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Dilijan National Park (Դիլիջան ազգային պարկ) is one of four national parks in Armenia. It’s located about 90 minutes from Yerevan.
Introduction to Dilijan National Park
Dilijan National Park was established in 2002. It encompasses dense forests with rich biodiversity as well as a handful of natural and cultural monuments. This includes the towns of Dilijan and Gosh as well as the historic monasteries of Haghartsin, Goshavank, Jukhtak Vank, Matosavank, and Aghavnavank.
As far as biodiversity, over 900 species of plants can be found in the park. There are also over 800 species of beetles, 150 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, and several species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. There’s also an extensive network of trails, many still being developed and rehabilitated. Among them is part of the Transcaucasian Trail.
We visited Dilijan National Park on a day trip from Yerevan. Although we didn’t do any hiking, we had a chance to visit the major cultural highlights of the park. I hope to go back in the future and enjoy some of the trails.
Where to Eat at Dilijan National Park
During our visit to the park, we stopped in the town of Gosh for lunch.
Hnots Gastro Yard
Hnots Gastro Yard is set in a rustic building right outside the center of Gosh. The staff made us feel right at home in the cozy dining room. I started with the mushroom soup and had a kebab wrapped in lavash as my main course. I washed it down with a bottle of Ararat beer. The meal was good and the prices were reasonable.
Town of Dilijan
Our first stop was the town of Dilijan (Դիլիջան), which is referred to as the Switzerland of Armenia. This small resort town is home to many Armenian artists, composers, and filmmakers.
Dilijan is surrounded by forest and is famous for its fresh air and spas with curative mineral water. It’s also famous for handmade carpets and traditional art and architecture.
Myasnikyan Street
Your first glimpse of traditional Armenian architecture will likely be on Myasnikyan Street as you enter the town. These wooden buildings feature intricately carved balconies and are mostly filled with shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex
The Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex consists of several restored 19th century buildings in the historic district along picturesque Sharambeyan Street. It sits just underneath Myasnikyan Street down a flight of stairs.
The complex consists of an 18-room hotel, restaurant, and craft workshops. During our visit, we saw several artists in the street trying to capture the scenery.
Lake Parz
Lake Parz (Պարզ լիճ), which translates to Clear Lake, is a short drive from Dilijan. It’s nestled in a green forest and one of the most popular areas in Dilijan National Park.
The site features a restaurant, paddle boats, zip lines, a rope course, and a trail. The loop trail was completed in 2018 and runs for 3.1 kilometers (1.9 miles) around the lake.
Haghartsin Monastery
Haghartsin Monastery (Հաղարծին) is hidden in a forest down a road north of Dilijan. It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries but its foundation date is unknown. The monastery was destroyed by the Seljuks in the 11th century and was rebuilt by Princes Zakare II (d. 1212) and Ivane I Zakarian (d. 1227) starting in 1184.
Haghartsin was renovated in 2011 by Armenia Fund with a donation from Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah. It’s one of the most important cultural monuments in Armenia and a major tourist attraction. The monastery consists of four churches, a refectory, and a gavit.
Refectory
The first building you’ll come to is the refectory. It was built in 1248 by the architect Minas and is divided by pillars into two square sections topped by intersecting arches.
The walls of the refectory are lined with stone benches. There are also long wooden tables and benches used for wedding or baptism receptions. Apertures are built into the ceiling to provide lighting.
Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Further along is the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Surb Grigor Lusavorich), which is the oldest structure at the monastery. It was built in the 10th century and accessible via a gavit that’s wider than the church itself. The gavit was added in the 12th century.
The Church of St. Gregory is topped by a dome sitting on an octagonal drum. An important school of church music was once located there. There’s also a small sepulchre on the outside of the southern wall.
Church of the Holy Mother of God
Opposite is the Church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin). It was built in 1281 and is the largest building of the complex. It was once entered through a gavit which is almost completely destroyed.
The drum of the dome has 16 sides and is decorated with arches. I was unable to enter the church due to a baptism ceremony taking place during my visit.
St. Katoghike Church
Attached to the Church of St. Gregory is the tiny St. Katoghike Church (Surb Katoghike), which was built in the 12th century. It features Armenian inscriptions above the entrance.
Church of St. Stephanos
The fourth and final church is the Church of St. Stephen (Surb Stepanos). It was built in 1244. There are several Armenian inscriptions and a sundial on the south façade.
Khachkars
Finally, there’s a path leading from the Church of St. Stephen behind the Church of the Holy Mother of God. It’s lined with a collection of beautiful khachkars (cross stones).
Goshavank
The villlage of Gosh is centered around Goshavank (Գոշավանք), which translates to Monastery of Gosh. It was founded in 1188 by priest and scholar Mkhitar Gosh (1130-1213) as Nor Getik (New Getik). The patron was Ivane I Zakarian (d. 1227) and it replaced an older monastery destroyed by an earthquake. The monastery was renamed to honor Gosh after his death.
Goshavank was one of the most important and largest religious and educational centers of its time. Students learned law, historiography, and philosophy, as well arts such as rhetoric, miniature painting, music, and manuscripts. The first church built there, the wooden Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, no longer exists.
The monastic complex is set in two locations. The main group is on the north side of the gorge in Gosh and includes three churches, chapels, a library and bell tower, an auxiliary building, and khachkars (cross stones). Separated from the main group to the southeast, on the other side of the gorge and up a hill, is another church and the mausoleum of Mkhitar Gosh.
Church of the Holy Mother of God
The main church at Goshavank is the Church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin). It was built between 1191 and 1196 and consecrated in 1197. It was financed by Prince Vakhtang of Haterk and his brothers Smbat, Vasak, Khoydan, and Grigoris, as well as Davit and Sadun, the sons of the Prince of Kurt.
The gavit was added between 1197 and 1203. It was financed by Princes Zakare II (d. 1212) and Ivane I Zakarian (d. 1227). It’s a large rectangular structure with entrances on the north and west sides. Eight pillars and four columns supporting the roof, and there’s a lighting aperture in the center of the ceiling. There’s one window on the southern wall and two on the western wall. The floor level is one step lower than that of the church.
The church is entered via the gavit. It’s topped by a dome with an apse to the east. Four stone steps lead up to the apse. There are windows on each side of the church as well as four windows on the drum of the dome. The architect of both the church and gavit is believed to be Mkhitar Hyusn.
Chapel of the Holy Mother of God
Next to the gavit is the Chapel of the Holy Mother of God. It was built in the first quarter of the 13th century and likely used as a seminary facility. The elaborate carvings over the entrance stand out.
Double Chapel
Behind the Chapel of the Holy Mother of God is the Double Chapel. It was built by Mkhitar Gosh in 1208. The chapels were dedicated to St. Hripsime and the Holy Apostles.
Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
The Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich) is a few steps past the Double Chapel. It was built after the death of Mkhitar Gosh under abbot Martiros and financed by Prince Grigor Tgha. Construction took place between 1231 and 1241 and was briefly suspended due to incursions by the army of Jalal al-Din. A small ruined chapel sits behind the church.
The church is topped by a dome and has a large apse on the east side. It was restored in the 20th century. You’ll find several Armenian inscriptions along the walls inside the church.
Khachkars
The two khachcars (cross-stones) in front of the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator were made by the master stonemason Poghos. Both feature geometric designs and plant motifs. Poghos was extremely popular and regarded as the best khachkar artist of his time.
Library and Belfry
Finally, north of the Church of the Holy Mother of God is the library (scriptorium) and belfry. It’s separated from the church by a vaulted gallery. The library was built in 1241 and the belfry was added in 1291.
The building has a square plan. Niches were once used to store manuscripts, and the belfry sits atop the library supported by arches.
