Telavi (Georgia) – this small but incredibly cozy town with a population of only 20 thousand inhabitants is called the” heart ” of Kakheti. Here wine rivers flow, cordiality and hospitality reign, and the rare beauty of nature fascinates. The heart of many tourists stays in this place forever. Let’s take a trip to Telavi together.
General information
The historical capital of Kakheti has been known since the 1st century AD, at that time it was a major center of trade, located on the route of caravans that brought goods from the East to Europe.
The settlement is located in the north-east direction from the capital, in the Alazani Valley. The distance from Tbilisi to Telavi is 95 km (by highway). The geographical location is unique-in the historical part of Georgia, between the valleys of two rivers, on the slopes of the picturesque Tsivi-Gombor range. Tourists note the surprisingly clean and fresh air, because the settlement is located at an altitude of almost 500 m. The town became popular after the release of the film Mimino. Telavi is recognized as the country’s wine center, but other industries are actively developing in addition to wine production enterprises.
If you are not indifferent to the picturesque grandeur of nature, like to walk through ancient ruins and want to taste delicious Georgian wine, Telavi is waiting for you.
City attractions
Alaverdi Monastery Complex
Among the sights of Telavi, the most striking is the Alaverdi monastery complex. On its territory is one of the highest cathedrals of the country – St. George. In 2007, the cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Alaverdi was founded by Christian missionaries who came to Georgia. The cathedral was built by the monarch Kvirike III in the first half of the 11th century. As a result of military events and earthquakes, the building was destroyed and restored many times, and in 1929 the complex was completely destroyed by the Soviet authorities.
Today on the territory of the complex you can visit the Cathedral of St. George, buildings of economic significance, a wine cellar. The height of the cathedral is 50 m, in Georgia only Tsminda Sameba in Tbilisi is higher than it. Despite the destruction, the landmark has retained its original appearance, unfortunately, many icons and church valuables have been lost. Nevertheless, Alaverdi is a prime example of ancient Georgian architecture.
There is a dress code on the territory of the complex: men should wear long sleeves and cover their knees, women should wear a long skirt, cover their shoulders and cover their head. It is possible to rent appropriate clothing before entering.
The cathedral is located 20 km from Telavi, 10 km from the Telavi-Ahmeta highway. The most convenient way to get here is by private or rented car. Entrance to the territory is free of charge.
Gremi Castle
Located near the city of Telavi. The castle is built on the banks of the Inzob River. You can view it here:
- Church of the Archangels;
- the bell tower;
- palace.
Unfortunately, not much remains of the majestic and once luxurious city that stood on the Great Silk Road and was famous during the Middle Ages.
In the middle of the 15th century, Gremi received the status of the state capital of Kakheti, and the temple was considered the center of Christianity. At the beginning of the 17th century, the city was destroyed by Iranian soldiers and the city of Telavi received the status of the capital.
On the territory of the ancient castle you can see:
- fortress walls that represent an original architectural ensemble;
- burial place of King Levan;
- ruins – market, houses, baths, swimming pools;
- ancient wine cellar;
- ancient underground passage;
- a palace that has a museum.
The temple is active, services are held here, inside it is decorated with unique frescoes, images of monarchs and faces of saints.
The castle is open every day (Monday off). Opening hours are from 11-00 to 18-00. You can get there by any transport that goes in the direction of Telavi from Kvareli, also located in the Alazani valley. The distance to Tbilisi is almost 150 km. The cost of tickets varies, so it is better to check it on the website.
Dzveli Shuamta, or Old Shuamta
Another bright attraction in Telavi (Georgia), located in the Gombor Mountains. The date of the monastery’s foundation is unclear.
From an architectural point of view, the attraction consists of three ancient temples built in the period from the 5th to the 7th centuries. They are located in a picturesque forest clearing. Here it is incredibly quiet and peaceful, easy to breathe, tourists often stop for a picnic. To get to the monasteries, you need to follow the 2 km dirt road from the Telava highway.
- The basilica. Zala church with a gate in the opposite walls, thanks to this building you can go through and find yourself in front of the next building-the cross church.
- A large monastery. The building is an exact repetition of Jvari, the only differences are in size and lack of decorations. This is one of the first domed monasteries in Kakheti. An interesting fact is that a few years ago the dome was pyramidal, but today it is completely flat. It is not known who changed the architecture of the building and for what reasons.
- Maly monastery. The building looks quite simple and even boring. However, there are several monasteries with similar architecture in the country.
Getting to Old Shuamta is easy. There is a sign on the Telavi highway. When driving from Telavi, you will find a hotel with the name “Chateau Mer”, after a few kilometers turn to the sights. If you are commuting from the capital, turn around 5.5 km after the Turdo River Bridge. Admission is free – come and take a walk.
Qvevri Jug and Wine Museum
You can also take a walk through the monasteries and temples with a visit to the colorful, private museum of Kvevri Jars and Wine, located in the small village of Napareuli. The founders of the museum are the twin brothers Gia and Gela, who revived the family wine-making traditions. They created the Gemini Wine House company.
The museum is intimate, cozy and very interesting. The entire process of producing traditional Georgian alcoholic beverages is clearly demonstrated here. Believe me, after visiting this attraction, you will feel like an expert in winemaking.
The original exhibit is a huge qvevri jug, inside which you can go. Here they tell amazing stories about wine jugs, about the peculiarities of their use in Georgia. Dishes are made by hand, this is a long and painstaking process. It is necessary to choose the clay correctly, prepare it in a special way. The production process takes place in closed rooms with constant climatic conditions. Pitchers are fired, covered with beeswax and lime, and only then lowered into the cellar in a specially prepared pit. Now go to the preparation of grapes. Wine is stored in a sealed container for 5 to 6 months. After that, two drinks are scooped out of the kvevri-wine and chacha.
In the museum you can not only see everything visually, but also taste and buy alcoholic products.
Getting to the museum is easy – follow routes 43 and 70 from Telavi in a northerly direction. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes. As for the cost of a visit, it depends on what services you are interested in:
- museum tour – GEL 17 for adults, GEL 5 for schoolchildren, admission is free for children under 6 years old;
- wine tasting – GEL 17;
- participation in the grape harvest – GEL 22.
The museum’s opening hours are from 9:00 to 22:00 every day. Official website — www.cellar.ge
On a note! 70 km from Telavi is the charming village of Sighnaghi with bright tiled roofs. Find out what to see in it and what is interesting about it on this page.
Batonis Tsikhe Fortress
If you want to know what to see in Telavi, pay attention to the Batonis Tsikhe fortress, located in the center of the town. The architectural landmark was built in the 17th century and was originally the residence of the monarchs of Kakheti. Translated from Georgian, the name means-the lord’s fortress. On the territory of the historical complex you can see:
- the fortress wall;
- palace;
- churches;
- an ancient bathhouse;
- an art gallery;
- ethnographic museum.
There is also a monument to the former monarch Heraclius II.
The fortress is located at the address-Telavi (Georgia), 1 Irakli II Street. The historical complex is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10-00 to 18-00. The entrance fee will be charged:
- for an adult in GEL 2;
- to the student in 1 GEL;
- to a student in GEL 0.5.
Telavi Wine Cellar
It is located in the Kakheti region near Telavi. Various Georgian wines are produced and bottled here: Tsinandali, Akhasheni, Vazisubani, Kindzmarauli.
The history of the company began in 1915 and still the production technology is based on ancient wine-making traditions. Wine is stored and infused in earthenware containers-kvevri, buried in the ground. Today it is a modern, modernized company, where ancient recipes and technologies are combined with sophisticated, innovative equipment. Here recipes of Georgian wine and European recipes are skillfully intertwined – alcohol is infused in oak barrels.
Telavi Wine Cellar has won dozens of awards for its products in domestic and international competitions around the world, as they pursue a mission to spread Georgia’s rich wine traditions to global markets.
Telavi wine cellar is located in Kurdgelauri village.
Climate and weather
Telavi has a mild, warm climate, and you can relax here all year round. You will always be greeted by hospitable people and pleasant weather. The air temperature in summer ranges from +22 to +25 degrees. Warm weather persists from April to October. In winter, the minimum air temperature is 0 degrees. The rainiest months are May and June.
It is important! Considering that the city is located at an altitude of almost 500 meters, it is always fresh and incredibly clean air. The colors of Telavi are especially bright and saturated.
How to get to Telavi
To get to Telavi, you will first have to fly to Tbilisi by plane. How to get from Tbilisi to Telavi-let’s look at several ways. There are no trains in this direction, but there are other options.
By bus
From the airport building you can reach Isani Metro Station. Next to the metro is the Ortachala Bus Station, from which you can take a shuttle bus to Telavi. Minibuses depart from 8: 15 to 17: 00 as they fill up. The fare is GEL 8. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours.
By car
Another possible way to get to Telavi is to rent a taxi from Isani station. A one-way trip will cost GEL 110-150. The road takes only 1.5 hours, because drivers take a short route, go straight through a mountain pass, while minibus drivers take a detour.
Transport in Kakheti
The most comfortable way to get around Kakheti and the Alazani Valley is by private transport. Many tourists prefer to ride a car or even a motorcycle. If you don’t have your own transport, you can use other methods.
- Minibuses. The slowest and most inconvenient transport, because the route taxi does not travel regularly.
- Hitchhiking. This is a very convenient and fast method, especially if you consider that hitchhiking is common in Georgia. If you are sociable and brave enough, you can easily see all the sights not only in Telavi and the surrounding area, but also in the whole of Georgia.
- Tourist tour to Georgia. Similar tours can be purchased at agencies or the hotel where you are staying.
- You can try to find a car with a driver who will agree to arrange a sightseeing tour for you. The average cost of a trip will be from 110 to 150 GEL.
- If you live in a private house, the owners can help you find transport and a driver.
- Just go to any taxi driver in the city and arrange a ride.
Interesting facts
- The oldest tree in Georgia, the Sycamore tree, grows in the center of Telavi. It is more than eight hundred years old.
- Joseph Stalin’s father died in Telavi.
- The inauguration of the fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, took place in the Telavi fortress.
A trip to Telavi (Georgia) is a trip to an amazingly beautiful place, a world of ancient architecture, warm sun and friendly people. Telavi is the center of Georgian winemaking, only here you will learn all the nuances of wine making and taste it. Come and enjoy.
Discover Sighnaghi: Georgia’s Romantic City in the Kakheti Wine Region
