, chapel, and gavit.

Surrounding the monastery are numerous khachkars and gravestones that are part of a small cemetery. To the northwest a short distance from the site, are the remains of Bronze Age through medieval fortification walls and foundations of a settlement. A polished black vessel of the Early Bronze Age was discovered during archaeological excavations in the area. Weapons of metal and stone, tools, clay idols, numerous vessels, fireplaces and two tombs, all from the Iron Age were discovered in the vicinity as well.