Achikhli was a village in the territory of the Zangezur uezd of the former Yelizavetpol (Ganja) governorate, later in the former Gafan district, and present-day Syunik province. It was located 5-6 km to the northwest of the town of Gafan, at the foot of Gir Galasi Mountain. The village was mentioned as “Achaghuvang” in the 10th-13th centuries. It was also noted as “Achaghu”, “Achakhlu”, “Ajillu” in Armenian sources.

The village was inhabited by 126 Azerbaijanis in 1897. The Azerbaijanis were exposed to the aggression of Armenian armed units and deported in 1918. After the establishment of Soviet power in present-day Armenia, the village inhabitants were able to return to their native lands. The village was inhabited by 98 Azerbaijanis in 1926, 120 in 1931, 165 in 1939, 186 in 1959 and 300 Azerbaijanis in 1963. In 1968–1969 the Azerbaijanis were removed and the village was abolished. At present, the village lies in ruins.

The toponym is coined from “achikhli”, the dialectical form of the word “achiglig” meaning “an open space, a plain, a square” in Azerbaijani.