Not every village in Armenia can afford to offer a whole bunch if activities. The Village of Khndzoresk is a huge complex with an interesting things-to-see list, which especially in the recent years has called many tourists.
Khndzoresk village is located in the province of Syunik, near the city of Goris. New Khndzoresk was built in 1950s. Old Khndzoresk was the largest village of Eastern Armenia. At the end of the 19th century it had a population of 4200 people, while at the beginning of the 20th century it made up 8300. In 1913 the village had 27 shops, 3 dye-houses, leather workshops and 7 schools.
While to many foreigners the naming will sound too strange and to many locals it will seem that the root of the naming is “khndzor,” which means “apple” in English, the naming has a completely other interpretation. The village was built in a deep gorge, and was initially named “Khor Dzor” or “Khordzoresk” meaning “deep gorge.” Later modifications caused the village to be named “Khndzoresk” but it still retained its meaning.
Khndzoresk Village stands out with its remarkable historical past. It took part in David Bek’s struggle for liberation. The village’s citadel used to be Mkhitar Sparapet’s (supreme commander of the armed forces) military base in 1728-1730. Both David Bek and Mkhitar Sparapet played a significant role in the history of Armenia.
During the 18th century liberation movement David Bek fought against the forces of Ottoman Empire and Safavid Iran. As to Mkhitar Sparapet, he was also an 18th century national hero, who partook in the fight for preserving Armenian Heritage in Zangezur. Mkhitar Sparapet’s role in David Bek’s victories over the Ottomans and Safavids was immense.
In 1735 Catholicos Abraham Kretatsi visited the village. A description of this green village can be found in his work “History.”
1250 Khndzoresk inhabitants took part in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Out of them 480 died.
All seasons are very unique in the village and in general, every season is suitable for a visit. It just depends on what visitors would love to see, of what activities they would love to take advantage and what kind of weather they prefer. It’s very hot during the summers, foggy and rainy in fall, mild and cold in winter and warm and very rainy in spring.
Khndzoresk Village is one of the best places to enjoy delicious Armenian fruits. If luck is by your side, then you will probably be invited by the locals and offered to help yourselves in the beautiful and attentively cared for gardens. Among the fruits and vegetables you can taste are pineapples, apricots, pears, watermelon, melon, grapes, peppers, green bean, peach, sunflowers, tomatoes and so on. You can find these fruits in every other village or Yerevan market, but as they say, the place where the fruits grow are vital for their taste.
The flow of tourists has greatly increased in the village. Compared with the past years it has even reached unprecedented scales, because if formerly the number of visiting tourists could be easily counted, then now it has become something impossible. With the increasing number of the tourists the number of hotels and guesthouses as well increases with every year to meet the demand.
Khndzoresk is popular not only with its historical record but also its historical monuments. Among them are the Fortress of Khndzoresk, Saint Tadevos Church, Saint Hripsime Church and “Anapat” school-church. The latter used to be scriptorium too. Two medieval spring monuments dating to the 17th century were also preserved.
The village also includes the grave of Mkhitar Sparapet. Next to the Mkhitar Sparapet’s tomb, there are the tombs of his son Aharon and Mkhitar’s great love Gohar. These graves are sacred for Armenians.
The festive opening of this bridge took place on June 9, 2012. It was built by Khndzoresk businessman Zhora Aleksanyan in memory of his parents.
The swinging bridge is 160 meters long, 1,5 meters wide and rises 36 meters above the ground. The bridge connects the two banks of the village. The goal of having this bridge was to attract tourists to the village. The view of the gorge from the bridge is splendid and it’s better to see it once than to hear about it a thousand times. The bridge yet doesn’t have any official naming, but the people of Khndzoresk have named it “Zhoora’s Bridge.”
The bridge of Khndzoresk not only connects the two banks of the village but also makes it easier to reach and see the four churches and the popular fountain known as the “Nine Children.” Especially interesting is the legend in regard to this fountain.
A legend has it that an attack on the Village of Khndzoresk caused the local women and girls to join the men and struggle for liberation. During the struggle Sona, a widow and mother of 9 children died. In memory of his daughter Master Ohan who was Sona’s father built a fountain the basin of which appears like a breast. It is possible to drink water from the basin only if you lie prostrate on the two hands. It is said that upon completing the construction of the fountain Ohan reached out to a saint saying, “ I beg you sacred fountain, let the water of the fountain turn into Sona’s breast milk and protect my orphaned grandchildren.”
The gorge of Khndzoresk simply amazes and seems to play tricks on the human imagination because as you look at the giant stones around, you basically start thinking that giants once really existed. People lived in the caves of Khndzoresk until 1950s. During the early times people lived in the village’s pyramids having dug artificial dwellings.
The last thing to note is that if you do visit Khndzoresk Village, then be sure to spend your entire day there. At the same time, do not forget that Syunik province is abundant with historical sites, natural and sacred sites not visiting which once in Armenia would simply be a crime. Among such sites are the Monastery of Tatev, Karahunj, the Fortress of Halidzor, Baghaberd, Vorotnaberd, Shaki Waterfall, the Devil’s Bridge and so on.
