Festive Ascent of Mount Tirinkatar

• peaksam September 21, 2025October 3, 2026

On Armenia’s Independence Day, September 21, we headed to Mount Tirinkatar (2,859 m), one of the beautiful and mysterious peaks of the Aragats massif. The hike started near Amberd Fortress, a powerful and impregnable 11th-century structure.

The sky seemed to be playing with us: one moment it darkened, the next it was covered in bright blue, then a huge dot floated in the clouds, and then a cloud shaped like a rhinoceros appeared. But in return for that game, the clouds had gathered over Aragats, dark and heavy.

To reach the summit we had to cover about 10 kilometers, and we did it quickly and persistently. Luckily, there were no animals in the meadows, and we didn’t meet the dogs that often roam around the route.

After coming down from the summit, we began searching for the vishapakars (dragon stones). We managed to find a few of the 12 vishapakars preserved at the Tirinkatar archaeological site, which were discovered back in 2012. Because the weather was changeable, we didn’t stay long, but simply standing in front of those few monuments was an unforgettable experience.

On the way down, we were greeted by the deep gorge of the Amberd River and magical views of the peaks of Aragats and Ararat. At that moment we were convinced once again that no matter how many trails we walk with the children, Armenia always has new wonders to discover.

We walked 21.5 km and covered 780 m of elevation gain.

• The mysterious heritage of the vishapakars:

Vishapakars (also called vishaps, or dragon stone stelae) are unique megalithic monuments native to the Armenian Highlands. They were placed near natural and artificial water basins and the sources of springs, symbolizing the element of water, the fertility of nature, abundance and plenty. These stones have come down to us from the depths of the centuries as witnesses to ancient beliefs and to the creative spirit of the Armenian people.