Khanjyan Summer House: A Ruined Relic of Soviet Armenia

Nestled on the wooded slopes of Dilijan, the Khanjyan Summer House is a historical monument with a mysterious past. Constructed between 1928 and 1936, this circular villa was intended for Aghasi Khanjyan, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia. Khanjyan, however, never had the chance to reside in his summer retreat. He died under mysterious circumstances in 1936, with many suspecting assassination. The villa's location was personally chosen by Khanjyan and is rumored to have once been the site of a Russian Imperial Army regiment cemetery. During World War II, the property was repurposed as a cattle ranch, leading to the loss of much of its original ornamentation. Although renovations were attempted, the original designs could not be fully restored. Since the late 1980s, the summer house has been abandoned, resulting in its partial collapse. The painted ceilings, walls, wooden interiors, and ornate staircases have vanished, leaving behind bare walls and stone pillars. Despite plans for reconstruction announced in 2018, the villa remains in ruins. Today, visitors can see the skeletal remains of the once-grand structure, offering a tangible link to Armenia's Soviet past. The site is located near Gorky Street and the statue "The King of the Forest" by sculptor Ara Sargsyan.