Exploring Voghjaberd Caves
For a considerable period, each time I returned from Garni to Yerevan, high in the mountains, I observed hollows rising above the Voghjaberd village, known as the Voghjaberd caves. Finally, I decided to stop procrastinating, and together with Menua we are on the way to explore those caves!
Voghjaberd, a village in the Kotayk region of Armenia, on the Yerevan-Garni highway, on the slopes of Voghjaberd mountains known for their caves. The local population primarily engages in fruit growing and animal husbandry.
Me exploring Voghjaberd caves
On the northern side of Voghjaberd, you'll find megalithic monuments (cromlechs) from the 2nd millennium BCE, and on the southern side, the ruins of a domed church dating back to the IV-V centuries.
However, our main objective was to explore the caves! Setting out early from Yerevan with Menua, we reached our destination in about half an hour. We drove as close as possible, parked in the village, and within 10 minutes, we entered the first cave! The weather was clear, offering a stunning view of Mount Ararat and Mount Aragats. These man-made caves, dating back to the 12th-14th centuries, didn't disappoint. While the caves were not as numerous or deep as I had expected, we still enjoyed coffee in one of them, soaking in the picturesque scenery. For cave enthusiasts, this short trip to Voghjaberd is well worth the visit.