Kandovan; is a living example of human adaptation to exceptionally unusual natural surroundings. Kandovan village is located 50 km to the south of Tabriz,  at the foothills of Mount Sahand. A river originating from the Sahand peaks passes through the valley of Kandovan. There are a number of natural springs to the north of the river, the water from which has traditionally been used for the treatment of kidney stones, according to the Kandovan locals.

The physical structure of Kandovan looks like images from fairy tales. Natural cones, scattered over a vast area, serve as human dwellings on rock formations which themselves seem to have been the work certain sculptors. The road from Tabriz goes through this natural artwork. On getting nearer to Kandovan, the visitor finds out two or three of these hollow interconnected cones with features such as openings on their surface playing the role of actual windows. The lowest cones are used as tables and those on top as the living quarters.

The interiors of the dwellings, usually divided into a living and bedroom, are dimly lit; however, the villagers are used to it. The interconnecting corridors are very narrow. From the outside, the dwellings look so similar to each other that one may easily get lost in the village. Steep pathways and steps are made of rock pieces for animals as well as human beings.

As the legend goes, the first people to settle here were the soldiers involved in military operations nearly 800 years ago, who found the cones by chance and used them as their temporary camouflage and accommodation. However, among archaeologists, it is considered to be of Pre-Islamic Period.