Khosrov Reserve

Khosrov Forest State Reserve is located in the historical territory of Khosrov Forest, which was founded in the 4th century as a hunting ground by Armenian king Khosrov B Kotak and in 1958 was registered as “State Reserve”. It is located in Ararat region, on the slopes of the mountain ranges of Geghama, Tasanord, Yeranos, Irits and Khosrovasar mountains, in the basins of the Azat and Vedi rivers. Occupies an area of ​​27,000 hectares. It starts near Dvin, from the bank of the river Araxes, and stretches to the Azat River.

This area is characterized with forest, semi-desert, alpine and dry mediterranean vegetation. About 64% of the area is occupied by drought-loving plants, 16% by forests, and 20% of the area by shrubs. The sparse forests of juniper and oak are the gems of this State Reserve. The latter are followed by regular, round-leafed ash, sorbus, maple and different types of pear trees. There are many juniper-sorbus, juniper-pear and juniper-hackberry mixed forests in the territory of this State Reserve.

The area is noted for its rich diversity of fauna which encapsulates more than 1500 species. The most famous ones are: among fishes, the brown trout, among birds the white vulture, and among mammals the mouflon, bezoar goat, brown bear, long-eared hedgehog, and leopard.

There are many historical and natural monuments in the territory of the specially protected area.

Havuts Tar Monastery

Havuts Tar monastery used to be one of the religious and cultural centers of medieval Armenia. The monastery was injured during the earthquake in 1679 and was finally destroyed from the earthquake of Akori in 1840. The two preserved churches of the monastery are Holy Mother of God and St Harutyun which were first mentioned in a record of 1423.

In medieval times Havuts Tar monastery had been a famous place where many books were written.

Nowadays the monastery is on the list of specially protected historical monuments under the protection of Ministry of Culture of Armenia.

Waterfalls of Khosrov Reserve

There are four waterfalls in Khosrov Reserve which all together are called Aghjots waterfalls. Two of them were called after Armenian pagan gods Astghik and Vahagn.
According to legend goddess Astghik used to have a bath under that waterfall every evening. But one day a dragon captures Astghik and after that Love and Beauty disappeared from the world.

But Vahagn, who was known as a dragon slayer, kills the dragon and brings love and beauty back with Astghik.
So afterwards these waterfalls were called Astghik and Vahagn.

Aghjots Monastery

Its a monastery complex in the territory of Khosrov Reserve. Is located 7 km south from Geghard. The complex consists of churches, gavit (narthex), some monastic buildings and a cemetery. The biggest one of the churches is called St Poghos-Petros. On two sides of the entrance there are sculptures of apostles St Paul and St Peter.

 

Near the monastery there is a cemetery reach with khachkars (cross stones). The monastery was destroyed from earthquakes many times. Nowadays it is included in the list of specially protected historical monuments under the protection of ministry of culture of Armenia.

Photos: Tigran Shahbazyan and Karo Sahakyan

Video By Karo Sahakyan

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