Gavar or Gavarr (until 1959, Nor Bayezid, Novyi Bayaset, Novo Bayazet, Nor Bayazet, and Nor-Bajaset, then Kamo (named in honor of Bolshevik of the same name) until 1996) is a city and provincial capital of the Armenian province of Gegharkunik.

The town is situated in the mountains with an average altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, on a distance of 98 kilometers to the east of the capital Yerevan.

Gavar lies in the Armenian highlands, just few miles away from the western shores of Lake Sevan. The city was founded in 1830 by people from Bayazit (now in Turkey), and named "New Bayazit", and achieved city status in 1850. It was once home to 36,400 people but the population has declined to 23,302 reported in the 2001 census and an estimated 22,444 today.

Much of the Soviet era infrastructure has failed and the industrial capacity has floundered. However, the local economy is improving at a slow rate.

Some business men are returning to Gavar from abroad and there is hope the new mayor will greatly improve the city's public works. Major local manufacturers include electronics and machinery plants, textile mills, which are located in and around Gavar.

Despite its relatively modern rebirth, the center has an ancient past. Fabled monuments dating back to the Bronze Age adorn the region, a testimony to the presence of Armenians in the region for thousands of years.

Education continues to be one of the main values in the society of Gavar. A literacy rate of 99% was reported as early as 1960. Nowadays, there are 9 public education schools, 6 nursery schools, 4 specialized technical intermediate colleges, 1 sports school, 2 music and art schools, 1 special school for children with special educational needs and 1 university in the town of Gavar.

The Gavar Special School which is the only school for mentally and physically handicapped children in the region, is currently carrying out steps towards improvement and development with the assistance of its partners and sponsors, so it can become the premier school for special children in Armenia.

The Gavar State University was opened in 1993 after the independence. It is a major educational centre for the Gegharkunik region which consists of the five following faculties: Philological, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Economics and Education. Today, more than 2,400 students are attending those faculties.

Gavar does have a city portal which is used by many people outside of Gavar. The name of the portal is Kyavar.com as the locals pronounce the name of the city with a "ky" sound instead of a "g" sound at the beginning of the name.

Religion is very important for the people of Gavar. The population of the town is Christian and belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church of the Holy Mother of God was built in 1903 in the centre of Gavar.

It was the tallest church in Armenia until recent times when newer churches were built. 4 kilometers north of Gavar, there is the Noraduz cemetery which contains a large number of impressive medieval khachkars (cross-stones).

Hayravank, the 9th century monastery is very close to Gavar. Few kilometers away from Gavar, the ruins of a 1100 years old fortress are still visible.

Gavar cuisine is as ancient as the history of Armenia,it is closely related to eastern cuisine, various spices, vegetables, fish, and fruits combination.

Kyavari Kyufta (kofta of Gavar), the town's most favourite dish, is made from minced meat spiced with onions and rolled into balls before boiling in water.

Served in slices, it is garnished with butter.People of Gavar like to eat bread with almost everything, and the two traditional types of bread in Gavar are lavash and matnakash.

Kyavari Pakhlava: many-layered with tissue-thin sheets of phyllo dough, this pastry is filled with nuts and sugar and finished with a dousing of hot honey.

Here are some notable people whoe were born or raised in the town of Gavar:

Frunze Dovlatyan (1927-1997), was a film director, actor and screenwriter.

Byureghik Mneyan (1935), actress, honoured pedagogue of the Republic of Armenia.

Hranoush Hakobyan (1954), political scientist and current minister of diaspora of the Republic of Armenia.

Tigran Arzakantsyan (1966) a veterinarian and an honorary Doctor of International Business, deputy to the National Assembly of Armenia.

Pahare (1895-1968), actor, writer, conservative.