Georgia Destination Guide

The city of Tbilisi is a charming and relaxing capital in Caucasus. The city has a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-faceted face and is extremely hospitable to foreigners. The magnificent setting of high hills and distant mountains punctuated by the Mtkvari River with its sheer cliffs makes it an ideal destination for the single as well as family traveller. Some parts of Tbilisi are western looking while other parts are quite impoverished. The trendy cafes, fine restaurants and lively night life are found in the cosmopolitan area. Visitors usually use Tbilisi as a hub for day trips to Mtskheta, Gori, Ananuri or Rustavi.

Charming little houses are perched on the steep cliffs near the bridge and church at the north side of the river. The balconies of these houses literally hang over the Mtkvari River, giving the owners spectacular view of the river.

The Jvari church is visible practically from everywhere as you drive into Tbilisi. Jvari is considered a holy place as this is where the saint who brought Christianity to Georgia, St. Nino, established her cross. The cross is slightly bent on the top; legend has it that St. Nino had used her hair to secure the cross.

Borjomi is an elegant town located in the forests of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It is famous for its mineral water and is called the spa town of Georgia. The Mtkvari River flows through this town before joining the Mtkvari River in the capital. Across the tiver is the lovely mineral water park, dressed in strict Soviet décor. The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park that has come into existence in the recent times is worth a see. It covers 1% of Georgia and is the only national park in the Caucasus.

Another place of interest is the ruined fortress, Petres-Tsikhe, which was built between the 10th and 14th centuries. You can indulge in quite a few spas in Borjomi, but the most famed is Likani, located in the grounds of the sprawling Romanov palace. In fact you can even stay in the palace during your spa holiday. The Russians call these spas sanatoriums.

There is just one compelling reason to go to Gori - Stalin. Stalin was born in 1897 as Josef Vissarionivich Djugashvil in Gori. It is about half hour from Tbilisi by car. A museum called the Stalin Museum is built around the tiny house that Stalin lived in until the age of 15. Stalin's life is beautifully depicted here and the statues are carefully preserved and protected from the elements. The museum is the only standing Soviet era edifice.

A few hours drive from Tbilisi is Davit Gareja, an amazing cave monastery. It is an incredible place with a main monastery, limestone caves with frescos and some quaint living quarters. The limestone caves are a good 45 minutes uphill trek. The monastery is ancient, having first been built in the 6th century, but people have left their mark in the successive centuries. Some parts of the monastery date from a later period. The first part of the monastery is still inhabited and used by monks.

The healthy climb seems worth it when you reach the peak and drink in the breathtaking views from there. The view seems endless and the air still. Towards the south are the plains of Azerbaijan and down below is the huge canyon in which resides the main area of Davit Gareja. A clearer view of Azerbaijan can be got if you scramble over the ridge onto a steep cliff.

The trek up is risky, as much of the area has eroded over the years. For the trekking novice and weak hearted, it is prudent not to look down often. The trek is more or less jumps from stone to stone to navigate the many caves of Udabno Monastery.

History has it that the monastery was originally inhabited in the 9th to 10th century. The limestone caves have been concaved out into churches, chapels, chambers and cells. These are tastefully ornamented with frescoes. Some of them are quite radiant and have been constructed with refined draughtsmanship. In some places they look so vibrant that it seems they are painted recently. The frescoes date back to the 9th and 13th century. The chapel below the monastery sports many colourful frescoes, portraying many Christian religious scenes. The whole setting is ironic considering that just below the cliff at the base is a Muslim country.

Kazbegi is a four hour drive north from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway. The road winds up and through the mountains as it passes through Ananuri where a huge stone church complex is perched on a cliff above the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir. En route is also Gudauri, the premier ski resort in Georgia and the Jvari Pass. At the Jvari Pass the road drops, ending in Kazbegi.

Kazbegi is located near the Russian border and Chechyna and night time sees a dozen trucks transporting aids and goods to the troubled regions. The scenery at Kazbegi is magnificent and the town is dwarfed by the wonderfully picturesque Mt Kazhbek - the highest mountain in Georgia.

A hike to Tsminda Sameba Monastery - a 14th century church built on a mountain peak, 2200m above sea level is highly recommended. After Tbilisi, Kazbegi has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Georgia. While Georgians go to Tsminda Sameba on pilgrimage, tourists visit for the scenery, local ambience, the trekking routes and the legend of Prometheus chained on Kazhbek Mountain.

Wine is the main attraction in Khaketi region. The produce is of an exceptionally high quality and it is believed that wine was first prepared in this area way back in the 6th century BC. You can visit the many wineries, the most popular one being Tsinandali. The main town Telavi can be used as a good base for exploring the surrounding areas. Being at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, the area is rich in history and attractions. You can visit some magnificent churches around Telavi, including the Alaverdi Cathedral which at 50 m was one of the tallest buildings in the world for many centuries.

One of the few dozen medieval strongholds in Georgia is the Niakhuras Tsikhe. The fortress is located in the Kakheti region in the east of Georgia. If you are on the way from Sighnaghi to Tbilisi, it is worth halting here for a few hours. It is a good place to study ancient architecture as the ancient fortress walls are fully restored and offer a good perspective on the architecture and size of the defensive complexes during that time.

There is no habitation in the vicinity of the fortress. All that remains now behind the walls are weeds and some leftovers from the restoration works. The area adjacent to the Niakhuras fortress is surrounded by vineyards. A quick stroll around it can reward you with bunches of grapes or even yummy freshly squeezed grape juice.

Mtshketa is the ancient Georgian capital. The town is located at the convergence place of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Mtskheta dates back to the 3rd century BC and has played an important part in the origin of the Georgian language. Georgians embraced Christianity in 327. Mtskheta still remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church. Because of this Mtskheta is full of historic sights and the two most significant monuments of Georgian Christian architecture - Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery. Legend has it that Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the place where Christ's robe is buried. Jvari Church is located atop a hill overlooking Mtskheta. UNESCO has declared Mtskheta as a World Heritage Site.

Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city. The centre of town though picturesque is falling apart. The main tourist sight is the ruined Bagrati cathedral on the on the opposite bank of the river. It has a great view of the city and on clear days you can see as far as the monastery complex at Gelati. There is a very small and discreet Jewish quarter in the town and an interesting Russian style church on a small hill to the north of the town.

Batumi at the Black Sea is the first city when you enter Georgia from Turkey at Sarp Crossing. It is the capital of Ajaria. Batumi is a bit different from other places in Georgia. The city centre is modern with paved lanes, interesting architecture, beach and a train station which is called ‘Makhinjauri' meaning ugly. Don't go by the name as it is a nice place to just walk around!