UNDER CONSTRUCTION

   Next turning right is for the small hamlet of Koghbavan.

   Continuing  the  road  W  one  reachs another Russian border troop checkpoint which bars the way for foreigners to the villages of Bagaran and Yervandashat. The village of Bagaran was until 1935 called Haji Bairam, then until 1968 Bakhchalar, with     a     mixed        Armenian/Turkish

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

population. Many of its inhabitants stemmed from ancient Bagaran across the Akhurian river, also founded by Orontes IV as his religious center.  In a grove of plane trees near ancient Bagaran, Armenia’s pre-Christian priests foretold the future from the rustling of the leaves.