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Kara Bala: Yerevan's Touching Flower Seller Sculpture

A touching tribute to Yerevan's beloved flower seller, Kara Bala, capturing the city's old-world charm and spirit of generosity.

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Kara Bala is a bronze sculpture on Abovyan Street in Yerevan, commemorating a beloved, eccentric flower seller from the city's past. The statue depicts an elderly man with a basket of flowers, offering a rose, and embodies the spirit of Yerevan's old-world charm and the kindness of its people.

A brief summary to Kara Bala

  • 5GH7+XJ4, Abovyan St, Yerevan, Kentron, AM

Local tips

  • Visit early in the morning or late afternoon for the best lighting for photographs.
  • Take time to chat with locals nearby who may share fascinating stories about the sculpture.
  • Combine your visit with a stroll along Abovyan Street to explore nearby cafes and shops.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    Kara Bala is located on Abovyan Street in the Kentron district. From Republic Square, walk east along Abovyan Street for about 10 minutes. The sculpture will be on your right. There are no costs associated with walking.

  • Public Transport

    Kara Bala is accessible via Yerevan's public transportation. Take any bus, minibus, trolleybus, or metro that stops near Abovyan Street. From the bus stop or metro station, walk to the sculpture. The cost for a bus, minibus, or metro ride is 100 AMD. A trolleybus ride costs 50 AMD.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Yerevan. Use a ride-hailing app like GG Taxi or Yandex Taxi to book a taxi to Kara Bala on Abovyan Street. A short taxi ride in the city center will cost approximately 1,100 AMD. Be sure to have cash, as many taxis do not accept card payments.

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Discover more about Kara Bala

The Kara Bala sculpture, located on Abovyan Street in Yerevan, is a poignant tribute to a real-life character who touched the hearts of the city's residents. Kara Bala, whose real name was Karapet, was known for selling flowers and giving them away to women passing by in the mid-20th century. Born into a wealthy family that owned flower gardens, he lost everything after the establishment of Soviet rule. The sculpture, created by Levon Tokmajyan in 1995, captures Kara Bala in his old age, with a basket of flowers and a rose extended in his hand. The statue is made of bronze and stands two meters high. His semi-naked, thin body and natural posture give the sculpture a lifelike quality. Kara Bala loved to give flowers to women and girls, conveying with the flowers the love and kindness kept in his soul. He was known to give a red rose every day to the famous actress Arus Voskanyan. Deprived of home and family, Kara Bala spent his days near the Central Department Store, living in the store's warehouse. He was found frozen to death on the street after being forced to leave the warehouse. Today, the sculpture serves as a reminder of Yerevan's past and the importance of human kindness. Passersby often leave real flowers at the statue, continuing the tradition of Kara Bala.

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