Capitals, caves, and a cemetery.

There is a unique cave complex (at an altitude of about 1080 m above sea level) with many ancient finds. Several cultural layers have been discovered in the cave, including a complex of the Copper Stone Age (Eneolithic) with earthen structures dating back to 4200-3500 BC. The earliest cultural layer refers to the VI-V millennium BC, and the latest to the XII-XIV centuries.

This ancient city has a second name "Armenian Carthage". It appeared thanks to the famous commander Hannibal, who was forced to flee from Carthage and for a time was a guest of King Artashes. He liked the place so much that he advised the king to build his capital here. Artashat or Artaxata is translated as the joy of Artashes: the city appeared on the map in 176 BC. The capital is situated on nine hills at the foot of Mount Ararat, the city is at a crossroads of trade routes, so it quickly became one of the prosperous cities of ancient Armenia. Now these nine hills are a place of pilgrimage. Believers and tourists from all over the country come here every day as the Khor Virap Monastery is located here. In ancient times there was a prison for the most dangerous criminals. The most famous prisoner of this prison was Gregory the Illuminator, who preached Christianity. He was imprisoned by King Trdat III of Armenia. The prisoners were put into pits six meters deep and four and a half meters wide. In one of such pits Grigor Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years. Subsequently he became the Catholicos of All Armenians. After his release from prison Armenia, in 301, became the first state-level Christian country.

A large crafts and trade city, the capital of Armenia from the 5th to the 9th century. It was built by the king of Greater Armenia Khosrov III in 335. The name comes from Middle Persian and means "hill". Since the 4th century this was the residence of the Armenian kings of the Arshakid dynasty. After the liquidation of the Armenian kingdom in 428, Dvin became the residence of Persian and, since 702, Arab rulers of the region of Arminia, which includes, in addition to the Armenian lands, Kartli, Arran and Bab al-Abvab (Derbent). Having become the capital of the state, Dvin soon became one of the most populous cities in Asia and competed with many cities of the world at that time in its wealth.

The Garni museum complex is located on a small plateau above the Azat river gorge and includes the ruins of an ancient fortress, a pre-Christian temple of God Mithra (the only one preserved in the Caucasus), a royal bath and some palace buildings.

On your last day, before you leave or fly away, it is worth a trip here as well. To Lake Sevan. But there is a lot to see here, besides the lake. For example, this medieval cemetery. The oldest khachkars in the cemetery date back to the 10th century, by the way.

Before you go home or on, but on a different route, before you leave, be sure to visit the best place in Yerevan with Indian food!