TOP PLACES TO VISIT AS KIM KARDASHIAN TAKES DAUGHTER BACK TO HER ROOTS IN ARMENIA
09:06, 09 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Kim Kardashian has already taken her young daughter North West to the
likes of Paris, New York and London, and now the reality TV star has
taken her little one back to her roots in Armenia.
Kim, whose late father Robert Kardashian was a third-generation
Armenian American, has always expressed a desire to understand her
dad’s culture and the country’s history. Now, together with her rapper
husband Kanye West and daughter, she is visiting Armenia just weeks
before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
As Kim draws sets about learning more about her heritage, the Hello
Magazine takes a look at the largely undiscovered travel gems the
Eurasian country has to offer…
YEREVAN Armenia’s capital is one of the oldest continuously inhabited
cities in the world. It’s home to dozens of charming boulevards
dotted with cafes, parks, elegant squares and beautiful 19th-century
buildings.
Several museums in this antique city also offer an education of
the country’s history. The Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan
is a gripping walk through history, from the pre-genocide era to
heart-wrenching interviews, eyewitness reports and films that speak
of the intense anguish of the genocide survivors.
THE DEBED CANYON Particularly beautiful and rich in monuments,
the Debed Canyon is perfect for exploring Armenia’s culture and
history. Here you’ll find the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat,
both World Heritage-listed, as well as numerous little villages,
each of which has a chapel, church or old fort of interest.
GORIS This ancient mountain town is found high up in the mountains of
Syunik, where the pace of life is slow and time appears to have stood
still. Don’t miss the Rock Forest – a labyrinth of rocky pyramids,
columns and obelisks.
LAKE SEVAN As one of the biggest highland freshwater lakes in the
world, it’s little wonder Lake Sevan is known as Armenia’s “blue-eyed
beauty”.
Come summertime, its shores become a veritable riviera where locals
flock to enjoy the sunshine and sparkling turquoise water.
MOUNT ARAGATS This breathtaking mountain is also home to some medieval
architecture including a monastery, fort and observatory/weather
station. Although warm in summer, Aragats has a snow cap for about
250 days a year.
TATEV The gorgeous scenery of the Vorotan River Canyon is what draws
most visitors to Tatev, as well as the hikes along, within and atop the
canyon that offer spectacular views. The amazing monastery of Tatev,
a World Heritage Site, perched on a rock fortress is a jaw-dropping
bonus.
From: Baghdasarian