Haji Gara is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Boyuk Garakilsa (Gugark) district, and currently in the Lori province. The provincial centre is located 5 km to the northwest of the town of Vanadzor (Boyuk Garakilsa), on the right bank of the Pambak River, at a height of 1,550 m above sea level. It was marked in “The Iravan Province Review Book”, on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village was initially inhabited by Azerbaijanis who gradually left it following the settlement of Armenians in the region.

The toponym was coined by combining the word “Haji” denoting a multi-generational family name in Azerbaijani, and the personal name “Gara”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 1 March 1946, the village was renamed “Makarashen”, and by decision dated 26 October 1957, it was renamed “Lernapat”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Lori province.

Geographical coordinates: latitude: 40°49’ N., longitude: 44°23’ E.