The village of Kandovan in Iran is a tourist village that is famous for its scenic beauty and the fact that many of its homes have been made in caves located in cone-shaped rock-formation. The village looks somewhat like a gigantic termite colony.
Some of these houses are at least 700 years old and still inhabited. Most of the houses are two to four storeys high. Legend has it that Kandovan’s first inhabitants moved here centuries ago to escape the invading Mongol army.
Built out of volcanic ash and debris spewed during a volcanic eruption, these rocky structures were compressed and shaped by natural forces into cone-shaped pillars containing pockets. They have been eroded by the elements over the years into their current shapes.
Local residents say that the homes are not only strong but also unusually energy efficient. These homes require minimal supplemental heat during the long cold season and remain cool in the summer.
‘Kando’ means ‘a bee’s hive’, and this is how Kandovan got its name.
Far away from pollution and noisy metropolitan cities, this stone village helps people relax.
You can read the original article at irantourismtravels.com