Gulluja is a village in the Echmiadzin uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Abaran district, and currently in the Aragatsotn province. The provincial centre is located 16 km to the north of the Ashtarak town, on the banks of the Abaran River, at a height of 1900 m above sea level. It was marked in “The Iravan Province Review Book”, and on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village was originally inhabited by Azerbaijanis, and following the settlement of Armenians in the district, the inhabitants moved to Türkiye.

The toponym was formed by adding the suffix “-cə” to the word “gullu” and means “a village located in a flowery area”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 15 June 1946, the village was renamed “Vardenis”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative territory of Aragatsotn province.

Geographical coordinates: latitude: 40°34’ N., longitude: 44°24’ E.