Jukhtakvank
Pair of churches in the woods near Dilijan
- Area Tavush
- Type Monastery
- Time needed 30m
Jukhtakvank is a pair of small churches in the woods west of Dilijan, its name meaning roughly twin monastery. They are plain, partly ruined and reached on foot, and the walk through the forest is as much of the experience as the buildings.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 97 km from Yerevan, roughly 1h 45m of driving to the edge of Dilijan, then a track and footpath of some twenty to thirty minutes on foot.
What you see
Two churches stand a short distance apart, one better preserved with its dome, the other reduced to walls. The stonework is simple, with a few inscriptions and khachkars, and moss and trees crowd the ruins. The forest clearing and the quiet are the main impression.
What to pair it with
Matosavank is on a connected path nearby, and Dilijan's restored Sharambeyan Street is minutes away.
When to go
Spring to autumn, with autumn colour in October. The path is muddy after rain and the route is easier to follow when there is no snow.
What is hard about it
There is little to see architecturally and 30 minutes on site is ample. The footpath is unsignposted in places and easy to lose, and it is not suitable for anyone unsteady on rough ground.
Common questions
Can I drive to it?
No. A rough track leads from Dilijan towards the site but the last part is on foot.
How do I find the path?
It leaves from the western side of Dilijan near the Matosavank route. Carry an offline map, as waymarking cannot be relied on.
Is it worth it if I have seen Haghartsin and Goshavank?
Mainly for the walk. The churches themselves are modest by comparison.
Nearby
- Haghartsin MonasteryMonastery complex set deep in beech forest
- Goshavank12th-century monastery with an exquisite khachkar
- MakaravankRichly carved monastery high in the forest
- Dilijan National ParkForested park known as "Armenian Switzerland"
- Lake ParzForest lake with walking trails near Dilijan
- Nor VaragavankForest monastery above Varagavan
More of the same kind
- Geghard MonasteryPartly carved into the rock face, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Havuts TarRuined monastery reached by a hike across the Azat gorge
- Kecharis Monastery11th-century complex in the ski town of Tsaghkadzor
- Aghjots MonasteryMonastery tucked into the Khosrov forest edge