Dilijan

Dilijan is a town in the North Armenian province of Tavush.The city extends over 20 km on the banks of Aghstafa  and is located at 1500 m altitude surrounded by mountains in the Dilijan National Park.

In Dilijan also Golovinka and Dilijanka flow into the Aghstev. The mountainous area covers 34,000 hectares of forest. Locals call it because of this idyllic location therefore also the “Little Switzerland” of Armenia. Dilijan is rich in mineral springs, and the “Dilijan” mineral water is said to have healing benefits.
Healthcare : Due to the synthesis of natural health-improving physical components (clean air, mineral healing springs), Dilijan is an exceptional region. Given the above circumstances, in 1921 the first TB dispensary in Armenia (named after R.N. Ganjetsyan) was opened in Dilijan, and after a while the dispensary hospital, which operated until the 1980s. The hospital specialized in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bile ducts of the liver and gall bladder, and diseases of the pancreas.

The city center is located on the right river bank, and here are the main shops and the most impressive houses. The restored Old Town with typical recognizable architecture is also located here: gray-stone houses with carved wooden balconies, platbands and attics. In the restored quarter, they tried to recreate the atmosphere of medieval Dilijan. It operates craft shops, bakes bread and rolls, and sells traditional souvenirs. The left bank of Agstev is more relaxing and healing: it houses the main pensions and resorts.

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Many well-known Armenian artists, composers, scientists and directors lived and live in Dilijan. Today, the city is considered one of the most intelligent cities in Armenia. A special pride of the city is considered to be a music school, many of whose graduates become students of the Yerevan Conservatory, and a music school. Within the city and in the district there are many holiday homes.The name “Dilijan” became well known to Soviet viewers after the release of the film “Mimino” in 1977. The character of F. Mkrtchyan Rubik was born just from Dilijan. This fact is marked by a monument erected in the city in 2011. The monument depicts the heroes of Mkrtchyan, Kikabidze and Leonov.
Dilican, one of the most important tourist areas in Armenia, is especially popular for hiking and cycling in the nature reserve. Among the most visited places in the city is the Haghartsin monastery , The city is famous for the preservation of the traditional habitat and for its mineral water. Dilidjan National Park, where Parz Lake is located, is close to the city.

Access : Coordinates: / It is situated at the junction of the M4 and M8 roads, halfway between Sevan and Vanadzor and on the border with the provinces of Lorri, Kotayk ‘and Geghark’unik’
/ The nearest airport is Zvartnots in Yerevan. From here you can reach Dilijan by taxi (103 km) or by taxi to Yerevan North Station, and from here by bus / To get to Dilijan from Yerevan, one must first arrive at the Yerevan North Bus Station. From there the minibuses are sent for the price of 1000 AMD. The trip duration is about 3 hours. The shuttle buses depart every hour from 09:00 to 15:00.

Attractions :

•  Haghartsin Monastery – Monastery Haharzin : One of the main attractions is the monastery Haghartsin. It consists of three churches and a refectory built between the 10th and 14th centuries. In the monastery and in the surrounding area are also several Chatschkare to visit. Between 2008 and 2013, the monastery was renovated with  donations.
•  Dilijan National Park : 15 km from the city, in the Dilijan Reserve is located the picturesque Lake Parz, which means “clean” in Armenian.The Dilijan National Park is well known for its forest landscapes, mineral-medicinal water springs, cultural and natural monuments. It is one of the two national parks of the Republic of Armenia (see Sevan National Park).
•  Monument to the Heroes of the Film Mimino : In July 2011, a monument was opened in the city to the heroes of the film “Mimino” – Ruben Khachikyan (Frunzik Mkrtchyan), Valiko Mizandari (Vakhtang Kikabidze) and Ivan Volokhov (Evgeny Leonov).
•  Lake Parz : Parz is a small lake in Armenia, located in the Tavush region, east of Dilijan, in the Dilijan National Park, at an altitude of 1334 meters above sea level.
•  Matosavank Monastery : Abovyan Street | Dilijan National Park, Dilijan, Armenia ,Open : 12:00 am – 11:59 pm : Matosavank is a small monastery located in the Dilijan National Park forest and mountain range, 3.5 km north-west of the town of Dilidjan, in Tavush Marz, Armenia.It is close to Jukhtak Vank Monastery. The complex is currently in ruins, partially covered with earth, and consists of a church without cupola, a porch and a library, all juxtaposed.
•  Sharambeyan Street : The architecture of Dilijan is an interesting variation of the Armenian style, but not of the purely stone style that can be seen in Yerevan or Gyumri, but of a lighter, airy style, using wood (good around the forest). The “carved” architecture here is both Armenian and Molokan. The idea to recreate the quarter of the old buildings (late XIX – early XX centuries) arose long ago, and the author of the idea is Vanik Sharambeyan, an artist and a passionate lover of folk art. The street was recreated in 1970.
•  The Geological Museum and Art Gallery of Dilijan : Myasnikyan Str 28, Dilijan 3906, Armenia , Open : 10:30 am – 6:00 pm : In 2011, an Art Museum was opened in Dilijan, in which Russian and Armenian (Ivan Aivazovsky, Minas Avetisyan, etc.) are widely represented in the 19th – 20th centuries, and Western European painting of the 17th – 19th centuries. (J.-B. Greuze, master of the circle of Correggio, Flemish masters of the 17th century, Hubert Robert, etc.) and graphics, artifacts of archaeological cultures studied in Tavush, ethnographic collection.
•  Museum of Folk Art (Sharambeyan Centre of Popular Creation in Dilijan) Getapnya Street 1, Dilijan 3901 : preserved 19th century mansion and presents items of ‘popular creation’ – woodwork, lace, mosaics, dolls and puppets, ceramics and sculptures.small Folk Art Museum, worth a visit: It is located in an excellently preserved 19th century mansion.
•  Jukhtakvank Monastery : Jukhtak Monastery is an Armenian monastery in Tavush region of Armenia. It is located 3 km northwest of Dilijan, on the right side of Dilijan-Vanadzor road, on the slope of a wooded hill. The monastery consists of two separate churches, St. Astvatsatsin and St. Gregory, and a cemetery spread around it.
•  Dilijan Amphitheater : in the old town of Dilijan is a real ancient amphitheater.he place is pleasant, quiet, a beautiful view of the mountains opens up behind the scenes,located on the main street and illuminated at night.
•  Soviet Government Rest House : One of the absolute most iconic Soviet-era buildings in Armenia. Soviet-era architecture, A must-visit for soviet-ruin enthusiasts.
  – Local Lore Museum and Art Gallery of Dilijan : Miasnikyan 28, Dilijan 3901,

Go next : Alaverdi is a city in Northern Armenia / Ijevan is a city in Northern Armenia / Noyemberyan is a city in Northern Armenia / Berd is a city in Northern Armenia. / Vanadzor is the capital of Lori Marz, in the North Central part of Armenia.