Gulluja

Gulluja is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Hamamli (Spitak) district, and currently in the Lori province. The provincial centre is located 27 km to the northwest of the town of Boyuk Garakilsa (Vanadzor), adjacent to the Chichkhan River, at the foot of Mount Chubukhlu, at a height of 1,725 m above sea level. It was marked on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village had been within the former Gugark (Garakilsa) district until 1937, when the former Hamamli district was established. Following the settlement of the Armenians in the district, the Azerbaijani inhabitants of the village gradually left their land. Along with the Armenians, the village was inhabited by 2 Azerbaijanis in 1831 and 8 Azerbaijanis in 1897. Only Armenians have lived there since the early 20th century.

The toponym is formed by adding the suffix “-cə” to the Azerbaijani word “gullu”, meaning “a village established on a flowery land”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 19 April 1950, it was renamed “Sarahart”. 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 the Lori province.

Geographical coordinates: latitude: 40°52’ N, longitude: 44°12’ E.