Close to the Mountains: Azhdahak
Armenia is unique in its own way — legends, myths, folk tales, stories, landscapes, and a sense of mystery. When traveling through Armenia, we come across places with beautiful names and beautiful stories. And if you want to get closer to the legends, I recommend adding Mount Azhdahak to your list of things to do. With its unusual beauty and captivating character, it will stay in your memory for a very long time.
Early in the morning, we left the Azhdahak Guesthouse in the village of Geghashen and headed towards Mount Azhdahak in a truck-style safari SUV. We were driving through incredibly beautiful, flower-filled fields, and it took a lot of effort not to bother the driver every ten minutes with our excitement.
Our first stop was Lake Akna, a volcanic lake located on a high plateau near the summit of the Geghama Mountains. It is fed by snowmelt and spring water.
The lake is surrounded by young volcanic cones and alpine meadows. The water is so clear and pure that it reflects the surrounding landscape in its entirety.
We continued towards Azhdahak, the highest peak of the Geghama Mountain Range. It stands at 3,597 meters. Adjacent to the summit, on the northwestern side, there is a crater filled with water. The area remains covered in snow for much of the year, and you can even encounter fog in August. During my visit, the fog arrived almost unnoticed. Slowly replacing the warmth and liveliness of the mountain, it transformed the landscape into something truly impressive.
Wild Up From Petroglyphs to Vishapakar and Azhdahak
The name Azhdahak is known in Armenian folklore as the name of a king of Media and a dragon. Azhdahak is the evil dragon Aži Dahāka from Iranian mythology. Aži means viper, snake, or dragon, and he is fought by the thunder god Thraetaona.
In the Shahnameh, Aži Dahāka appears as a foreign tyrant king named Zahhak, who is fought, defeated, and chained by Fereydun. This mythical dragon, Aži Dahāka, became the king of Media in the ancient Armenian epic, where he is defeated and killed by Tigran.
Fearing Tigran, Azhdahak dreams of his own downfall and, hoping to prevent it, forms a family alliance with Tigran by marrying his sister, Tigranuhi. Nevertheless, Azhdahak begins plotting against Tigran. Through Tigranuhi, the conspiracy is revealed, and Tigran and Azhdahak go to war with great armies. Tigran kills Azhdahak and frees his sister.
Mountain hiking is one of the best exercises for reaching your own goals. Of course, halfway through, you begin to “stone” yourself with self-doubt. Tempting images begin to appear — sitting in a cool place with a glass of freshly squeezed juice in your hand, which is nothing more than a mirage. Very often, you have to be able to look failure “in the face,” not at all in order to surrender, but to reach your goal.
When I reached the finish point, all the tension in my body completely disappeared. I began to enjoy the existence of the tiny stones with their reddish hues. I was left speechless by the view, standing on an imaginary straight line between happiness and hardship.
Climbing mountains is one of the best ways to challenge yourself. If you have a goal, you have to overcome the obstacles along the way. I think you will agree: those who overcome the difficulties that arise along the journey are the ones who do not betray either themselves or the goals they have set for themselves.
