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EXPLORING ARMENIA
Daily News & Analysis, India
Dec 25 2013
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2013, 12:48 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Harshada Rege
The best thing about exploring a destination that's not known to many
is that you go there without any expectations. You don't have anyone
telling you about the 'must visit' spots or the 'must shop' things.
And then there's the secret joy in knowing that you are the first among
your well-travelled friends to set foot on unknown soil and get to know
new stories. Armenia sure is a destination that has an interesting
tale for a traveller on every bend. The Republic of Armenia is a
landlocked country, located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and
Western Asia. It shares its borders with Turkey to the west, Georgia
to the north, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east,
and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. The
rapidly-modernising country makes for an exciting adventure.
When to go? September to early November, and April to June are popular
tourist seasons.
November onwards this proves to be a great destination for those who
love skiing down snow-capped mountains.
How to get there? Yerevan, which is the capital of Armenia, is where
you should head too.
Recently, Air Arabia has started flights to Armenia with a stopover at
Sharjah. The flights between Mumbai and Yerevan operate on Tuesdays,
Fridays and Sundays. The tickets are likely to cost around `41,000.
Fab facts!
The Peace Barrel: The Ararat Brandy factory in Yerevan is home to the
Peace Barrel. The special brandy stored in this barrel will be served
only when Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace agreement over Karabakh.
Devil's Nail: Obsidian from Armenia is a semi-precious gemstone. It is
a volcanic rock known as a "natural glass," formed some two million
years ago. Obsidian is used to make sharp objects like weapons or
knives and is referred to as Devil's Nail by locals.
Cave restaurant: One of the most special experiences will be lunch in
a cave restaurant. This is where you will get to taste some delicious
barbecue food and cheese!
Jazz it up: For those who love to explore the nightlife in new places,
Yerevan is the place to be at.
Apart from the clubs, it's the jazz culture that is a unique
experience. Malkhas Jazz Club is one of the most well-known spots.
Owner and famous Armenian jazz pianist Levon Malkhasyan himself plays
some great tunes post midnight at the club.
Motley land Armenia, turns out to be a great destination because
its a great amalgamation of many things. Yerevan, which is one of
the oldest continuously-inhabited cities, has been the capital of
Armenia since 1918. It's home to Matenadaran, which is one of the
world's oldest repositories of ancient manuscripts. When it comes to
exploring the Yerevan, a walking tour is what you need to soak in the
spirit of the city. On your must see list should be Cascade, which
is a giant stairway in Yerevan. Designed by architect Jim Torosyan,
it was launched in 1971 and completed in 1980.
Cascade has multiple levels with fountains, beautiful sculptures
and even museums. Republic Square, the statue of Mother Armenia, and
Opera House also make for interesting stop overs. The Ararat brandy
factory is a highly-recommended pit stop.
Make a wish The two monasteries that should find their way on your
itinerary are Khor Virap Monastery and Noravank Monastery. Khor Virap
is where St Gregory the Illuminator was held for 13 years before
he converted Armenia into the first Christian nation. According to
legend, he was imprisoned in a room which was full of scorpions and
snakes. While it was expected that he would eventually die in this
cell, a woman from the village would throw him some bread from an
opening in the ceiling.
When the king fell ill, his sister had a vision that it would be St
Gregory who would cure him.
Though everyone expected the saint to be dead, he replied when his
name was called. A narrow staircase leads down to the room where
he was imprisoned. Locals claim that if you whisper your wish it's
likely to come true.
One of a kind The Monastery of Geghard has been partially carved out
of the adjacent mountain. If you are lucky, you will get to hear the
church choir chant ancient chants (sharakans) in the rock grotto. The
picturesque ancient Sun Temple at Garni is an unique destination
because this is the only pagan temple in Armenia.
Food fundas The place is a delight for barbecue lovers. Be it fish,
chicken or lamb, Armenians love their meat and serve it with much
love. Cheese, tomatoes and aubergines are often a part the vegetarian
diet. Their favourite bread is Lavash, which is a lot like our roomali
roti. Those with a sweet tooth should try the Baklava, which is a rich,
sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts
and sweetened with syrup or honey.
Cool off Tsaghkadzor, which when translated in Armenian means valley
of flowers, is located 50 kilometers north of Yerevan. This is a
popular holiday destination where you can witness snowfall.
This picturesque locale is home to many luxurious hotels and resorts.
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-exploring-armenia-1940015
Daily News & Analysis, India
Dec 25 2013
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2013, 12:48 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Harshada Rege
The best thing about exploring a destination that's not known to many
is that you go there without any expectations. You don't have anyone
telling you about the 'must visit' spots or the 'must shop' things.
And then there's the secret joy in knowing that you are the first among
your well-travelled friends to set foot on unknown soil and get to know
new stories. Armenia sure is a destination that has an interesting
tale for a traveller on every bend. The Republic of Armenia is a
landlocked country, located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and
Western Asia. It shares its borders with Turkey to the west, Georgia
to the north, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east,
and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. The
rapidly-modernising country makes for an exciting adventure.
When to go? September to early November, and April to June are popular
tourist seasons.
November onwards this proves to be a great destination for those who
love skiing down snow-capped mountains.
How to get there? Yerevan, which is the capital of Armenia, is where
you should head too.
Recently, Air Arabia has started flights to Armenia with a stopover at
Sharjah. The flights between Mumbai and Yerevan operate on Tuesdays,
Fridays and Sundays. The tickets are likely to cost around `41,000.
Fab facts!
The Peace Barrel: The Ararat Brandy factory in Yerevan is home to the
Peace Barrel. The special brandy stored in this barrel will be served
only when Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace agreement over Karabakh.
Devil's Nail: Obsidian from Armenia is a semi-precious gemstone. It is
a volcanic rock known as a "natural glass," formed some two million
years ago. Obsidian is used to make sharp objects like weapons or
knives and is referred to as Devil's Nail by locals.
Cave restaurant: One of the most special experiences will be lunch in
a cave restaurant. This is where you will get to taste some delicious
barbecue food and cheese!
Jazz it up: For those who love to explore the nightlife in new places,
Yerevan is the place to be at.
Apart from the clubs, it's the jazz culture that is a unique
experience. Malkhas Jazz Club is one of the most well-known spots.
Owner and famous Armenian jazz pianist Levon Malkhasyan himself plays
some great tunes post midnight at the club.
Motley land Armenia, turns out to be a great destination because
its a great amalgamation of many things. Yerevan, which is one of
the oldest continuously-inhabited cities, has been the capital of
Armenia since 1918. It's home to Matenadaran, which is one of the
world's oldest repositories of ancient manuscripts. When it comes to
exploring the Yerevan, a walking tour is what you need to soak in the
spirit of the city. On your must see list should be Cascade, which
is a giant stairway in Yerevan. Designed by architect Jim Torosyan,
it was launched in 1971 and completed in 1980.
Cascade has multiple levels with fountains, beautiful sculptures
and even museums. Republic Square, the statue of Mother Armenia, and
Opera House also make for interesting stop overs. The Ararat brandy
factory is a highly-recommended pit stop.
Make a wish The two monasteries that should find their way on your
itinerary are Khor Virap Monastery and Noravank Monastery. Khor Virap
is where St Gregory the Illuminator was held for 13 years before
he converted Armenia into the first Christian nation. According to
legend, he was imprisoned in a room which was full of scorpions and
snakes. While it was expected that he would eventually die in this
cell, a woman from the village would throw him some bread from an
opening in the ceiling.
When the king fell ill, his sister had a vision that it would be St
Gregory who would cure him.
Though everyone expected the saint to be dead, he replied when his
name was called. A narrow staircase leads down to the room where
he was imprisoned. Locals claim that if you whisper your wish it's
likely to come true.
One of a kind The Monastery of Geghard has been partially carved out
of the adjacent mountain. If you are lucky, you will get to hear the
church choir chant ancient chants (sharakans) in the rock grotto. The
picturesque ancient Sun Temple at Garni is an unique destination
because this is the only pagan temple in Armenia.
Food fundas The place is a delight for barbecue lovers. Be it fish,
chicken or lamb, Armenians love their meat and serve it with much
love. Cheese, tomatoes and aubergines are often a part the vegetarian
diet. Their favourite bread is Lavash, which is a lot like our roomali
roti. Those with a sweet tooth should try the Baklava, which is a rich,
sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts
and sweetened with syrup or honey.
Cool off Tsaghkadzor, which when translated in Armenian means valley
of flowers, is located 50 kilometers north of Yerevan. This is a
popular holiday destination where you can witness snowfall.
This picturesque locale is home to many luxurious hotels and resorts.
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-exploring-armenia-1940015