If you decide to visit Georgia and have only daily plans, Kakheti is the best choice. I think that the best time to visit this place is Autumn because nature is the most impressive. It is a region formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is the capital of Kakheti.
There are about 320,000 inhabitants in Kakheti nowadays. During the last half-century, its population has been growing slowly, driven by moderate natural growth and migration from the village to the city. The national composition of Kakheti is not diverse. Most of them (85%) are Georgians. There are Azeris, Kists, Ossetians, Russians, and Armenians too.
The region comprises eight administrative districts and one of the best in Signagi. You can begin day trips in Georgia from there. Tourists love this place because there are pastel houses and narrow, cobblestone streets. Signagi overlooks the vast Alazani Valley, with the Caucasus Mountains visible at a distance. Sighnaghi was considered a royal fatherland like Telavi.
Signagi
In 2005-2008 Signagi was updated by the president of Georgia and became a couple’s and tourist’s lovely place. Because of it, Signagi called as “City of love” Not only Tourists go there with great pleasure. Georgian people, da couples go there too, from Tbilisi and other parts of Georgia. There is a wedding house in 2008 and it works 24 hours. There are narrow streets, colorful houses, and wooden balconies. It is one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Its name is from Turkish and means “shelter”.
Signagi is the most beautiful city for now in Kakheti. It’s in the heart of the Kakheti region. Its charm is due to its timeless architecture, as well as its natural location: the city is situated in a hilly area overlooking the expanse of Alazani Valley and the ridges of the Caucasus.
If you have enough time, one of the seeing places is the Signagi Museum. Many important and valuable paintings are there. You can find rich collections of paintings of Niko Pirosmanashvili and Lado Gudiashvili. Both of them were very famous Georgian painters. The museum also features permanent exhibits of archeological, ethnographic and medieval art. There’re work tools and musical instruments too. The price of the ticket is very cheap and available.
There are too many restaurants and cafes in Signagi, with delicious food and Georgian traditional dishes, such as Khachapuri, Khinkali, Mtsvadi and so on.
After Signagi you can visit Alaverdi. Cathedral and Monastery. Center of the Diocese of Alaverdi. It’s located on the Alazani Valley Alaverdi (Akhmeta Municipality), 20 km from Telavi. Alaverdi Monastery was founded by Joseph Alaverdeli in the middle of the VI century. Alaverdi Temple has been damaged many times from earthquakes.
The church is one of the largest church buildings in Georgia. The building plan is based on three crosses. Extensive rains caused significant damage to the temple in June 2011. There are incredibly beautiful nature da greenness.
Then it will be better to go to Shuamta. Shuamta is two kinds. New Shuamta and Old Shuamta. New Shuamta is near Telavi, on the Tsivgombori mountain. The new church was founded by queen of Kakheti, who was the nun and she had been buried there.
The old Shuamta is farther from Kakheti then New Shuamta, it’s 7 kilometers from there, but it is more beautiful than the new one. It’s in the forest. The monastery complex includes the basilica of the V century, one of the most remarkable examples of Christian architecture in Georgia.
Cycling Tour To The Wonderful Kakheti
Kakheti is a stunning place for bike tours. It’s one of the comfortable locations for cycling in Georgia. You can be sure, that the experience will give you high impressions. It would be great for an experienced or a beginner cyclist. You can ride in the villages, in the forest, sceneries of mountains and rivers. It’ll be the best part of day trips in Georgia.
You need maybe 5 days for that.
Arrival from Tbilisi. On the first day, you can see Ujarma Castle, it’s top of Gombori Mountain. After that, it is a great sighting in Shuamta. Unforgettable nature and gorgeous views. Next, you can visit Telavi, Ikalto Academy, Alaverdi Monastery. Then it’ll be better if you go to see Gremi, Kvareli. Gremi is settled on a high hill. It had been built by the King of Kakheti in 1565. The temple had a fence, which was very important in war times.
There is a bath in Gremi, which Intended for foreigners arriving in Gremi. The bath was used for a long time. It has two floors: the first floor was intended for heat and the second floor for bathing.
Kakheti is the place where are the unique vineyards. Kakhetian wine is the most famous and has a great taste. Everyone loves to drink it and tries to buy some bottles for them and for presents too. So, you can taste too many kinds of wine, red, white and various wines. But you must know that not only Kakheti is famous with delicious wine, but Georgia is also wine country.
People are very hospitable there. Everyone works very hard, but smile every time. They can invite you to their houses or gardens. Especially old people are very kind and generous. In general, Georgian people are very hospitable too.
The most important sightseeing is DavitGareja where is the incredible monastery cave complex and many extraordinarily located churches and castles, both of them are ruined and restored. A very little part of DavitGareja is on The territory of Azerbaijan and two monasteries “Udabno” and “Chichkhituri” are controversial with Azerbaijan for now.
In the first half of the fourteenth century, when the king was Giorgi V, DavitGareja became a powerful political and economic center.
The appearance of the monasteries of Davitgareja in this period is very different from the monasteries of earlier times.
Finally, we can say that the adventure would be perfect in a beautiful Kakheti!
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