Van was once the center of the Kingdom of Urartu; it was known as Tushpa. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It became the center of an Armenian kingdom founded by Tigranes the Great in the first century B.C. There is a great citadel there which one should visit.
Nearby, in Gevaş which is about 35 kilometers southwest of Van, one can hire a boat to the little island of Ahtamar where there are Impressive ruins of a tenth century Armenian church. The outside walls of the church are decorated with designs and bas-reliefs of biblical scenes such as Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, and Jonah. A number of other similar Christian churches are in this area.
Inscription of Xerxes the Great on the cliffs below Van castle.
Van,
what i like there it was a very hot day when i traveled in the way to Van but when i reached the beginning of the Van Lake at Tatwan city we noticed a huge difference in the climate temperature from 38C to near about 24C ,it was a very clean lake ,you can see the bottom of it ,…
First, I'd like to say that the island itself and the church are probably much better than the 1-star I gave, but the reason I gave it is that actually getting to the docks near Gevas on time and waiting for the boat does not mean you'll actually be able to go there – it depends on other people coming…
Fantastic views over the lake, very old church to visit, a really good trip!
Lovely place and imposible to leave without bathing in the lake. Take you swimsuit!
Akdamar island is the most easily accessible of several small islands on this lake which all contain Armenian churches and/or monasteries in various states of repair. A small ferry operates from the mainland on an irregular basis (takes off when they have reached a minimum number of passengers). The ferry dock is easily reachable from Van by public transport. The…