Jukhtakvank Monastery, Dilijan

What is Jukhtakvank?

Jukhtakvank is a pair of small medieval Armenian Apostolic churches in a forest clearing above the Bldan river valley, just outside Dilijan. *Jukht* means “pair” in Armenian, so the name is usually rendered as “pair monastery”. It has been abandoned for a long time: no services, no monks, just an old cemetery of gravestones and khachkars (carved cross-stones) around the walls.

The older church, Surb Grigor (St Gregory), has no dated inscription; its style places it in the 11th or 12th century. It is a small cross-shaped, central-plan church whose dome fell in centuries ago. Between 1973 and 1977 restorers shored up the walls and wrapped them in steel bands — the soft ground underneath has been slipping for years.

The younger church, Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), stands to the west. Its inscription dates it to 1201 and names the builder: Hayrapet, abbot of the Surb Petros monastery, who had it built so that masses would be said for himself, his brother Shmavon and his parents.

Is Jukhtakvank worth it?

Go for the forest and the walk, not for the architecture. The churches are small, cracked and marked by graffiti and candle soot inside; next to Haghartsin or Goshavank they look modest. What they offer is quiet: you will often have the clearing to yourself.

It works best combined with Matosavank across the valley. Taxi to the trailhead, climb to Jukhtakvank, follow the marked path to Matosavank and walk back down — a half-day forest loop that needs no driver for the whole day. If you only have time for one monastery near Dilijan, pick Haghartsin instead.

Entry, opening hours and how long to stay

Entry is free — there is no ticket office, fence or schedule, and unofficially you can walk in at any time. Come in daylight, though: there are no lights on the track or trails, and phone signal in the valley is patchy.

Thirty to 45 minutes covers both churches, the inscriptions and the gravestones. With the climb from the plant, the walk to Matosavank and the way down, plan on 2–3 hours. Walking all the way from central Dilijan adds about three hours for the round trip.

What to see

• Surb Grigor — the older, domeless church; the 1970s steel braces round its walls are the first thing you notice, with grass growing on the roof above. This is the classic Jukhtakvank photo.
• The 1201 inscription over the door of Surb Astvatsatsin, naming Abbot Hayrapet, plus later donation inscriptions on the same lintel.
• The carved lintel over Surb Grigor’s west door — easiest to read in low side light in the morning or late afternoon.
• The medieval cemetery around the churches — many stones are badly worn, so don’t stand on them.
• The forest itself — the broadleaf woods of Dilijan National Park, gold and red in autumn, bright green in late spring.

The Jukhtakvank–Matosavank hike

The two monasteries face each other across one wooded valley, less than a kilometre apart as the crow flies. The waymarked Medieval Monasteries Trail links them in about 30 minutes, crossing the stream on a metal footbridge. Climbs are short, and school-age kids manage it easily.

Matosavank was completed in 1247 — younger than Jukhtakvank and far more ruined, with trees growing through it and khachkars scattered around. The easiest loop: taxi to the plant, up to Jukhtakvank, across to Matosavank, then down to Abovyan Street — 2–3 hours including time at both sites.

From the end of the track at Jukhtakvank, a long section of the Transcaucasian Trail heads about 20 km through the northern hills of the national park to Haghartsin. That is a full day’s hike — go with an offline map, plenty of water and food, and an early start.

Jukhtakvank vs Matosavank vs Haghartsin

Only one monastery? Choose Haghartsin. Want a quiet forest walk close to town? Do Jukhtakvank and Matosavank together.

Monasteries and churches around Dilijan compared

Every monastery and church near Dilijan rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Nearby and on the way

38

Matosavank Monastery

Dilijan, Armenia

1 h · Free · 15 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Matosavank Monastery

How to do it right

• Go in the morning: side light on the walls makes the inscriptions easier to read.
• Climb from the plant and come down via Matosavank, so you never retrace your steps.
• Autumn turns the surrounding forest gold and red — the best season for photos.
• After heavy rain, give the track a day to dry out.
• Want to see a big working monastery too? Add Haghartsin — a separate taxi ride out of town.

Questions