AN 800-year-old cave village that was transformed from a slab of volcanic rock into grotto-like homes has all the mod cons needed for modern living.
Over 150 families live happily in Kandovan, the village in northwestern Iran, making it one of the world's largest modern cave dwellings.
Some residents inherited the cave houses from ancestors who lived there hundreds of years ago, like Nadir Bahaduri, who has lived in his since he was born.
"This is an 800-year-old house. It was left to us by our ancestors," he told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Nadir's cave home has been modified with all the modern conveniences he needs to live there comfortably.
He has a kitchen kitted out with modern features including a fridge, sink and oven with a burner stove top and electric lighting throughout.
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Storage space for blankets and mattresses is carved into the stone wall and soft furnishings including carpets and curtains keep the home bright and cosy.
While some in the town have chosen to move into more modern houses, many have decided to stay in their ancient homes, updated to include everything they need.
Drew Binsky, an American travel blogger who has visited every country on the world, described the unique scenes in Kandovan as 'incredible'.
"Check out this little village that I'm in in Iran. Look at this, look at these cave homes. Looks like Cappadocia in Turkey. Literally the houses are built inside of the cave. Unbelievable.
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11Located in the Sahand mountain range, close to the city of Tabriz, Kandovan can get very cold in the winter and warm in the summer.
Nadir says the ancient stone walls allow his home to stay cool in the warmer months and cosy in the winter.
It is one of the few cave villages in the world where so many locals still live there full-time, as many others like Cappadocia in Turkey or Vardzie in Georgia have been turned into tourist hotspots with hotels and restaurants.
Some living in those towns have also left in favour of more modern homes, but those in Kandovan have made their way of life sustainable inside the ancient rock face.
The incredible caves have become a tourist attraction, bringing foreigners to the village, but it is made up largely of locals who make a living from farming and agriculture.
There's isn't a school in Kandovan, so the children who live there travel to the nearby town of Sahand, just over a half an hour drive away.
While residents of Kandovan have updated their homes to accommodate modern life, some are taking cave living to a new level.
A British mum is building a luxury cave in Australia complete with a sauna and even chandeliers after buying the land for just £11,000.
Another couple found a cave on their property and converted it into a luxury home which they now rent out for thousands of pounds every month.
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