Coordinates: 40°21′32″N 45°07′36″E / 40.35889°N 45.12667°E / 40.35889; 45.12667

Gavar Գավառ
Gavar
Nickname(s): Kyavarr
Gavar Գավառ
Coordinates: 40°21′32″N 45°07′36″E / 40.35889°N 45.12667°E / 40.35889; 45.12667
Country	Armenia
Marz	Gegharkunik
Established City status	1830 1850
Government
• Mayor	Gurgen Martirosyan
Area
• Total	35 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation	2,000 m (7,000 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	25,700
• Density	734/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+04:00 (UTC+4)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+05:00 (UTC+5)
Website	Official site
Sources: Population [1]

Gavar (Armenian: Գավառ), is a city and the provincial capital of the Armenian province of Gegharkunik. It was known as Nor Bayezet or Novyi Bayazet until 1959, then Kamo (named in honour of Bolshevik of the same name) until 1996. The town is situated in the mountains with an average altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, on a distance of 98 kilometers to the east of the capital Yerevan.

History[link]

Noraduz cemetery

Gavar lies in the Armenian Highlands, just few miles away from the western shores of Lake Sevan. The city was founded in 1830 by migrants from the Ottoman Empire city of Bayazet (Armenian Daroink), and named "New Bayazit". It achieved city status in 1850.

Despite its relatively modern rebirth, the area has an ancient past. Fabled monuments dating back to the Bronze Age adorn the region, a testimony to the presence of Armenians in the region for thousands of years.

On the western part of the hill, located at the town center there are remnants of cyclopean fortress dating back to the early iron age. It is supposed that the fortress was the royal capital of the Urartian Velikukhi region. It was surrounded by more than 22 small fortresses. King Sarduri II, after having invaded Velikukhi and conquering the fortress, the fortress was renamed "Khaldi City" by his son Rusa II.^[2]

Tombs of 4000 years old were found in the Gavar Theatre square. Small medieval monuments; cross-stones, gravestones and a chapel were also found in the city. Over the centuries, Gavar underwent countless destructions with the latest in the 17th century when it was ruined by Shah Abbas I of Persia.

After achieving the status of an urban settlement in 1950, the city progressed gradually over the years. It was once home to 36,400 people^[3] but the population has declined to 23,302 as reported in the 2001 census. Much of the Soviet era infrastructure has failed and the industrial capacity has floundered. However, the local economy is improving at a slow rate as some businessmen are returning to Gavar from abroad with the hope of gaining new chances for investments. Major local manufacturers include electronics and machinery plants, and textile mills which are located in and around Gavar.

Education[link]

Education continues to be one of the main values in the society of Gavar. A literacy rate of 99% was reported as early as 1960. Nowadays, there are 9 public education schools, 6 nursery schools, 4 specialized technical intermediate colleges, 1 sports school, 2 music and art schools, 1 special school for children with special educational needs and 1 university in the town of Gavar.

The Gavar State University was opened in 1993 after the independence of Armenia. With its five faculties the Gavar University is a major educational centre for the entire province of Gegharkunik. The University provides degrees in Philology, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Economics and Education. Nowadays, more than 2,400 students are attending the university.

The Gavar Special School is the only school for mentally and physically handicapped children in the region. It is currently carrying out steps towards improvement and development with the assistance of its partners and sponsors on its way to become a leading institution among the special schools in Armenia.

One of the Human Rights Library Network (HRLN) libraries of the Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre (ACRPC) is located in Gavar.

The city has a portal which is used by many citizens abroad. The name of the portal is Kyavar as the locals pronounce the name of the city with a "ky" sound instead of a "g" sound at the beginning of the name.

Religion[link]

Hayravank Monastery near Gavar

The people of Gavar are mainly Christians and belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church:

• The Church of the Holy Mother of God was built in the centre of the town by the efforts of then-bishop Khoren Muradbegian in 1905 with help of the local citizens. Until the late 1990s , it was considered the tallest church in Armenia.
• Hayravank Monastery of the 9th century is located 7 kilometers north of Gavar on the shores of Lake Sevan.
• The archaeological site of Noraduz cemetery is located 4 kilometers north of Gavar. Noraduz is home to a large number of impressive medieval khachkars (cross-stones).

Cuisine[link]

Gavar cuisine is as ancient as the history of Armenia, it is closely related to eastern cuisine, various spices, vegetables, fish, and fruits combination.

Kyavari Kyufta (kofta of Gavar), the town's most favourite dish, is made from minced meat spiced with onions and rolled into balls before boiling in water. Served in slices, it is garnished with butter. People of Gavar like to eat bread with almost everything, and the two traditional types of bread in Gavar are lavash and matnakash.

Kyavari Pakhlava, many-layered pastry with tissue-thin sheets of phyllo dough, filled with nuts and sugar and finished with a dousing of hot honey.

Notable people[link]

Here are some notable people who were born or raised in the town of Gavar:

• Pahare (1895–1968), actor, writer, conservative.
• Frunze Dovlatyan (1927–1997), was a film director, actor and screenwriter.
• Byureghik Mneyan (1935), actress, honoured pedagogue of the Republic of Armenia.
• Hranush Hakobyan (1954), politician and current minister of diaspora of the Republic of Armenia.
• Tigran Arzakantsyan (1966) veteri­narian and honorary Doctor of International Business.
• Hovhannes Goharyan (1988) football player of the Armenian national team.

Galery[link]

References[link]

• Gavar at GEOnet Names Server
• Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
• World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com
• Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio 
• Brady Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 44; original archived at Archive.org, and current version online on Armeniapedia.org.

External links[link]

• Official website of Gavar
• Gavar Portal
• Gavar Video
• Armeniapedia.org: Gavar

v t e Gegharkunik Province Capital: Gavar Gavar Berdkunk Gandzak Gavar Gegharkunik Hayravank Karmirgyugh Lanjaghbyur Lchap Noratus Sarukhan Tsaghkashen Tsovazard Sevan Chkalovka Ddmashen Geghamavan Lchashen Norashen Semyonovka Sevan Tsaghkunk Tsovagyugh Varser Zovaber Chambarak Aghberk Antaramej Artanish Artsvashen Aygut Chambarak Dprabak Drakhtik Dzoravank Getik Jil Kalavan Martuni Shorzha Ttujur Vahan Martuni Artsvanist Astghadzor Dzoragyugh Geghhovit Lichk Madina Martuni Nerkin Getashen Tsakkar Tsovasar Tsovinar Vaghashen Vardadzor Vardenik Verin Getashen Yeranos Zolakar Vardenis Akhpradzor Akunk Areguni Arpunk Avazan Ayrk Azat Daranak Geghakar Geghamabak Geghamasar Jaghatsadzor Kakhakn Karchaghbyur Khachaghbyur Kut Kutakan Lchavan Lusakunk Makenis Mets Masrik Nerkin Shorzha Norabak Norakert Pambak Pokr Masrik Shatjrek Shatvan Sotk Torfavan Tretuk Tsapatagh Tsovak Vanevan Vardenis Verin Shorzha

Alka Kubal is a popular Marathi film actress from Mumbai, India. She has worked in many Marathi movies and some Hindi Bollywood movies as well. Her film Maherchi Sadi made her a superstar and a household name in Maharashtra. She has worked along noted actors such as Dada Kondke, Ashok Saraf, Lakshmikant Berde and Sachin. She has also done Hindi films like Chakra with Naseeruddin Shah and a devotional film Shirdi Sai Baba.

She is married to cinematographer Sameer Athalye.

Filmography[link]

1. Astharoopa Jai Vaibhavlakshmi Maata (2008) (TV) .... Sheela
2. Naatigothi (2006) (as Alka Kubal-Athlaye) .... Kusum V. Rao
3. Shirdi Sai Baba (2001)
4. Nirmala Machindra Kamble (1999) .... Nirmala D. Gaekwad/Nirmala M. Kamble
5. Saasuchi Maaya (1997) .... Gayetri Naik
6. Zaher (1991)
7. Maherchi Sadi (1991)
8. Jasa Baap Tashi Poore (1991) .... Pooja M. Thorat/Pooja T. Sahukar
9. Yeda Ki Khula (1991)
10. Lapwa Chhapwi (1990)
11. Shubha Bol Narya (1990)
12. Balache Baap Brahmachari (1989)
13. Vahinichi Maya (1985) .... Madhavi
14. Chakra (aka The Vicious Circle) (1981) ...

Sources[link]

• http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2453174/