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
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
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 »
Shadow Room
The Museum of Lost Tales
Sherlock Holmes Statue
Sherlock Holmes Statue
South Pole Growth Chamber
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Siegfried Tieber specializes in sleight-of-hand magic using small objects, as well as mentalism, which gives the illusion of reading minds.
Does a Magician Really Never Reveal Their Tricks? AO Wants to Know.
13 days ago
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
16 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
19 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
26 days ago

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 Azerbaijan Skhtorashen Tnjri

Tnjri

Local legend says that whoever burns down this 2,000-year-old tree will only have seven days to live.

Skhtorashen, Azerbaijan

Added By
littleham
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Tnjri   Ondřej Žváček / CC BY-SA 3.0
Tnjri   Ondřej Žváček / CC BY-SA 3.0
Tnjri   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
Tnjri   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
Tnjri   littleham / Atlas Obscura User
Tnjri   Ліонкінг on Wikipedia
Tnjri   nfbourne / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Through centuries of war and peace, countless regimes, and an uncertain future, one thing has remained constant in the small, disputed Republic of Artsakh (officially recognized as part of Azerbaijan)—the tree known as Tnjri.  

Estimated at over 2,030 years old, the tree has grown massive, with a circumference reaching almost 90 feet and a height of over 170 feet. The hollow trunk is reportedly big enough for more than 100 people to fit inside. Some suggest that Tnjri, which in the Karabakh dialect means plane tree, is the largest plane tree (Platanus orientalis L.) in the world.

According to lore of the local Armenian population, the tree was said to have been visited by many Armenian greats, including the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots, in the 5th century; Armenia's first historian, Movses Khorenatsi also in the 5th century; and the musician and poet Sayat-Nova in the 18th century. The size and age of the tree has also garnered the plant spiritual significance among the local people, many of whom see the tree as sacred.

There is even a legend that states that anyone who burns it down will die within seven days. This likely arose as a manner of protecting the ancient arbor since it has survived multiple close calls with arsonists trying to set it ablaze over the years. At one point the problem was so bad a full-time guard had to be posted under the tree.

Despite the many attempts at its life, Tnjri has survived through long eras and regimes. When the country was under Soviet control, Tnjri was said to be the tallest tree in Russia. However through it all Tnjri has remained an important shrine to the local people and a popular site for visitors looking a see a physical symbol of Armenia's history. 

Related Tags

Superstitions Trees Flora Nature Natural Wonders Plants

Know Before You Go

By foot from Karmir Shuka (Red Market), visitors can follow the Janapar Trail up the hill to Tnjri. Blue markers (some with a yellow foot) denote the trail. The tree is also accessible by car from the main North-South Highway.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

littleham

Edited By

karabakhinsight, EricGrundhauser, Michelle Cassidy, nfbourne

  • karabakhinsight
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • nfbourne

Published

November 13, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Azerbaijan/Karabakh/Tnjri.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tnjri
  • http://barevarmenia.com/en/armenia_sights/sight483
  • http://www.everytrail.com/guide/janapar-trail-section-4-karmir-shuka-to-avetaranots
Tnjri
Skhtorashen
Azerbaijan
39.7045, 46.9406

Nearby Places

Hunot Gorge

Şuşa, Azerbaijan

miles away

We Are Our Mountains

Stepanakert, Azerbaijan

miles away

Ağdam

Akna, Azerbaijan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Asia

Places 24
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Hunot Gorge

Şuşa, Azerbaijan

miles away

We Are Our Mountains

Stepanakert, Azerbaijan

miles away

Ağdam

Akna, Azerbaijan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Asia

Places 24
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

13 Unlucky Places to Avoid on Friday the 13th

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • The Tambopata Research Center

    Tambopata, Peru

    Tambopata Research Center

    One of the most remote lodges in the Amazon offers rare wildlife encounters and undisturbed views of the Peruvian rainforest.

  • A small waterfall in the Gourgue d’Asque

    Asque, France

    Gourgue d'Asque

    A French valley with forests so lush it was nicknamed "the Small Amazonia of the Pyrenees."

  • Old Tijikko.

    Älvdalen S, Sweden

    Old Tjikko

    The world's oldest individual clonal tree looks like a wimp despite standing tall for 9,550 years.

  • Tree of Life

    Bahrain

    Shajarat-al-Hayat (Tree of Life)

    This centuries-old tree tells an unusual tale of vegetation and fertility in the desert.

  • 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 Enchanted Forest

    Whitethorn, California

    Enchanted Forest

    A grove of "candelabra redwoods" deep in California's Lost Coast.

  • Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    Lund NO, Sweden

    Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    This collection of Dwarf beech trees were once believed to be enchanted trolls in disguise.

  • Green arch in Fragas do Eume.

    Cabanas, Spain

    Fragas do Eume

    This enchanting natural park is a magical example of a temperate rainforest in Europe.

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.