Ananuri fortress belongs to the early feudal era and served as an outpost of defense, blocking the road leading from the Daryal Gorge. Ananuri belonged to one of the most powerful feudal families of late medieval Georgia - Aragvi Dukes. Ananuri served as the main supporting point for the formidable Aragvi Dukes, the rulers of this land. Unfortunately, out of the whole complex of the large castle only the citadel was preserved.

Jinvali RESERVOIR was finished in 1985, when, during, construction of Zhinvali HPP the river Aragvi was dammed. To do this, by the way, several villages were submerged. According to the rumors they are still at the bottom of the reservoir. HPP plays a very important role in the Georgian energy system, producing 484 million kW/h of electricity a year, and the water reservoir itself supplies drinking water to the towns of Mtskheta, Tbilisi and Rustavi.

GUDAURI is a small tourist center and ski resort located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range Georgia, along the Georgian Military Highway, near the Cross Pass (2379 m above sea level).

Ski season begins in December and lasts until April, the average thickness of the snow cover in winter reaches up to 1.5 meters. Tracks are equipped with lifts, lower station is situated at the altitude of 1990 meters, and the top one at the altitude of 3307 meters (the highest points are Mt Sadzele & Mt. Kudebi)

Gergeti Sameba is an amazing temple. This is a rare case of a temple in the mountains, at an altitude of 2170 meters above sea level. It’s an unusual combination of architecture and snow, with a background of the glaciers of Kazbek. In July crowds gather here for the festival of Gergetoba.

The temple is austere inside. No murals or even plaster, walls are made of stone blocks. It’s a bit dark, because there’s no electricity and the windows are pretty narrow. The iron door with metal rings is an interesting sight.

One interesting detail about this church: the fundament of the church must be attributed to the very distant past, when all the churches in Georgia were put in place the pagan temples in honor of St. Stefan. This probably can explain the strange fact that the pagan idol (carefully concealed by the local clergy) is stored in the temple. It is a silver ram, rather primitive and rough, which is saved on a stone altar, wrapped in epitrahil. 

 

 

For travelers who chose this route.

Tour to Kazbegi is a specific route and is interesting in good weather, regardless of the time of the year. Kazbegi and its nature are beautiful and original throughout all four seasons.