Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Armenia Khndzoresk Old Khndzoresk Cave Village

Old Khndzoresk Cave Village

Right up until the 20th century this network of man-made caves was the biggest village in Eastern Armenia.

Khndzoresk, Armenia

Added By
littleham
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village   Shaun Dunphy on Wikipedia
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village   Shaun Dunphy on Wikipedia
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
  Marcin Konsek
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Given no level ground on which to build, the ancient population of Eastern Armenia did the only thing left to them and dug into the sloping hillsides, creating the cave dwellings at Old Khndzoresk which were still inhabited well into the 20th century.  

The historic cave village, located on the steep slope of a gorge, is comprised of both natural and manmade caves. At the inhabiting community's height, some estimates suggest that population grew to as many as 15,000 people. Since many of the dwellings were carved out over and around each other, a complex system of ropes and ladders were required for people to reach many corners of the community. The village even had two churches and three schools. The cave dwellings were inhabited until as late as the 1950s at which point it is said that Soviet officials deemed the caves unfit and uncivilized, forcing the remaining villagers to leave.  

Today, Old Khndzoresk is frequented mostly by local livestock which graze amongst the caves, some of which have been converted to stables or storage spaces. Visitors are welcome to explore the cave system, but a trip across the gorge is not for the faint of heart. However, making the trip a bit easier if no less harrowing, is a 160-meter long suspension bridge that was built using nothing more than local funds and labor in 2012 and which shakes with every footstep. The new bridge connects Old Khndzoresk and New Khndzoresk, the modern village, bridging Armenia's history with the present day both figuratively and literally.

Related Tags

Caves Villages Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

From Goris take the Stepanakert Road east for approximately 6 km. You will pass under a metal gate which says Welcome to Khndzoresk in Armenian and Russian. At the other end of the village turn right down the dirt road to Old Khndzoresk cave village. Park at the top of the gorge by the shop and walk down the path to the cable bridge.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

littleham

Edited By

EricGrundhauser, armeniapedia

  • EricGrundhauser
  • armeniapedia

Published

November 10, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khndzoresk
  • http://eurasia.travel/armenia/cities/southern_armenia/goris/khndzoresk/
  • http://barevarmenia.com/en/armenia_sights/sight206
  • http://www.armenia-hayastan.com/2012/07/the-new-swinging-bridge-khndzoresk.html
  • http://goristravel.com/khndzoresk.php
  • http://merlinandrebecca.blogspot.com/2012/02/khndzoresk-cave-village.html
Old Khndzoresk Cave Village
Khndzoresk, 3207
Armenia
39.512222, 46.433611

Nearby Places

Wings of Tatev

Tatev, Armenia

miles away

Gavazan Column at Tatev Monastery

Tatev, Armenia

miles away

Zorats Karer

Sisian, Armenia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Armenia

Armenia

Europe

Places 32
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Wings of Tatev

Tatev, Armenia

miles away

Gavazan Column at Tatev Monastery

Tatev, Armenia

miles away

Zorats Karer

Sisian, Armenia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Armenia

Armenia

Europe

Places 32
Stories 3

Related Places

  • “The Umbrella” at the base of the gorge

    Şuşa, Azerbaijan

    Hunot Gorge

    A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.

  • Maymand

    Meymand, Iran

    Maymand

    This 12,000 year old Iranian cave village has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.

  • Al Hoota Cave

    Al Hamra, Oman

    Al Hoota Cave

    The biggest cave system in the Arabian Peninsula is home to a rare variety of blind fish.

  • Guermassa, Tunisia

    Guermassa

    A charming Amazigh village carved into a mountaintop.

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • The entrance from inside of the cave

    Cuevas, Spain

    La Cuevona

    A road that winds through this natural cave is the only way to access the small, appropriately-named village of Cuevas.

  • Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

    Manyate Coffee Village

    An Ethiopian cloud forest protects some of the last wild arabica plants.

  • Lacy’s Caves

    Penrith, England

    Lacy's Caves

    A series of idealized caves carved to entertain guests.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.