Garni Temple

Garni is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia. The fortress of Garni is situated 28 km of Yerevan, at the foot of the Geghama Mountains, on the right bank of the Azat River, on a picturesque, triangular terrace.

Garni - The Part of the Ararat Kingdom (Urartu)

The Ararat Valley (including Garni) was included in the Ararat Kingdom (Urartu) in the first quarter of the 8th c. BCE, during the reign of King Argishti I (786-764 BCE).

The excavations, conducted in the territory of the monument in 1963, uncovered the lower half of a basalt vishap (dragon) stone inside the palace hall. A cuneiform carving attributed to Argishti I is preserved on the front section of the stone. The carving says “I conquered with Khaldian power Giarniani (country), which was the state of Siluni (king). When I returned from the hostile mountains, I drove away the men and the women”.

It is difficult to assert which territories were included in Giarniani in the 8 c. BCE but the fact that Argishti I erected a monument with a special record on the occasion of its conquest, allows us to assume that the country of Giarniani played a certain role at the intersections of trade routes linking the Ararat Valley with the Geghama Mountains, the basin of Lake Sevan and the North.

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Pavel Reviewed

amazing antique temple Beautiful surroundings

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Narek Reviewed

aaazzzzzz

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Ticket price Adults: 500 AMD
Children: 250 AMD
Working period/season Year round
Working days Monday-Sunday
Working hours Summer season hours: 10AM-9PM
Winter season hours: 10AM-5PM
How to reach From Yerevan Center, take Abovian Street and connect with the Sevan Highway (sign-posted) and continue about 3.7 km to the Norki Masiv (Nor Nork) exit onto Gai p. Take Gai p. through Nor Nork/Norki Masiv about1.8 km to a Tintersection and a left turn onto the Garni Road. Continue for about 2.5 km to a right turn.