About Karavachar (Kelbajar)

The entire Kelbajar area, has one notable town of the same name. Both are officially known as Karvajar now. The area is full of high mountain peaks and river valleys, alpine meadows and forests, as well as monasteries and the fortress of Handaberd.The roads of Karvajar district pass mainly through the valleys sometimes crossing the mountain passes. As a rule, the existing and comparatively well maintained roads were in use since at least the Middle Ages. This is a much rougher connection between Armenia and Karabakh than the Lachin road.

Owing to its natural isolation by high mountain ranges. Karvajar had been perceived as a separate district within the Artsakh province since at least early Middle Ages. Early medieval sources name this region Vaykunik (Anania Shirakatsi, Movses Kaghankatvatsi), while the sources of later period use the naem "the Land of Tzar" or the "province of Tzar". To denote the same province the records of the 12-13 centure often used the name Upper Khachen alongside with Tzar. Owing to the natural conditions of the highland the overwhelming majority of the medieval settlements were situated in the valleys of major rivers or their tributaries. Settlements situated in higher elevations of the mountains and difficult to reach served mostly for defense purposes.

Several schools are reconstructed in Karavachar by the Armenian Educational Foundation.
Click on the reconstructed school icon for detailed information.