The Ancient Village of Hin Khot – Armenia – Resembling Machu Picchu

The ancient village of Hin Khot is lying at an altitude of 1500 meters and is surrounded by impregnable rocks and blooming gardens. It is located on the left bank of Vorotan River 67 kilometers northeast of the town of Kapan, Syunik Province, Armenia.

The village was abandoned in the 1970s. The inhabitants of Hin Khot left the village for more convenient and plain areas north of the ancient village.

Hin Khot is of great interest for archaeologists due to its 2nd-1st-century BC burial grounds. One of the local cemeteries houses the ruins of the Red Church, which was built in the 12th century. A legend says that the bells of this church have been famous for their powerful sounds, which is why the church was connected with the ancient name of the region, Zangezur (Armenian: զանգ (zang), bell).

The positioning and architecture of the village resembles those of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu that is located in South America. However, Hin Khot is much more ancient.

Hin Khot features a 16th-century church called Mrgadzori Khach. According to a legend, it was built by an Armenian woman who had fled from the harem of Abbas I of Persia.

Several tourist agencies of Armenia now offer tours through the village of Hin Khot as well as nearby villages of Old Shinuayr and Old Halidzor. But this isn’t quite enough. The government of Armenia could go further and turn the mysterious area of Hin Khot into a tourist sight, just like they did with the Tatev Monastery or the village of Khndzoresk.

Old Khot, Old Shinuhayr / Հին Խոտ, Հին Շինուհայր – Armenian Geographic