Dilijan City

Dilijan is one of Armenia’s most famous tourist, resort and recreation centres, set along the Aghstev River at an altitude of 1,100–1,510 metres above sea level. It is home to the international school United World College (UWC) Dilijan, and in 2016 UNESCO included the town in its Global Network of Learning Cities.

The historical centre is Sharambeyan Street, known for its distinctive architecture, artisan workshops, art galleries and museums. Around the town lie Parz Lake, Gosh Lake and the Jukhtak, Haghartsin and Goshavank monasteries, and since 1958 the surrounding forests have been a nature reserve.

A local legend tells of a shepherd who fell in love with a nobleman’s daughter; the nobleman had him lost in Dilijan’s dense forests, and his mother searched for him day and night, crying “Di-li, jan…”. Another version says “dili jan” means “sweet tongue”, a nod to the locals’ melodious dialect.

In ancient times Dilijan was part of the Varazhnunik district of Ayrarat province in Greater Armenia, and it is believed to be the historical Hovk, the summer residence and hunting ground of the Arshakuni (Arsacid) kings. The first recorded mention of Dilijan comes from the French traveller Jean Chardin, who journeyed through the Caucasus between 1664 and 1670.

Yes — ONE WAY Tour's tours from Yerevan stop here; they are listed on this page.