Garni, village in Kotayk Province of Armenia
Garni is a small village in Armenia's Kotayk Province, sitting on a triangular plateau on a steep rocky point above the Azat River. The site is dominated by a Greek-Roman temple built over 2000 years ago from dark volcanic stone with white Ionic columns, surrounded by remains of ancient fortifications and Roman-style baths that still show mosaic floor details.
Human settlement in this location dates back to the late 4th millennium BCE. The temple was built around the 1st century AD when the region was under Roman influence, but was destroyed in a 17th-century earthquake and later reconstructed.
The name Garni comes from Armenian and refers to a gorge or valley. Today, the village is shaped by traditional bread baking in clay ovens called tonir, where villagers prepare flatbread and share meals, connecting the community to long-standing cooking practices.
The village sits about 27 kilometers northeast of Yerevan and is accessible by local minibus or rental car along a scenic mountain road. For exploring the temple grounds and the nearby basalt gorge trail, wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as the pathways are steep and there are few facilities along the route.
In the gorge below the village, lava cooling and river erosion have carved giant hexagonal basalt columns reaching up to 50 meters high, resembling organ pipes. Known as the 'Symphony of Stones,' this geological formation is often overlooked by visitors despite being as striking as the ancient ruins above.
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