Telavi is the “heart” of Kakheti, the historical region of Georgia, where wine flows like water, ornate toasts and the indispensable hospitality of local residents touch to the core, and the rare beauty of nature and the number of historical sights make you leave your vital organ here once and for all. So that later you will certainly return for him… But these are all lyrics, and here are the facts. Telavi has been known since the 1st century AD. e., it was a major trading center on the caravan route from the Middle East to Europe. For more than half a thousand years it was the capital of the Kakhetian kingdom, and is still considered the main city of modern Kakheti.
When Georgians say “Telavi”, they first of all mean wine. After all, it is the Kakhetian wines that are produced in the vicinity of the city that are famous all over the world – these are Kindzmarauli, Saperavi, and Akhasheni. Well, tourists, not forgetting to empty a glass or two, appreciate in Telavi its ancient castle, as well as important cultural architectural monuments that are scattered around – for example, the Alaverdi temple, the Ikalto monastery, the complex of Shuamta monasteries or the cult complex of Bodbe. For Georgia climate and geography, please check TopPharmacySchools.
How to get there
In the “city of Mimino” there is the Telavi airport, which was abandoned for twenty years, recently reconstructed, but only as a training area for future pilots. So from Russia, the easiest way is to first fly to Tbilisi, and only then take a bus (Ortachala bus station) or a minibus (about 2-2.5 hours on the way). But it is better to rent a car and drive personally, as the number of beauties that will open along the way and the many opportunities for radial excursions from Telavi will more than cover the cost of rent. Minibuses to Alaverdi, Ikalto and other places, of course, run, but it is almost impossible to find out the exact schedule, plus there are several bus stations in the city – specify which one you need (the cost of travel to nearby attractions, as a rule, does not exceed 5 GEL). Prices on the page are for July 2021.
When Georgians say “Telavi”, they first of all mean wine. After all, it is the Kakhetian wines that are produced in the vicinity of the city that are famous all over the world – these are Kindzmarauli, Saperavi, and Akhasheni.
Hotels
Tourism in Georgia is developing by leaps and bounds and the construction boom has reached Telavi. For example, a first-class hotel of the pretentious Rcheuli Marani chain opened not so long ago. On the heels of him comes the hotel “Old Telavi”. In addition, you can find an extremely nice and budget-friendly option for a guesthouse – both in the city itself and in its environs. Cheaper, of course, will be outside the city, for example, in the popular Nazi guesthouse (Pankisi Gorge) or in the guesthouse of Iza Bekauri.
Entertainment and attractions of Telavi
Despite its small size, Telavi is literally crammed with sights. But the main one is, of course, the castle of Erekle II. A well-shaped strong fortress with towers, inside which there is a house-museum in which Heraclius II was born and raised, as well as a temple, an observation deck with amazing views of the Alazani Valley and several other buildings.
The Telavi fortress is called “Batonis-tsikhe” by the people.
In front of the fortress there is a monument to Erekle II, who “looks” at the road leading to Gurjaani and Sighnaghi. In the film “Mimino” (many shots of which were made in Telavi), a truck stops next to him and asks where the helicopter airfield is. To the south of the square with the monument is a plane tree about 800 years old – this is the oldest “inhabitant” of the city.
But to the west of the memorial to Heraclius II, the 600 m long avenue of the same name begins, which ends with a bridge over the river. This is the center of social life in Telavi, where there are a lot of cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as the building of the city administration.