Kartli
Kartli (Georgian: ქართლი) – The historical region and modern administrative-territorial division in Eastern Georgia, the cradle of its statehood. The largest and most populous province in Eastern Georgia. The Georgian name of Georgia – Sakartvelo comes from this region, and both the ancient and modern capitals of Georgia – Mtskheta and Tbilisi – are located here. In the 4th-3rd centuries BC, the Kingdom of Kartli – ancient Iberia, which is mentioned in Greek and Roman historical sources – was formed. It was here in the early Middle Ages that the centralized Georgian state was formed, which for several centuries constituted the economic and cultural core of numerous feudal principalities.
In Kartli, which has always been the heart of the Georgian state, the life of the surrounding provinces was regulated. It was here that after the brutal wars that devastated this small country that stubbornly sought independence, the people were united, and Georgia, bleeding, was reborn from the ashes each time. Kartli occupies the central part of the Transcaucasian depression along the Kura valley and partially covers the southern spurs of the Greater Caucasus and the South Georgian Highlands. The main transport arteries connecting Georgia with other countries are concentrated here. According to natural features and historical destinies, this region was divided into two main parts: Shida (Inner) Kartli, occupying a central position in the country, and Kvemo (Lower) Kartli, located on the southeastern periphery.
Gori
Gori City (Georgian: გორი) – The administrative center of the region is one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Chronicles say that it existed since the beginning of the 3rd century, but archaeological finds show that the first urban settlements appeared there already in the 3rd century BC. The entire history of the city is closely connected with the struggle of the Georgian people for their native land. A characteristic feature of the location of the city is a huge rocky hill, which stands out sharply against the general relief of the area and occupies a dominant position over the plain.
Top attractions of Kartli:
Algeti National Park
Algeti National Park (Georgian: ალგეთის ეროვნული პარკი) – The national park is considered one of the most picturesque protected areas of Georgia, distinguished by its landscapes and biological diversity. The park was founded to protect the eastern borders, namely the Caucasian spruce and fir. The national park is an important base for scientific research, has great water conservation and resort significance. Here you can go horse riding, hiking, filming and take beautiful pictures against the backdrop of nature.
Birtvisi Canyons
Birtvisi Canyons (Georgian: ბირთვისის კანიონი) –The amazing and beautiful creation of nature is located near the Algeti National Park. It attracts climbers, trekkers and rock climbers. In the canyons there are ruins of fortifications, during the construction of which natural features were used. Birtvisi Waterfalls are a cascade of beautiful waterfalls and natural baths approximately 7 kilometers long. It is impossible to pass it completely without special equipment and the help of professional guides – canyoners.
Grakliani Hill
Grakliani Hill (Georgian: გრაკლიანი გორა) – Information about the archaeological site of Grakliani appears in the world’s leading scientific publications. A sensational discovery by archaeologists in Georgia has been scientifically confirmed: they discovered the oldest inscription in the country. The discovery completely changes the idea of historical events in the world. The inscriptions on the altar were found during excavations on Mount Grakliani. Laboratory studies have confirmed that the inscription was made at the end of the 11th century BC.
Gadachrili-Gora Hill
Gadachrili-Gora Hill (Georgian: გადაჭრილი გორა) – The archaeological site, a Neolithic settlement in the Kvemo Kartli region. An international team of archaeologists has convincingly shown that the people who lived at Gadachrili Mountain and in the surrounding villages were the earliest known winemakers in the world, producing wine on a large scale as early as 6000 BC, at a time when prehistoric people still relied on stone and bone tools.
Dmanisi (historical monument)
Dmanisi (historical monument) (Georgian: დმანისის ნაქალაქარი) – Represents the ruins of an ancient fortified city that arose around the 6th century BC and was a major trade and craft center of Georgia. The ancient city existed at the confluence of the Moshevani and Mashavera rivers, and its area was about 25 hectares. Archaeologists have found city gates, paved streets, baths, a tunnel to the river, residential buildings, trading stalls, wine cellars, a mosque with a minaret and a madrasah.
Dmanisi hominins (Dmanisi people)
Dmanisi Hominid (Georgian: ჰომო გეორგიკუსი) – Dmanisi archaeological site is an open-air museum that features an exhibition of fossils and an exposition of over two thousand historical finds. The age of the hominid remains found here is over 1.8 million years. This is the very first ancestor of modern man who left Africa and settled in the Caucasus Mountains, on the territory of modern Georgia. The discovery in Dmanisi is of global significance and is considered one of the main archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
Uplistsikhe Cave City
Cave city Uplistsikhe (Georgian: კლდეში ნაკვეთი უფლისციხე) – The cave city arose on the banks of the Mtkvari River at the end of the 2nd century BC. One of the rarest monuments in the world, the ancient city-fortress of Uplistsikhe, is completely carved out of the volcanic rocks of the Kvernaki Range. During its heyday, the cave complex united more than 700 cave structures. About 150 of them, as well as part of the fortress walls, have been preserved. The history of the unique complex spans approximately 3,000 years, which are formed by the eras of ups and downs.
Ancient city of Urbnisi
Ancient city of Urbnisi (Georgian: ურბნისის ნაქალაქარი)- Ancient city and one of the trade and craft centers of Georgia. According to written data, confirmed by archaeological excavations, Urbnisi arose in the 3rd millennium BC, on the site of more ancient settlements. It reached its heyday in the 1st-4th centuries AD. Archaeologists have found burials of the Early Bronze Age, the remains of a pagan temple of the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, a bathhouse, residential and outbuildings, a city wall with semicircular towers made of adobe bricks.
Surami Fortress
Surami Fortress (Georgian: სურამის ციხე) — Who and when built this fortress, which was considered impregnable at all times, is unknown. It is believed that the fortress was built on this site at the very beginning of the era of mature feudalism, when the Surami Eristaviate arose in Georgia. The fortress consisted of an upper and lower fortress. There is practically nothing left of the lower fortress, but the upper fortress has been preserved quite well and is one of the important tourist sites.
Goris-Tsikhe Fortress
Goris-Tsikhe Fortress (Georgian: გორის ციხე) — The historical Gori Fortress was erected in the center of Gori, on a high rocky hill. The fortress was of strategic importance, and its capture meant establishing control over Shida Kartli. The fortress has an oval shape. The western part – Tskhrakara – is better preserved. There are auxiliary fences on the southern and eastern sides. There are semicircular gates in the southern part of the fence.
Ateni Sioni
Ateni Sioni (Georgian: ატენის სიონი) — The domed church of Ateni Sioni is an early monument of the 7th century. It stands on the bank of the Ateni River, on top of a hill. The facade is decorated with carved quadrangular stones of greenish-gray color and richly decorated with ornaments. The walls of the church contain inscriptions of the early Georgian alphabet from the 9th-11th centuries. These inscriptions contain valuable historical information.
Bolnisi Sioni
Bolnisi Sioni (Georgian: ბოლნისის სიონი) – The church is one of the oldest in Georgia. It was built in the 5th century during the reign of King Vakhtang Gorgasali. An unusual structure without traditional elements of Georgian architecture. Its appearance is simple and laconic. The walls are covered with smooth agglomeration tiles and decorated with crosses of a unique shape, which became known as the Bolnisi crosses. The temple is interesting for its inscriptions, which are well-preserved ancient examples of Georgian writing.
Kintsvisi Monastery
Kintsvisi Monastery (Georgian: ყინწვისის მონასტერი) — The monastery is located on a hill in a mountainous area surrounded by forest. The main building of the monastery is the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 12th century during the reign of Queen Tamar, during the “golden era” of the Georgian state. The interior walls of the building are completely decorated with unusually beautiful paintings, brilliant, executed on an azure background. It is a remarkable and exceptional example of Georgian art of the Middle Ages.
Rkoni Monastery
Rkoni Monastery (Georgian: რკონის მონასტერი) — The Rkoni monastery complex is a pearl of the region, immersed in centuries-old secrets and historical events. The monastery is little known in Georgia itself. The main reason is its inaccessibility. People came here during enemy invasions and it was specially built in such a way that it was difficult to get to. Despite the difficult trials, the monastery complex continues to inspire with its grandeur and amazes with its diversity and sophistication.
*The full list of attractions in the region is presented in the section –Attractions