Dilijan

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Dilijan town center

Dilijan
Դիլիջան

Province	Tavush
Population	14,846 est. (2001)
Established	1951
Time zone	GMT +4
40°45′N 44°52′E

Dilijan (Armenian: Դիլիջան) is a lush, green town located in the northern Armenian province of Tavush. It is one of the most important resorts and national parks in Armenia. The forested and reclusive town is home to numerous Armenian artists, composers, and filmmakers and features some traditional Armenian architecture. Sharambeyan street, which is near the town's bus stop, has been preserved and maintained as an "old town," complete with craftsman's workshops, a gallery and a museum. Hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking are popular recreational activities in the town.

Dilijan's most popular religious site is the Haghartsin Monastery, which is located several kilometers east of the town and consists of three churches and a dining hall. The monastery was built in the Middle Ages. The oldest of the monastery's churches, St. Gregory, was built in the 10th century. The other churches, St. Stepanos and St. Astvatsatsin, date back to the 13th century. There are a number of khachkars in the complex. Parz Lij (Clear Lake) is also very close to the town, with medieval Goshavank Monastery a bit further.