Ishvalan

Ishvalan is a small village located in the Syunik Province of southern Armenia. The settlement lies at an elevation of roughly 1,450 metres above sea level, surrounded by the rugged foothills of the Vayots Dzor mountains. It falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the Tatev Municipality and is situated approximately 12 kilometres east of the town of Kajaran. The nearest major road links Ishvalan to the provincial capital, Goris, via a series of winding mountain passes. The village's geographic coordinates are about 39.06°N latitude and 46.84°E longitude.

According to the 2011 Armenian census, Ishvalan had a population of about 350 residents, most of whom belong to the ethnic Armenian community. The local economy is primarily agrarian, with residents engaged in subsistence farming, animal husbandry, and cultivation of hardy crops such as potatoes, barley, and grapes for local wine production. In recent years, a modest number of young inhabitants have begun to capitalize on the region's growing trekking and heritage tourism by offering homestay accommodations and traditional guided farm tours.

The history of Ishvalan dates back to medieval times, when it was part of the Syunik principality, a significant Armenian feudal entity. The village is known for the 13th‑century St. Hovhannes Church, a small stone structure that reflects the characteristic Armenian ecclesiastical architecture of the region. Archaeological surveys nearby suggest the existence of prehistoric burial sites and habitation layers dating to the Bronze Age. In the Soviet period, Ishvalan was incorporated into the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, where its agricultural output contributed to the collective farming system. Today, the village retains a strong sense of community identity, often celebrated through traditional folk festivals and religious ceremonies held at the local church.