Kalavan

Kalavan (Armenian: Կալավան; formerly known as Amirkher) is a small village in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. The Kalavan community also includes the nearby village of Barepat.[1]

Kalavan
Կալավան
Kalavan
Կալավան
Coordinates: 40°39′N 45°07′E
CountryArmenia
Marz (Province)Gegharkunik
Population
 (2001)
 • Total170
Time zoneUTC+4 ( )
 • Summer (DST) 

The village is 1600 meters above sea level, having graveyards and stone-century outdoor stations in the surroundings.[2]

The population of Kalavan totals 113 people (26 families), most of whom were refugees. About 8 families moved here in recent years.[3] There were eight births in the village in 2017.[4]

Many well-known foreign and Armenian specialists have bought houses in Kalavan and started their economic activities.[2] This village is an excellent example of community development. [2]

Infrastructure

Local school building was insulated with the help of AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. [5] There are currently 19 students enrolled in the school.[4]

A notable achievement is the establishment of the non-profit “Time Land Foundation”[6] and its two-story, 250 square meters (2,700 sq. ft.) new building which will serve as a scientific and research center for visiting scientists. It will also house a library and cultural and community center for local youth. The $150,000 project is being funded by USAID, UNDP and private donors.[4]

A four by four vehicle is the best mode of transportation on the seven-kilometer dirt road. It's about a 40-minute ride. The villagers have requested road repairs by compacting gravel, which should reduce the travel time by half. With a $60,000 excavator or backhoe the villagers would be able to repair and maintain the dirt road, additionally provide basic irrigation channels for local farms and build hiking and biking trails around the village.[4]

There are no local grocery stores, bakeries or any retail stores in Kalavan. All supplies must be sourced from nearby towns.[4] Kalavan doesn't have a natural gas network installed.[2]

History

The archaeological monument Kalavan 1 dates back to the 14th millennium, and Kalavan 2 is more than 34 thousand years old.[2]

Tourism

An exciting archaeological tourism project is established in the village. A replica of a Stone Age settlement was constructed where visitors can learn the different skills of the primeval men, such as building houses, setting fires, collecting food and making tools and weapons. A Stone Age walking trail with animal shaped signs was designed to guide the visitors to several different locations around the village where they can practice these skills. Archery tournaments, horse chariot rides, hiking, biking, bird watching and the “Mammoth” intellectual team building game complete the offer.[7]

There are tent camps being organized here with a lot of people coming.[2] In 2016, 2 500 tourists visited the village,[3] coming from countries ranging from Chile and Peru to Australia and Iran. Fifteen new guesthouses are currently under construction, and villagers spent the past summer revamping an existing 17 to accommodate more tourists. [8]

Local touring companies offer biking and hiking tours to the Kalavan village departing from Sevan shore villages Tsovagyugh or Drakhtik.[7]

See also

References
  1. Kiesling, Brady; Kojian, Raffi (2005). Rediscovering Armenia: Guide (2nd ed.). Yerevan: Matit Graphic Design Studio. p. 85. ISBN 99941-0-121-8.
  2. "Armenia's Kalavan Village: A Community Development Model for Others". Hetq.am. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  3. nikoladze, Tatia. "Kalavan and the art of living". Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  4. Adroushan Andy Armenian (2018-12-12). "Kalavan: Once an Obscure Village in Armenia, Now Gaining International Fame". The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  5. "Kalavan Schoolhouse Thermal Insulation Project | Կալավանի դպրոցի ջերմամեկուսացում – Acopian Center for the Environment". Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  6. "Kalavan - Time Land". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  7. "Gegharkunik Travel Guide" (PDF).
  8. Mkrtchyan, Gayane; Armenakyan, Nazik. "Kalavan: A Village Reborn in Armenia | Gayane Mkrtchyan and Nazik Armenakyan". Chai Khana. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
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