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Havuts Tar Monastery

Havuts Tar Monastery

Monastery

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32 km from Yerevan center

Region:

Ararat

Havuts Tar is a half-ruined yet still majestic monastery of the 11th-13th centuries, standing on a cape above the scenic valley of the Azat River, not far from the villages of Garni and Goght. Once a thriving spiritual center adorned with countless khachkars, tombstones and monuments carved with delicate patterns and ancient inscriptions, the site continues to impress even in ruins.

Time has failed to erase its beauty, though destiny struck harshly: after the devastating earthquake of 1679, the monastery was abandoned and left in silence. The path to Havuts Tar passes through the Khosrov Forest State Reserve, where nature itself seems to guard the sacred remains. Cars are not allowed inside the reserve, so the 30-minute walk to the monastery turns into a true pilgrimage, each step carrying the traveler deeper into history.

Against the backdrop of the mountains, the ruins appear like silent witnesses of centuries past. Stones here speak louder than words, while the carved khachkars recall generations who left their mark on this holy ground. Havuts Tar is more than a monument of the past – it is a living legend where nature and history breathe as one.