Armkhi (Ingush: МохтIе, Moxthe; Russian: Армхи) is a village in Dzheyrakhsky District of the Republic of Ingushetia, located on the Armkhi or Kistinka river (Ingush: Ӏарам-хий, Кисти-хий, Aram-khi, Kisti-khiï; Georgian: ქისტეთისწყალი, Kistetis-tskali; Russian: Армхи, Кистинка). The village is known for its year-round recreation resort. Armkhi is one of six rural localities constituting the Dzheyrakh rural settlement.

History

The name of the village derives from the river Armkhi, a tributary of the Terek river. Several variations exist with regard to the meaning of the term "Armkhi". One is that the toponym derives from Ingush for "prohibited water/river"; another, that it comes from the Ingush words amr 'lake' and khi 'water'.

The hydronym Kistinka derives from one of the old Ingush ethnonyms — Kisti.
In 1745, Vakhushti Bagrationi mentions it as "Kistetian river" as well as "Kist-Durdzukian river".

Doctor of historical sciences and archaeologist Evgeniy Krupnov wrote:

«The ancient habitat of the Kists or Kistins is determined quite accurately. It is the Armkhi gorge — the right tributary of the Terek, 22 km south of the city of Ordzhonikidze, because this river was called in Georgian "Kistetis Tskhali" and "Kistinka" in Russian sources; neighboring Ossetians call it "Makal-don".»

— Е.И. Крупнов, «Средневековая Ингушетия» - М.: Наука, 1971. / с. 29

In 1928 a sanatorium was established adjacent to the village, making it one of the oldest sanatoriums in the North Caucasus. The modern building of the sanatorium was constructed in 1998. Recently a ski resort was built, along with a hotel, pools and a year-round recreation center.

Demography

Armkhi population

2012	136
2013	140
2015	156
2016	158

Geography

Armkhi village lies on the left embankment of the Armkhi River. The closest rural localities to Armkhi are Beini to the northeast, Dzheyrakh to the northwest, and Lyazhgi and Olgeti to the east.