An Armenian was digging a vegetable storage facility, but got carried away and built an underground temple (13 photos)

In 1985, Levon Arakelian's wife asked him to dig a potato pit. Levon didn't refuse, but the work dragged on for 23 years, and instead of a vegetable pit, a full-fledged underground temple emerged.





44-year-old Levon began digging a hole under the house in his native village of Arin so his wife could store potatoes. Over time, the hole grew, and he decided to make a wine cellar there. But soon, Levon dreamed of an underground temple, and a new plan became clear.



For 23 years, he created his own underground world, using only a chisel and a hammer. At first, the process was very slow—Levon was working his way through a layer of black basalt, only managing to advance 7 centimeters a day. Ten years passed, but then the tuff started to form, and the work began to pick up.





The oil-like consistency of the volcanic rock made Levon's life much easier. The process went so well that he decided to experiment with decor and different patterns.



He worked 18 hours a day, carving out entire rooms, corridors, and stairways that descended to a depth of 20 meters. The temple's lowest chambers are located at a depth of 21 meters—the height of a seven-story building.



Levon had a lot of time but little money, so many of the decorations in his temple were made from scrap materials.



Levon died in 2008 at the age of 67, leaving the underground temple to his wife, Tosya. This is an unfinished work; he planned to devote another 30 years of his life to it.





Now Tosya manages the place, which has already become a museum. Her husband's tools and the buckets Levon used to scoop out unwanted rocks are on display. The rocks themselves (about 450 truckloads) were donated to a local construction company and used in various construction projects.



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Tosya admits that she often fought with Levon over this cave. But she also likes to remember that her husband had a great sense of humor.

"He ruined his health because of this hole."



Tose feels a little sad as she descends into the underground world dug by her late husband, but she is still grateful.

"I'm proud of what he left me and our grandchildren. It's a gift."