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Neepa Sharma
The quiet and graceful country of Armenia is still waiting to break out of its cocoon. A dark past with many wars and a genocide that the world does not want to talk about has not stopped this historically and aesthetically rich country from reaching out slowly to tell the world their story. Armenians hold on to their rich heritage and are extremely country proud. To retain the old world charm, pink stone has been used for new buildings in the capital city of Yerevan. Clean roads, wonderful cafes, fabulous food, amazing sculptures, fountains and history are all around.
Armenia is the oldest Christian country in the world — and became a Christian kingdom in 301 AD. Their faith in the church and religion is all-pervasive. Their reverence to their past is monumental.
The Matenadaran Manuscript museum in Yerevan is the only museum of its kind. It houses ancient manuscripts mostly donated by Armenians from all over the world. During the many wars, and then the genocide, Armenians left the country to wherever they found asylum. Today the diaspora is four million versus the population of Armenians in Armenia at two million. When people fled, they took as much of their rich heritage as they could. Now a lot of their family members are returning heritage items to the country.
The Republic Square is a melting pot of the young and old, beautiful buildings, fountains and people milling around the multitude of eateries.The Cascade steps at Yerevan, which overlook the entire city of Yerevan, is an experience in itself. The War Memorial, The Genocide Memorial, the Vernissage — a huge bazaar spread over two blocks, featuring art, handcrafts, silver, carpets and antiques are some of the other things to see in Yerevan.
Yerevan is said to be the Silicon Valley of Europe. Hundreds of companies have made Yerevan their hub. The streets of Yerevan come alive in the evenings with music and dance at every corner of the city; and it’s a late night every night.
Being a Christian country, Armenia is full of monasteries steeped in history and stories. Among the popular tourist attractions are the Etchmaidzin Cathedral, the oldest church in the world, the Sevanavank Monastery overlooking the lake Sevan, the Khor Virap monastery, Temple of Gharni and the Geghard Monastery. The gorgeous Sevan lake occupies nine per cent of the total area of Armenia. Other attractions that warrant a visit include the hot spring spouts of Djermuk, the arch overlooking Mount Ararat, where Noah rested his Ark after the deluge, the manmade underground galleries by a possessed Armenian, the Arpaparnas Winery, near the oldest discovered winery in the world (Areni) in the mountains. The best time to visit the country, which offers hassle-free visa on arrival, is from May to September.
The food takes any trip to Armenia to another level. Meats are all important and the shawarmas and kebabs are the highlights of the Armenian cuisine. The sweetbreads and gooey delectable fruit preserves are amazing, besides the regular baklava… very different from what is normally available here. Armenian cheese, particularly the smoked string cheese is really good.
The countryside is spotless and a visual delight with red, blue, orange, tulips, poppies, lavender flowers everywhere. The smell of sweet lavender is everywhere. The architecture is distinct — a highly sophisticated palette and a mix of Islamic and European influence is everywhere.
The Vernissage will require a full day to do full justice to what it has to offer.
Things are not expensive in Armenia if you can book tickets in advance.