Kakheti tour

Kakheti tours are published on my site. check out:
3 day tour in Kakheti, one day tour and wine tour.

Khornabuji castle

 


Khornabuji Castle also known as Tamara's castle, In Dedoplistskaro district was built on edge of Gombori range on rocks masive aproximatly at end of I millenium BC. It controls enterences to Alazani and Ivri valleys. Near caste there is site of ancient settelment, which was described by known greek historical Strabon.
In V century, during times of Vakhtang Gorgasali, Khornabuji was one of the bigest cities in Kakheti region.
In XIII centuri Qween Tamara rebuilded castle and city of Khornabuji was playing very important role in that district.
City was ruined and became decert in XVII century, when Shah Abas ravaged Kakheti and ruined many of it's cities and resetteles more than 100 000 local people to Iran.
Last time castle was rebuilded by king Erekle II, but city life never was renewed.
Near Caste id located town Signagi, which is one of the most visited by tourists towns in Kakheti and Town Dedoplistskaro. From Dedoplistskaro to Khornabuji leads rtouristical trail, which it 4 km lenth.
Castle today is located on territory of Vashlonvani National Park.
From top of castle is very good view on almost all Alazani and Ivri valleys and Caucasus range.
Visit of Khornabuji can be combined with vine tours in south Kakheti region and with Signagi trip.

Photo made in January 2009



March 2009

November 2009

View from Khornabuji to Alazani valley and Caucasus

Eagle canyon

 Eagle canyon is located near town Dedoplistskaro in south Kakheti. Canyon belongs to Vashlovani protected area. It is very easy to hike to canyon from town and return back the same day by foot. It is one of touristical routes of Vashlovani national park. Here are many endemic plants, this is also perfect place for bird watching. Canyon  is available all year, but best time to visit is May - June, at flowering season.

  

Nearby is unexplored archaeological site. And rocks of canyon care footprints of old times when this area was covered by water.

Photos made in March 2009

In canyon there are several waterfalls.

If the weather is good, then from canyon is good view on Great Caucasus range. But I wasn't lucky.

 

It is recommended to go there with guide from national park. Administration of Vashlovani national park is in town Dedoplistskaro.
Useful contact information:
+99577101817 Vaja - organizes tours in National park, not only in Eagle canyon.
+99599196335 Neli - runs guest house in Dedoplistskaro.

Sugnagi

Here are more useful links about Signagi.
http://www.signagi.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sighnaghi
http://www.georgianmuseums.ge/MuseumEn/Musums/kakheti/Signagis_ist-etno.html
To find accommodation there is not really problem. Town is very little and almost all families run guest houses.
 One of them is Nata, who has leaves on hill and has perfect view from her balcony. Her number is +99595575146
Tourist information center of Signagi
+99599554371
Museum
+99525532448

Photos made in October 2009

Signagi

Signagi is one of the most popular touristic destination in Georgia. Town Signagi is located in south - east Georgia, region Kakheti, historical district Kiziki in 113 km from Tbilisi.
The territory of the modern-day town has been settled since Paleolithic period and had been known as Hereti in Middle Ages and as Kiziqi since the 15th century. Sighnaghi (literally meaning "a harbor" in Turkish) as a settlement is first recorded in the early 18th century. In 1762, King Heraclius II of Georgia sponsored the construction of the town and erected a fortress to defend the area from marauding attacks by Dagestan tribesmen. As of the 1770 census, Sighnaghi was settled by 100 families, chiefly by craftsmen and merchants. When Georgia was annexed by Imperial Russia in 1801, Sighnaghi was officially granted town’s status and became a centre of Signakh uyezd (Russian: Сигнахский уезд) within Tiflis Governorate in 1802. The town quickly rose in its size and population and became an agricultural centre under the Soviet Union. The severe economic crisis in post-Soviet Georgia heavily affected the town, but a major reconstruction project recently launched by the Government of Georgia and co-funded by several international organizations intends to address an increasing tourist interest and modernize infrastructure.
 Signagi was renovated couple years ago, to save it's historical face. Now it is popular touristic destination. Here is not problem to find hotel of any cost, from luxury ones to cheap but nice family guest houses. Thats why it is best option to stay there overnight while traveling in Kakheti. Here are also several restaurants and cafes, fine art exhibitions, museum with good collection of arts, archaeological material and painter Pirosmani's paintings, several churches and of course Signagi fortress, from which is perfect view on all Alazani valley and great Caucasus mountains.
Signagi is located on Gombori range, it's elevation is  up to 800m above sea level. Best time to visit it is Spring and Autumn.
For Georgians Signagi became popular place also to celebrate wedding.
So it is good choice to spend there day or two, to rest and walk around.
Nearby is Bodbe monastery, which can be easily visited from Signagi


Photos made in March 2009