Khashuri, Borjomi & Bakuriani

Khashuri Municipality is  located in Shida Kartli, eastern Georgia, Its administrative center is a city of Khashuri.

 In historical sources Khashuri is first mentioned in 1693. It became a city type settlement in the 60s of the XIX century, facilitated by the railroad in Georgia. The municipality is located at the crossroads of eastern, western and southern Georgia and therefore has a strategic location. located in the central part of Georgia – Khashuri is bordered by Kareli municipality to the north and east, Sachkhere to the north, Borjomi to the south and west and Kharagauli to the west. Municipality resorts are popular because of the climate, the healing mineral waters and the beauty of nature.
Khashuri municipality is distinguished by its beauty and abundance of cultural monuments. Mountains and mixed forests are beautiful both in spring and autumn. Excellent views from the Ghorinamkli mountain overlooking Khashuri and blue gleaming Lake Koditskaro. The beautiful Bijnisi Waterfall is a real paradise, especially if you decide to travel in the heat of summer.

Tsromi Cathedral

Tsromi Cathedral is located in the village of Tsromi, Khashuri Municipality, Shida Kartli. It is an early medieval church, dating back to 626-634. The current church was built on the site of an earlier, 4th-century church. According to written sources, in 457, Razhden, who converted to Christianity during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali, was martyred in the early church of Tsromi. The current monument was built by order of Stephanos II. The church has been damaged and rebuilt several times over the centuries (in the 11th – 12th, 16th-17th centuries, and in the 20th century). On September 24, 1731, during the Lek invasion, the ramparts collapsed. During the earthquake of May 8, 1940, the dome of the cathedral, the walls of the square under the dome, a large part of the cylindrical arches of the narthex and the west-southern arms collapsed, and the western wall tilted. Restoration work carried out in the second half of the 20th century returned the cathedral to its original appearance. Tsromi Cathedral is one of the most important and visible monuments of the early Middle Ages.

Borjomi Municipality

Borjomi is a municipality in southern Georgia, in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 24,998. Its main town and administrative center is Borjomi and it has an area of 1,189 km2.  Borjomi municipality is located on the territory of the historical Tori.

The municipality consists in large part of subranges of the Lesser Caucasus mountains, the western end of the Trialeti Range and the eastern end of the Meskheti Range which are separated by the Borjomi Gorge through which the Mtkvari river flows.

 Borjomi is a region of ancient culture and beautiful nature. There are many interesting monuments from different eras. Its nature, forests full of fresh air and healing mineral waters, alpine fields and lakes hidden in the green attract many travelers. The ski and balneological resorts of Borjomi Municipality are very popular. along with a pleasant stay and enjoying the beautiful nature, you can visit Megalithic buildings, medieval temples and fortresses here.

Nedzvi Managed Reserve is situated in Borjomi Municipality. Founded in 2007. The area is 8992 hectares. The territory of the Nedzvi National Park is an important site of the IX century architecture of Samtskhe-Javakheti, which is connected with the activities of Grigol Khandzteli and his students. The main purpose of the creation of the Nedzvi Managed Reserve is to protect and keep the local lynx and the unique groves of the Caucasian Fir.

A good place to eat is a restaurant Poria. They are famous for their Khachapuri but in fact, all dishes are really good. Here is their Facebook Page.

Town Borjomi

Borjomi  is a resort town in south-central Georgia. 165 km from Tbilisi,  situated in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

The town is noted for its mineral water industry, the Romanov summer palace in Likani and the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Borjomi mineral water is particularly well-known in Georgia as well as other countries that were part of the former Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area’s mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

In the Middle Ages, the area of what is now Borjomi was part of the Tori province. It was populated by a series of forts guarding the strategic crossroad of routes leading to the western, eastern, and southern provinces of Georgia. Three important forts – those of “Gogia”, “Petra”, and “Sali” – still overlook the town from nearby hills. From the 16th century into the 19th, the area belonged to the noble family of Avalishvili, but was largely depopulated as a result of Ottoman inroads. 

After the Russian annexation of Georgia, the Borjomi area began to revitalize. The toponym Borjomi was first recorded in the 1810s. The town and its surroundings were placed under the Russian military authorities. Borjomi began receiving soldiers in the 1820s. Buildings and baths began going up in the 1830s. Later The viceroy Mikhail Vorontsov, fascinated by local landscape and mineral waters, made Borjomi his summer residence and refurnished it with new parks. Its warm climate, mineral water springs, and forests made Borjomi a favorite summer resort for the aristocracy, and gave it its popular name of “the pearl of Caucasus”

new hotels were built, and an administration for mineral waters was established. In 1871, Borjomi was bestowed upon the royal family member, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayvich, then the viceroy of the Caucasus. In the 1890s, Mikhail’s son, Nikolay, built a park and a chateau at Likani, at the western end of Borjomi. The bottled mineral waters began to be extensively exported.

Following the Red Army invasion of Georgia in 1921, the Soviet regime confiscated all aristocratic mansions and turned them into sanatoria, frequented by the Communist party elite.

Borjomi Central Park, a lush paradise in Georgia’s spa town, where nature, mineral springs, and family-friendly experiences abound. Dating back to 1850, the park occupies a narrow wooded valley and is home to the town’s original mineral water source, Ekaterina Spring.

you can sample the therapeutic waters of Ekaterina Spring, renowned for their healing properties and unique taste, and bring a bottle to take home a refreshing sip of Georgia’s iconic beverage!

Borjomi Central Park is a haven for family-friendly activities, from charming playgrounds to the panoramic Ferris wheel. Thrill-seekers can embark on adrenaline-fueled adventures in the park’s adventure zone, complete with zip lines and rope courses, while those seeking relaxation can unwind in the serene atmosphere of outdoor cafes. Nature enthusiasts will adore exploring the park’s verdant forest trails or venturing up to the nearby Borjomi Plateau for awe-inspiring vistas of the surrounding mountains. The park also houses the enchanting Borjomi Museum of Local History, offering a glimpse into the town’s fascinating past and the development of its famed mineral waters. 

Borjomi Cable Car – running since 1962, the cable car connects the popular tourist attraction of Borjomi Park with one of the highest points in the mountains surrounding it. The cable car provides you with a stunning view of the whole city, the park, Borjomi Valley, the Borjomula River, and the distant meadows

The Borjomi Cable Car can transport up to 25 people at one time, covering a distance of 376 meters.

nearby,  a Ferris wheel surrounded by pine forest is the most noticeable landmark atop the plateau, affording a pretty spectacular view of the city below. You’ll also find a small church from the Middle Ages, and a quaint cafe serving authentic Georgian cuisine, beer, wine, and other refreshments.

Borjomi Sulfur Pools
While wandering the verdant depths of Borjomi Park, you’ll have the opportunity to extend your exploration by taking an easy walking path found at the rear of the park. Following the meandering path of the Borjomula River for two kilometres, you’ll soon come to a series of outdoor sulfur pools. Locals and tourists alike regularly visit this popular landmark, where you can relax under the open sky.  Perfect for relaxing and having fun with friends and family, the Borjomi Sulfur Pools of various shapes and sizes give visitors an opportunity to unwind and experience the benefits of healing waters. With larger pools suitable for adults and smaller ones for children, it’s a perfect family activity. The warmest water can be found in the semi-circular pool. The area is well-equipped with modern conveniences such as showers and changing rooms. On average, the temperature of the water is between 32 and 38 degrees Celsius. The water that fills the pools has beneficial properties and has been found to help with issues of both the circulatory and endocrinological systems. The water is also recommended for people who suffer from issues of the spine or nervous system.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park – is located in the central part of Georgia and includes Imereti, Javakheti and Shida Kartli regions. Its total area is 107,083 hectares, which is more than 1% of the country’s territory. The National Park Administrative and Visitor Centers are located in Borjomi and Kharagauli.

The network of tourist routes in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park allows one and multi-day hikes and includes a total of 12 marked and well-maintained trails. Tourist shelters, picnic and camping places are arranged along the paths, and there are places for lighting fires.

Visitors to the national park area can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, cycling, snowshoeing, cultural and educational tours. 

Petre fortress is located in eastern Georgia, in the Borjomi municipality, directly opposite the village of Likani, on the right bank of the Mtkvari River, on a high rocky mountain. It is a medieval monument.

The former name of Peter’s Castle is believed to be Kverbili Castle. The castle belonged to the feudal family of Avalishvilis. It guarded the bridge and road over the Mtkvari River from Likani to the historical villages of Papi and Nuasa (now Borjomi city districts).

After the Ottomans conquered Tori in the 16th century, Peter’s Castle became an Ottoman administrative center. The castle consisted of a citadel and a lower courtyard connected to it. The remains of various buildings have survived between the walls of Peter’s Castle and the inner citadel, and in the inner citadel there are ruins of living halls, kharoebi, and qvevri. The ramparts are lined with battlements and battlements. The fortress has been renovated many times. In some places, the walls of the earlier Taraz order are visible. The settlement of Kverbili, with a church and a cemetery, is contemporary with them (XI-XII centuries) at the foot of the fortress.

Green Monastery

Green Monastery (St. George Monastery of Chitakhevi) is located a few kilometers from Borjomi, near the village of Chitakhevi, in the middle of a dense deciduous forest. Today, there is still a monastery here, where monks pray for the well-being of the country and the people. According to scientists, this 9th-century monument was built by the disciples of the famous Georgian figure, St. Grigol Khandzteli – Christopher and Theodore. It consists of three basilica-type churches and a bell tower, where the carvings characteristic of Georgian architecture are still clearly visible. The church is contemporary with the foundation of the monastery and dates back to the middle of the 9th century. It is built of roughly hewn stone and has almost no decoration. The bell tower is two-story, the first floor is a chapel, and the second floor is a luxurious carved pediment.

During the invasions of Shah Tamazight in the 16th century, the monastery was sacked, the monks were tortured and killed. Even today, on the territory of the monastery, you can see numerous traces of the miraculously incorruptible blood shed by the monks during the time of trouble. This is the greatest holiness of the temple, which time cannot diminish.

The Kvabiskhevi church of the Dormition also known as Mariamtsminda is a medieval Georgian Orthodox church, situated 2 km northwest of the village of Kvabiskhevi, Borjomi Municipality, in Georgia’s south-central region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. A three-nave basilica, the church was constructed in the 8th or 9th century on a high rocky mountain slope, overlooking the steep descent into the deep river canyon. The church is known for its 12th–13th-century fresco portrait of the young nobleman named Shota, who is popularly believed to be the contemporaneous epic poet Shota Rustaveli. The Kvabiskhevi church is inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia.

Kakhisi Lake is located on the western slope of the Trialeti Range, in the Borjomi Municipality. At 1752 m above sea level. Kakhisi Lake is one of the most popular and visited lakes in Georgia. The hiking season on the lake lasts from late spring to early autumn.

Kakhisi Lake is surrounded by a spruce forest, there are many picnic and camping sites here. Obtaining firewood is not a big problem, because there is a forest all around. There is also a summer village of Dabadzveli near the lake, and there is drinking water near the village. There are two more lakes near Kakhisi Lake, Chito and Tsero Lakes. Chito Lake is 1 km away from Kakhisi Lake, and Tsero Lake is 2 km away. Along the way, in the forest, in the summer, there are many berries, raspberries and blackberries. The trail is very easy and anyone can get here. The road from Dabadzveli to the nearest village, Chobiskhevi, is 8 km long, and only off-road vehicles can drive on it. If you are going up on foot, you can replace the serpentines with shorter paths and shorten the road.

Daba St. George’s Church is located in Borjomi municipality in the village of Daba. The Church in Daba is one of the ancient and the strongest churches of Georgia. It is sheltered in the dense forest and is not visible from the road. The church is covered halfway by a cave. This temple is a characteristic monument of Georgian architecture of the XIV century. The carved inscription on the west wall says that the Daba church was built by the head of the royal treasury of George V the Brilliant. (1333)

The temple with numerous ornaments is especially noticeable. The church is a hall type. It has two entrances, from the north and the west. The first entrance is simple and the second with its pane is decorated with ornaments and an arch frame.

There is a legend, according to which doors were made for the church several times but with no good result, as they always fell down.

Tsaghveri town in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region is a unique place to hike and improve your health. Resting in this cozy place is equally beneficial for adults and children. Tsagveri is an urban-type settlement and a climatic-balneological resort, located 20 kilometers from the famous resort Borjomi, 1,025-1,050 meters above sea level, in the middle of mountains covered with coniferous forests. Tsaghveri is known for its healing waters and mountainous climate rich with solar radiation and sated with the coniferous forest scent. These characteristics are helpful for the upper respiratory tract, bronchia, and lungs. The climate strengthens the immune system and noticeably reduces the frequency of illness. Tsaghveri has snowy winters and dry summers. The best time to visit is between May and September. 

Timotesubani Virgin Mary Monastery was built on the eve of the XII-XIII centuries in the village of Timotesubani, municipality of Borjomi. It was built by Shalva Eristavt-Eristavi Akhaltsikheli, the owner of the Tori.

The central temple is in the name of Virgin Mary and is Georgia’s one of the most important monuments. The dome is decorated with azure bricks. The height of the temple (with a cross) is 28 meters, width -19 meters and length- 11 meters. The windows on the north wall are built up and painted. Temple painting dates back to the years 1205-1215 (epoch of Queen Tamar) and is unique. We can say that the painting of the temple is one of the most sophisticated for its era. Most of the frescoes survived to our days.

On the northern terrace, there is a small single-nave basilica of Saint Barbara while to the northeast of the temple are the remains of a tomb made of stone.

Mitarbi – Ski resort in Borjomi Municipality (Bakuriani community), situated on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, 1640 meters above sea level. The resort Mitarbi was opened on December 25, 2016. It is located 7 kilometers away from Bakuriani, and 37 km away from Borjomi.

Three new ski lifts have already been installed by one of the leading manufacturers, “Doppelmayr”at Mitarbi resort.

Mitarbi I- Sixpack Chairlift Detachable

Mitarbi II- Quad Chairlift Fixed Grip

Mitarbi III- Cable car- T-Bar

Mitarbi Resort ski tracks are for all levels of skiers: intermediate, advanced and expert. The total length of the tracks is 10 km. Resort Mitarbi is connected to Kokhta Resort by cableway.

Kokhta – Ski resort in Borjomi Municipality ( Bakuriani community ), situated on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, 1640 meters above sea level. The resort Kokhta was opened on December 27, 2015. It is located 5 kilometers away from Bakuriani, and 35 km away from Borjomi.

Two cable cars are functioning on the resort- a 6 person seating with a rolling binding system – with an intermediate station. Kokhta Resort ski tracks are for all levels of skiers: average and experienced ones. The total length of the tracks is 3.1 km. Resort Kokhta is connected to Mitarbi Resort by cableway. 

Tabatskuri Lake

Tabatskuri Lake is a volcanic freshwater lake in southeastern Georgia, located between Borjomi and Akhalkalaki. It is known for its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. The lake is situated at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters, is up to 40 meters deep, and is surrounded by the Ktsia-Tabatskuri Managed Reserve

The village of Tabatskuri is located in the Aspindza Samtskhe-Javakheti region, in the Borjomi municipality, at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, on the shore of Lake Tabatskuri. Part of it is built on a peninsula. The local population is mainly engaged in dairy production, fishing and cattle breeding. The village of Tabatskuri, located on a peninsula protruding into the lake (2000 meters above sea level), the blue lake, open spaces and mountains create a beautiful sight. In addition to amazing views, in the village, you can see one of the most important examples of Georgian architecture, the 10th century Tabatskuri Red Church and the 19th century Armenian Church, the White Church of Tabatskuri. Tabatskuri is one of the great places in Samtskhe-Javakheti, with its diverse, impressive landscape and rich cultural monuments, to enjoy nature and relax. It is also often photographed by photographers due to its natural beauty and interesting location.

Tabatskuri is 60 km from Borjomi. It can be reached from two directions, from Akhalkalaki and Bakuriani. If you go beyond Bakuriani, a dirt road begins, which can be traveled by sedan, although caution is required. In winter and early spring, it is impossible to get to Tabatskuri from Bakuriani by car, the road is closed. The last section of the road from Akhalkalaki is also dirt and can be traveled by sedan. In winter, it is only possible to get to Tabatskuri from Akhalkalaki.