Heading out of Rustavi, just 25 km (15 miles) from Gardabani, is David Gareja, a monastery that is one of the most unique and interesting sights of Georgia, on par with the cave cities of Vardzia and Uplistsikhe and the ancient city of Ushguli. Also read: My complete packing list for Georgia. Founded in 1185 by Queen Tamar it served as a protection of the fearsome and brutal Mongols who slaughtered people at the time. Queen Tamar who was crowned “King” was the most famous woman in Georgian history This is when you’re most likely to encounter large groups of tourists. The intricacies of Vardzia are a treat to explore close-up, but it’s difficult to appreciate the sheer scale of the complex when you’re inside. If you want a lift in the minivan from the ticket booth to the main entrance (recommended), it costs an additional 2 GEL per person. If you’re visiting Vardzia independently, you have the option to hire a private guide for 45 GEL or an audio guide for 15 GEL. I’ve been out for the past few days – and the next few – seeing some amazing sights in Georgia with @karavanly.official, which is taking us to some outstanding experiences, many of which are truly off the beaten track. Legend says the duo gave the site its name – Vardzia sounds like c var dzia, or ‘I am here, uncle’, a phrase apparently uttered by a young Tamar after she got lost in the caves. I strongly recommend carrying your own lightweight scarf rather than using a communal one. In that time, the country had a strong queen named Tamar who ordered to built a city in the caves in the southern part of the country, hidden in the mountains. It was completely abandoned in the 16th century and left untouched until excavations began in the Soviet era. Georgia; David Gareja; David Gareja, Georgia. Apothecary – Located on one of the upper levels and visible from the path, the apothecary was used to make and store tinctures. 10- David Gareja Monastery, Georgia. Your email address will not be published. Qafthanë Cave Church, cave church near Urakë, Albania. To get back to Akhaltsikhe from Vardzia, marshrutky depart from the complex entrance near the cafes at 9am, 1pm and 3pm. Twenty-five wine cellars. Both church and narthex are painted; these paintings are of "crucial significance in the development of the Medieval Georgian mural painting". Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aeab281a055468514ba942965d6d5970" );document.getElementById("fd9248653d").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I'm Emily, an Australian writer and photographer with a passion for the Caucasus, Southeast Asia and the Balkans. Today, it is rebuilt and open to visitors. Vardzia is a huge cave monastery complex in Southern Georgia dating to the twelfth century. While it’s possible to go there and back using public transport in a day, it’s a very tight turnaround and you might only have an hour in Vardzia. For the best landscapes and thinner crowds, I recommend visiting either in late spring (May) or autumn (late September through October). It’s possible to borrow a wrap-around apron skirt at the entrance. The Dry Bridge art market . [2][6] In 1999 Vardzia-Khertvisi was submitted for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a Cultural Site in accordance with criteria ii, iii, iv, v, and vi. It’s a bit hard to distinguish the concrete shack – just look for the white sign that reads ‘Swimming Pool’. Pilgrims can fill their bottles with the healing holy water from a special container nearby. The rounded holes in the floor are the remains of bread ovens; the narrow channel was used to direct smoke from the wood fire. If you plan to stay in the nearby town of Akhaltsikhe, I highly recommend Guesthouse Old Street, which is located in a heritage home halfway up the hill towards Rabati Castle. If you plan to travel back to Tbilisi or Kutaisi on the same day, make sure you don’t miss the last van. [5] Episodes from the life of Christ occupy the vaults and upper walls in a sequence, starting with the Annunciation, followed by the Nativity, Presentation in the Temple, Baptism, Transfiguration, Raising of Lazarus, Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, Washing of the Feet, Crucifixion, Harrowing of Hell, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit, and Dormition (the church is sometimes known as the Church of the Assumption, which corresponds with the Orthodox Feast of the Dormition). Vardzia : Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Georgia’s Curious Cave City 30 January 2019. Tickets cost 12 GEL, and the trip takes around 3.5 hours. Sign up for FREE today. Taxis can be difficult to come by. The Mongol and the Persian armies destroyed David Gareja at different times in history. The main period of construction was the second half of the twelfth century. Tickets cost 5 GEL and should be purchased inside the station building before you board. In the eastern part of the complex are seventy-nine separate cave dwellings, in eight tiers and with a total of 242 rooms, including six chapels, "Tamar's Room", a meeting room, reception chamber, pharmacy, and twenty-five wine cellars; 185 wine jars sunk into the floor document the importance of viticulture to the monastic economy. While you can comfortably see Vardzia in as little as an hour, you should budget 2 hours to walk through the caves at a steady pace. [5], A number of documentary sources supplement the knowledge derived from the site's physical fabric. Learn more. Entrance to Vardzia now costs 15 GEL. Copyright © 2015-2021 Emily Margaret Naughton Lush. Women must also cover their hair inside the church. Water appears to seep from the rock walls, filling a deep pond drop by drop (hence the name). The Bell Tower – The first structure you come to as you enter the complex, the Bell Tower juts out from the cliff face and offers stunning views of the caves stretched out before you. high. The cave monastery ensured that the Mongols could not attack Georgia but sadly, it could not protect the people from a natural calamity. This leg of the trip takes 1.5 hours. [7], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}41°22′31″N 43°15′27″E / 41.37528°N 43.25750°E / 41.37528; 43.25750, Historical Georgian monasteries and churches, National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, "Vardzia Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve", "Evaluations of Cultural Properties by ICOMOS (2001)", "Vardzia: Preserving the Wall Paintings of Georgia", Vardzia Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vardzia&oldid=1001775905, Religious organizations established in the 1180s, Buildings and structures in Samtskhe–Javakheti, Tourist attractions in Samtskhe–Javakheti, Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia, Articles containing Georgian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 January 2021, at 07:52. Tickets cost 4 GEL. Vardzia (Georgian: ვარძია) is a cave monastery site in southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Kura River, thirty kilometres from Aspindza. A taxi from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia costs around 50 GEL return. This Vardzia guide, updated and accurate for 2021, will help you make the most of your trip to Georgia’s famous cave city. There were at least 25 wine cellars, plus a nunnery on the upper level. Vanis Kvabebi – Just 3.5km from Vardzia, Vanis Kvabebi is another (much smaller) cave complex set back from the river. The spiritual significance of the David Gareja Monastery was noted not only in Georgia, but also outside its borders. Only in Georgia - Download from over 153 Million High Quality Stock,. Of millions of premium high-resolution Stock Photos, vector Images and illustrations away into the side of cliff! Water from a special container nearby Vardzia costs around $ 50 return, 1pm and 3pm Vardzia Absolutely... 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