The Prometheus Cave

Translated by Eka Soselia

photo by Oliko Tsiskarishvili

The Prometheus Cave is located in the cillage of Kumistavi of the Tskaltubo municipality.The cave was discovered in June, 1984. Its elevation equals to 100 meters above sea level.  Its entrance covers the area of 200-250 sq. ,eters and falls up to 40 meters in depth. The cave entrance is about 2.5-3 metres high, with a width of 4 metres. There is the Orpiri cave on the opposite side, which is up to 35 metres long and has similar way out. Tere is the Opicho Cave, 600 metres apart from the Orpiri cave.

 

Ikalto

Avtor and reporter: Oliko Tsiskarishvili

Translated by Eka Soselia

Ikalto medieval monastery ensemble is in Kaxeti, 7-8 km away from Telavi. There is some small domed church. This ensemble Included:Winepress – VIII century; Sameba (Trinity) temple – XI century; Theological Academy – VII-IX centuries. :

 

Leghvtakhevi

Author and reporter

Gioegi Zedginidze ans Shalva Mamukashvili

Translated by Nutsa Shubitidze

A few people know about Leghvtakhevi. I doubt that people living in Tbilisi know much about it, not to say about people living abroad. One of the historical-geographical regions of old Tbilisi Leghvtakhevi, Dabakhana, Dabaghkhana, was situated in the south part of the city. Today Krtsanisi region is located in the territory (A botanical garden was included in the area). Due to many fig trees the beautiful place was called Leghvtakhevi (leghvi-fig).

 

Gudauri – mountain ski resort

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

Gudauri mountain ski resort is located on the south slope of the Caucasus Mountains. The trip from Tbilisi to Gudauri takes two hours. Ski season lasts from winter to spring.

 In 1988 the first ski lift was built and after that the resort developed little by little. There are five ski lifts and many ski routs in Gudauri.  Nearly 16 km length rout works from 10.00 to 17.00 o’clock. Gudauri is recognized as a significant mountain-skiing resort. It has the most comfortable and technically developed infrastructure. Despite high prices Gudauri has many foreign visitors as well as locals. The slopes of Gudauri are completed above the tree line. The ski lifts are built by Austrian company Doppelmayr. . There are five lifts- three chairs lift, four chairs lift, five chairs lift and one Gondola. Gudauri contains several routs. The first lower station is at 1990 m above sea level and the last top station is at 3270 m called Sadzele. The length of the longest downhill run is 7 km.

 

Hatsvali- Mountain-Ski resort without tourists

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

Hatsvali is situated 8 km from Mestia. The road goes through pine forest.  It has the potential to become the most favorable winter tourism destination in Georgia. It is already three years since two 400 meters long skiing track has started working. The tracks have European standards. Hatsvali didn’t have tourists when we visited it.

 

On the way to Svaneti

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili end

Salome Tavdgiridze

Svaneti has a long history. This is the region where serfdom was never established. Svans never fought against enemies and they let no one dominate in the area. Today they still follow their traditions, customs and rules. 

 

Svaneti-Mestia

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

I was lucky to go to Mestia with a tourist company “Onlygeorgia”. It is 470 km from Tbilisi to Mestia. The road is very important for Svans. Since there was no road for years they were isolated from the outside world. Despite a good road, passengers have to be careful, as they might meet landslides on the road. Due to snow we couldn’t visit Ushguli.

 

Bakuriani – for Medical and Eco-tourism lovers

Author Amalia Ambarcumiani

reporter Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

Bakuriani is one of the winter resorts in Georgia. Winter months are snowy. Sometimes it snows from December to March. The history of Bakuriani starts from Borjomi. Borjomi mineral water became popular in XIX century for its medical features. In 1890 Industrial bottling of “Borjomi” started. In 1898-1901 Borjomi-Bakuriani a narrow railroad was built. Bakuriani is built up by the lava flows from the Mukheri volcano. The region around Bakuriani is covered with coniferous forests. In 1902-1910 a Botanical garden was built on Kokhta Gora slope under the direction of Rolov and Phomin.

 

Tusheti – Parsma

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

According to archival records, Parsma is a central village of Pirikita community. Parsma ruins are situated in Tusheti, in hostorica Piriqita (Aghma) community. The village is 40km away from village Omalo, on the left bank of Alazani. The tower (Tsverianitsikhe) is built by Kist father-son from Bauli. Kist often helped with building towers in peaceful time. There is icon of St. Teodore in Parsma, a cult of the monument in the south-east of Parsma. It was built late middle ages. The tower is rectangular (5.3X4.8m), built dry with slates. It is damaged and needs restoration. At Quchu mountain pass you will meat stones, thrown down by Murtazi. He was thought to be a leader of the community and the stones were probably thrown down by his army. The stones are called “Jarisqvanagrovebi” (stones collected by the army).

 

Tusheti – Dochu

Author and reporter

Oliko Tsiskarishvili

translated by Tinatin Bujiashvili

Dochu is a village in Tusheti. It used to be uninhabited village not too long ago. According to the data of 2002, the village had only one inhabitant. Though, when we visited the village, there were a few families. Fortunately they had started restoration-reconstruction of their dwelling. They had also started reconstruction of the foundation. In the centre of the village there was a guest house for tourists. We advised strayed Jewish tourists, we met on the way, to stay overnight there.
Dochu is located on 2050m above sea level, on the south slope of watershed (Makratela) Tusheti Alazani and Priqiti Alazani.