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By Harshada Rege, from DNA

The best thing about exploring a destination that’s not known to many is that you go there without any expectations. You don’t have anyone telling you about the ‘must visit’ spots or the ‘must shop’ things. And then there’s the secret joy in knowing that you are the first among your well-travelled friends to set foot on unknown soil and get to know new stories. Armenia sure is a destination that has an interesting tale for a traveller on every bend. The Republic of Armenia is a landlocked country, located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It shares its borders with Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. The rapidly-modernising country makes for an exciting adventure.

When to go? September to early November, and April to June are popular tourist seasons.

November onwards this proves to be a great destination for those who love skiing down snow-capped mountains.

How to get there? Yerevan, which is the capital of Armenia, is where you should head too.

 Recently, Air Arabia has started flights to Armenia with a stopover at Sharjah. The flights between Mumbai and Yerevan operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The tickets are likely to cost around 41,000.

Fab facts!

The Peace Barrel: The Ararat Brandy factory in Yerevan is home to the Peace Barrel. The special brandy stored in this barrel will be served only when Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace agreement over Karabakh.

Devil’s Nail: Obsidian from Armenia is a semi-precious gemstone. It is a volcanic rock known as a “natural glass,” formed some two million years ago. Obsidian is used to make sharp objects like weapons or knives and is referred to as Devil’s Nail by locals.

Cave restaurant: One of the most special experiences will be lunch in a cave restaurant. This is where you will get to taste some delicious barbecue food and cheese!

Jazz it up: For those who love to explore the nightlife in new places, Yerevan is the place to be at.

Apart from the clubs, it’s the jazz culture that is a unique experience. Malkhas Jazz Club is one of the most well-known spots. Owner and famous Armenian jazz pianist Levon Malkhasyan himself plays some great tunes post midnight at the club.

Motley land

Armenia turns out to be a great destination because its a great amalgamation of many things. Yerevan, which is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities, has been the capital of Armenia since 1918. It’s home to Matenadaran, which is one of the world’s oldest repositories of ancient manuscripts. When it comes to exploring the Yerevan, a walking tour is what you need to soak in the spirit of the city. On your must see list should be Cascade, which is a giant stairway in Yerevan. Designed by architect Jim Torosyan, it was launched in 1971 and completed in 1980.

Cascade has multiple levels with fountains, beautiful sculptures and even museums. Republic Square, the statue of Mother Armenia, and Opera House also make for interesting stop overs. The Ararat brandy factory is a highly-recommended pit stop.

Make a wish

The two monasteries that should find their way on your itinerary are Khor Virap Monastery and Noravank Monastery. Khor Virap is where St Gregory the Illuminator was held for 13 years before he converted Armenia into the first Christian nation. According to legend, he was imprisoned in a room which was full of scorpions and snakes. While it was expected that he would eventually die in this cell, a woman from the village would throw him some bread from an opening in the ceiling.

When the king fell ill, his sister had a vision that it would be St Gregory who would cure him.

Though everyone expected the saint to be dead, he replied when his name was called. A narrow staircase leads down to the room where he was imprisoned. Locals claim that if you whisper your wish it’s likely to come true.

One of a kind

The Monastery of Geghard has been partially carved out of the adjacent mountain. If you are lucky, you will get to hear the church choir chant ancient chants (sharakans) in the rock grotto. The picturesque ancient Sun Temple at Garni is an unique destination because this is the only pagan temple in Armenia.

Food fundas

The place is a delight for barbecue lovers. Be it fish, chicken or lamb, Armenians love their meat and serve it with much love. Cheese, tomatoes and aubergines are often a part the vegetarian diet. Their favourite bread is Lavash, which is a lot like our roomali roti. Those with a sweet tooth should try the Baklava, which is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.

Cool off

Tsaghkadzor, which when translated in Armenian means valley of flowers, is located 50 kilometers north of Yerevan. This is a popular holiday destination where you can witness snowfall.

This picturesque locale is home to many luxurious hotels and resorts.