To visit Armenia is to travel back in history and feel the spirit of
more than 41 centuries. Experience first hand the "country sheltered by
Biblical “Ararat" home of Noah’s Ark; the land where human kind was
reborn.
Armenia offers a little something for every person. Most of all, the
warmth and friendly manner of the people will make your visit unforgettable.
One visit is never enough. This land of old and new has a gravitational pull to
all who visit. Don’t be surprised if you book your next visit to Armenia while
you are still in Armenia. Whether or not your heritage is Armenian, you will
feel right at home and will not want to leave this beautiful land and people.
So let`s start do discover it. Your journey should start from capital
Yerevan the ‘pink city’ of Armenia. Once you step into Yerevan, you’ll be in
awe of its beautiful architecture where its buildings were made up of volcanic
rocks of various shades of pink! That’s how Yerevan got its nickname ‘Pink
City” or sometimes also known as the city of stones.
Republic Square in Yerevan
One of the picturesque sites of Yerevan is Republic Square. The oval
shaped square has a stone pattern in the centre, meant to look like a
traditional Armenian rug from above. The dancing water fountains are located at
the northeastern forehead of the square in front of the National Gallery. The
buildings around the square are made of rose and white Armenian tufa stones,
fortified on a basalt-made ground anchor. The clock of the Government building
tower was made in Moscow and transferred to Yerevan in July 1941. The diameter
of the clock is 4 meters, the length of the big hand is 188 cm, while the small
hand is 170 cm.
The Republic Square is the place where ceremonies and meetings are
held with the most notable one is the yearly military show of the Independence
Day.
Matenadaran
Matenadaran is a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute
and museum in Yerevan, Armenia. It holds one of the world's richest
depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of
subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and
cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. The Matenadaran is in
possession of a collection of nearly 17,000 manuscripts and 30,000 other
documents which cover a wide array of subjects such as historiography,
geography, philosophy, grammar, art history, medicine and science.
Before you yawn and scroll down your web-page to the next attraction,
just stop a moment and consider where the word ‘scroll’ came from? This museum,
located in the Armenian capital Yerevan is certainly the place to find out. The
Armenian alphabet is one of the oldest in the world – created in 405 AD by
Armenian Mesrop Mashtots, and as such many ancient and important texts were
translated into Armenian.
The Matenadaran or as it is otherwise known –The Mesrop Mashtots
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – thus really came into being not long after
the alphabet was created, and today this museum houses one of the world’s truly
great collection of ancients writings and texts. Be amazed by the intricate
beauty of the Ejmiadzin Gospel which dates back to 989 AD and is framed in
ivory or just how tiny a 15th century calendar is, weighing in as it does, at
only 15 grams. When you’re done inside looking at the works of art, don’t
forget a trip outside where the statue of Armenia’s alphabet’s creator sits
outside with a student at his feet.
Cascade
Just a short trip away from the
Matenadaran museum in central Yerevan, is this wonderful tourist attraction,
which combines modern aesthetics and architecture with the area’s outstanding
natural beauty. The Cascade is a kind of mix between a modern-day public square
and a giant staircase, which you can reach the summit of, either by walking on
the outside (up the steps), or by taking a lift (elevator) from the inside. The
whole Cascade area is like an indoor and outdoor art exhibition. Add to that
the backdrop of Mount Ararat (of Biblical fame) behind this landmark and views
of the Armenian capital Yerevan below from its summit, and you begin to get the
picture. A big hit with all who visit it, the cafes, pubs and bars in the area
also add to its charm and visit-ability.
MALKHAS JAZZ CLUB
"Malkhas Jazz Club"
offers jazz music programs every day. The club is an ideal place where one can
have a full rest, enjoy dishes of Armenian cuisine. It is a place of quite high
quality and level. It is the meeting point of fans of music, jazz musicians and
simply of people with good music taste. Here you have the chance to listen to
the music of such famous performers as Malkhas Jazz Band, Art Voices,
Cross-Road, Time-Repor. After midnight jazzman Levon Malkhasyan plays for the club visitors.
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest body of
water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater
high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in the central part of
Armenia, in the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. It has significant economic,
cultural, and recreational value. Its only island (now a peninsula) is home to
a medieval monastery. Lake Sevan is considered the "jewel" of Armenia
and is "recognized as a national treasure" in the country. German
naturalist and traveler Friedrich Parrot, who with the renown Armenian writer
Khachatur Abovian conquered the summit of Mount Ararat in 1829 for the first
time in history, wrote that the "sea enjoys a high celebrity for sanctity
with all Armenians, far and near, on account of the many old, and now partly
deserted religious houses on its shores; and with all the rest of the natives
for its wonderful stores of fish, of which salmon-trout is peculiarly esteemed,
being dried and carried to great distances for sale.
Garni Pagan Temple
It is perhaps the best-known
structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. After Armenia's conversion to
Christianity in the early fourth century, it was converted into a royal summer
house. According to some scholars it was not a temple but a tomb and thus
survived the universal destruction of pagan structures. It is one of the main
tourist attractions in Armenia and the central shrine of Armenian neopaganism.
Tatev ropeway
Wings of Tatev is a 5.7 km (3.5
mi) cableway between Halidzor and the Tatev monastery in Armenia. It is the
longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section, and holds the
record for Longest non-stop double track cable car. The link allows year-round
access to Armenia's 9th-century Tatev monastery complex, one of the country's
most important religious centres and a major tourist attraction. The cable car
travels at a speed of 37 km per hour and a one-way journey takes 10 minutes. At
its highest point over the gorge, the car travels 320 m above ground level. On
23 October 2010 it was officially recorded by Guinness World Records as the
world's longest non-stop double track cable car.
Natural Hot Springs - Taq Jur
In ancient times the term 'taking
the waters' was commonly used. Water therapies in natural hot springs were used
not just to cleanse and rejuvenate, but also to heal. This is still being done
today. The earliest civilizations used the hot springs as far back as 4,000
B.C. often for religious rituals but also for healing. These kinds of rituals
were very popular in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Taiwan, India and Crete. In the
16th century Europe rediscovered the ancient Roman spa culture in towns like
Bath. People used to take the hot water in natural hot springs or baths. While
today it is taken in hot tubs or spa tubs in spa salons. However, not
underestimating the relaxing and healing effects of these tubs, I believe that
nothing can take the place of a natural hot pool in terms of its healing,
rejuvenating power in a natural environment, which surely leaves its positive
impacts. They also assure that once you take it, you will feel better for a
couple of years! Whether this is true or not, you will need to try it to find
out. However, the healing power of the water is proven for many times. It can
heal muscle injuries, back pains, joint pains and more.
Tsakhkadzor ski resort
The infrastructure of tourism is highly developed in Tsaghkadzor, with
many luxurious hotels, resorts and amusement facilities. The Tsaghkadzor ski
resort is located just above the town, on a height of 1750 meters above sea
level. During the recent years the ski resort was fully modernized. All ropeway
lifts are manufactured and operated by Leitner Group. The current structure
replaced existing soviet era lifts, mostly following their path. There were
initially three consecutive lifts stretching from the foot of the mountain
(1969m above sea level) up till the mountain peak (2819m), with the first and
second lifts ending at 2234m and 2465m above sea level respectively.
Want to see the entire Armenia? Visit the ropeway of Tskhkadzor. From
the height of 1,000 – 3,000 m you will see entire Armenia lying on the palm of
your hand: the bright blue lake Sevan, the Big and Little Ararat.
Jermuk
Jermuk is one of the most popular
spa towns in Armenia because of its healing mineral waters and mild climate.
The town has more than 40 thermal springs! In Jermuk, you can visit the Gallery
of Water for free tastings of the healing mineral waters. And don’t forget to
visit the most popular attraction – Jermuk Waterfall, which is the second
largest waterfall in Armenia. The water tumbles down from the height of about
70m.
I hope I will meet you soon in Armenia!
Areg
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