Arpit Valley

The Arpit Valley runs in north-south direction from Lake Van to the chain of mountains that constitute the border with Bahçesaray(Müküs/ Moks) district. Traditionally, the road to Müküs, also the main caravan route to the Botan area more south,  followed this valley.

The valley and its surroundings were in the 19th century known as "Kavaş". Halfway the valley are the scanty remains of Pağvas Castle, for two decades in the first half of the 1800s, the centre of the powerful Bey of Müküs, Han Mahmud, who ruled his vast dominions from here.

All photos are from a visit in Autumn 2017.