Vardenik (Armenian: Վարդենիկ; until 1945, Gezeldara, Nerkin Gezaldara, Gyuzeldara, and Nizhnyaya Gezaldara), is a major village in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia that sits along the Vardenis River. It was founded in 1828-29 by emigrants from Mush. There are the cyclopean fort ruins of Kaftarli 3 km south, with petroglyphs downhill along the bank of the river. Some churches and shrines can be found in the vicinity. The village is the largest rural community in Armenia by population.