Eight villages in Tavush region that were once separate, came together to form Dilijan in the mid-twentieth century. Each has its own distinct style, visible through the vestiges of Soviet urbanism, based on the culture of each of its inhabitants. Over time, these people have merged, exchanged culture, and created the fabric of Dilijan, as we know it.
The city stretches out in three directions from where the Hovajur (Cool Water) Stream meets the Aghstev (from Agha Stepan, Wealthy Stepan) River. Dilijan rises from the depths of the valley all the way up to merge with the forests on the upper slopes of the clashing Bazum, Pambak, Miapor, Bovakar and Areguni mountain ranges. The quaint mountain-forest city is the starting point for all adventures in the area, and is an ideal base to return to for rest, meals, and information.
So, where does the name of Dilijan come from? As the legend goes, the name of the town is named after a shepherd called Dili. The shepherd Dili was in love with his master’s daughter, however her father was against it and ordered to kill the shepherd. For many long and dark days, the sorrowful mother was mourning and looking for her only son all over the area and desperately crying, “Dili jan, Dili jan…” (“Jan is an Armenian endearment term added to the name of a friend or family member). According to the legend, the area was later known for his name.
The city is a nature-lover’s paradise, surrounded by rugged topography and dense old forests. Many of the trails around the city were created over centuries. Besides the historical and cultural wealth hidden in the forest, there are thirty distinct peaks surrounding the city, two thirds of which are over 2,000 meters, and the seven of which are over 2,500 meters high! Local farmers will say they herd their flock to the upper slopes in search of greener pastures, but one would be forgiven for thinking they just go up for the views and tranquility. If you dare to follow their footsteps, you could be looking at altitude gains of over 1,500m in less than 10km!
Hidden in the forest, Dilijan is rapidly growing into a center of knowledge, culture, and recreation. The city is now home to the Central Bank’s Training and Research Centre, an extension of the American University of Armenia, a branch of the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies, an Ayb School and UWC Dilijan, a world-class IB boarding school with students from over eighty countries. The arts and crafts the city has always been known for are resurging, together with a renewed interest in cultural and historic preservation, embodied by events such as a yearly “Cultural Rebirth” ethnographic festival in which villagers display and sell their original products. Now the city once home to the palaces and mansions of artists and kings looking for rest and retreat is open to everyone.
Quick Facts
Population: 17,600
Area: 43km2
Settlements: 4
Altitude: 1,100-1,510m
Distance from Yerevan: 100km
Distance to Ijevan: 35km
The materials of this article are based on the Dilijan Tourism Information Center’s website.
