Symphony of Stones

The Symphony of Stones is a wall of basalt columns in the Azat gorge. It lies below Garni, about 30 km from Yerevan. Cooling lava cracked into prisms, most of them six-sided, and the ranks look like organ pipes.

Seeing the columns

The gorge lies about 2 km below Garni's temple. A paved road runs down, or you can walk the path in about 35 minutes. The ground is uneven, so wear proper shoes.

Garni's temple, a first-century Greco-Roman colonnade rebuilt in the 1970s after a 1679 earthquake, stands on the plateau above. Beside it lie the remains of a Roman bath.

How it fits a day

The columns need about an hour. A half-day from Yerevan that pairs them with Garni, about four hours by car, is the shortest way to see them. Longer runs add Geghard, Khor Virap or Lake Sevan.

Practical

• Weather. Yerevan passes 35C in July, and the gorge has little shade. Bring a hat and water. Winter days sit near freezing.
• Footing. Paths near the columns are uneven. Follow the posted warnings, since rock can fall from the cliffs.
• Timing. Morning is cooler and quieter, and the walk back up is easier before the heat.
• Combining. The gorge is a short drive from Garni's temple, so most visitors see both on one trip.