Mount Grgur / Armenian Highland - Armenian Geographic

The ascent of Mount Grgur was implemented within the framework of the project “Tsovu Bolor“. The aim of this project was to ascend all 6 summits of Lake Van.

Grgur is a mountain of volcanic origin. Height is 2478 meters. Mount Grgur has 5 not pointed peaks. It is located west of Lake Van, on the southwest slope of Mount Nemrut. The mountain was also called Gurgur, Kerqyur, Kerkur, Kirkor.

Mount Grgur from Boryan (Ordunjular) village

Grgur is covered with forests, except for a small northern part. On the summit there are small ponds.

Legends of Grgur

According to legend, when Noah’s ark was crossing this area, it touched the mountain and rattled, from which the mountain got its name, Grgur.

According to another legend, tyrant Bel was killed by Hayk Nahapet’s arrow right at the foot of Mount Grgur. At the foot of the mountain there are number of huge natural stones, which people call Nemrut caravan or Bel caravan. Legend has it that these were Bel’s people, who turned into stone after their leader’s overthrow.

Photos by Sipan Grig and Tigran Varag