Borjomi is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population of 10,546. It is one of the districts of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern part of the region in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

The town is famous for its mineral water industry (which is the number one export of Georgia), the Romanov summer palace in Likani, and the World Wide Fund for Nature-site Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

Borjomi mineral water is particularly well known in those countries which were part of the former Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area’s mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems.

Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

We’ll have a walk in the Borjomi park, where you can taste the healing mineral water directly from the source.

On the cable car you can climb to the forest park, it is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. There is an amusement park, a picturesque waterfall, but most importantly – dizzying views of the green Borjomi gorge.

There are over 200 historical monuments in the Borjomi Gorge: fortresses, churches, monasteries. A special place among historical monuments is occupied by the palace of the Russian Tsars Romanovs, built at the end of the 18th century.  

 

Green Monastery 

 

The Chitakhevi St. George's Monastery is located in a picturesque place in the Borjomi valley. People called it lovingly “The Green Monastery”, because all the trees in the valley are of a special green color. The stones, with which the church is built, are also green, but some are dark and some are light.

Scientists believe that the church was built by Christopher and Theodore, the disciples of the famous Georgian figure, St. Gregory Khandzteli.

In the 16th century, during the invasions of Shah Thamaz, this monastery was raided. During this time dozens of monks were killed or tortured. The blood which remained on the stones thrown into the river Chitakhevi, belong to the monks killed in the 16thcentury. Bloody stones are spread along almost the entire length of the river running through the territory of the monastery.

Later, a few meters away from the church, there was built a bell tower. The bell tower is two-storey. The first floor is a chapel, and the second floor is a richly carved pavilion. On the west surface area, below ​​the arch, there is placed the relief of St. George fighting a whale.

Over the centuries, the divine service was no longer performed at the church. In the early 80s of the past century the church was rehabilitated. In 2002, after many centuries, the monastery was restored.

 

* Borjomi

* Central Park and mineral waters

* The Romanov summer palace

* Lunch

* Green Monastery

* Return to Tbilisi