Hayravank
Lakeside monastery on a rocky outcrop
- Area Gegharkunik
- Type Monastery
- Time needed 30m
A small monastery on a rocky outcrop above the western shore of Lake Sevan, just outside the village of the same name. It is a short, pleasant stop whose main draw is the position directly over the water rather than the building itself.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 81 km from Yerevan, roughly 1h 28m by car on the main Sevan road. A short signed turn-off leads to a car park a minute's walk below the church.
What you see
A modest domed church with an attached gavit, built in rough grey and pink stone, standing on bare rock above the lake. Khachkars and old graves are scattered across the headland around it. From the eastern side you look straight down to the shoreline and across the open water.
What to pair it with
Natural pairing with Noratus cemetery a few minutes further along the lake, and with Sevanavank at the northern end.
When to go
Good at any time of year, though the lake side is exposed and cold in winter. Late afternoon light on the water is the best of it.
What is hard about it
Twenty minutes covers it, and the interior is plain. Tour coaches stop here, so the small terrace can feel crowded for a few minutes at a time.
Common questions
Is there an entry charge?
The site has been freely accessible, but there is no reliable published information on charges or hours. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
How does it compare with Sevanavank?
Sevanavank is larger and much busier. Hayravank is smaller and usually quieter, with a more direct view over the water.
Is it suitable with limited mobility?
Partly. The approach is short but the ground is uneven rock, and there are steps near the church.
Nearby
- SevanavankPeninsula monastery above the largest lake in the Caucasus
- Lake SevanVast high-altitude lake, beaches and fish restaurants
- Noratus CemeteryField of nearly a thousand medieval khachkars
- Vanevan Monastery10th-century church near the lake's southern shore
- Makenyats MonasteryMedieval monastery above the village of Makenis
More of the same kind
- Geghard MonasteryPartly carved into the rock face, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Havuts TarRuined monastery reached by a hike across the Azat gorge
- Kecharis Monastery11th-century complex in the ski town of Tsaghkadzor
- Aghjots MonasteryMonastery tucked into the Khosrov forest edge