A traveller's reflection: Caucasus 2018: 10 Tbilisi/Gori, Georgia

"Educated people change themselves according to situation. Experienced people can change situation according to them..."

(Memorial of Georgian Warriors at Gori Fortress)

Day 10: 24 Apri 2018 (Tuesday)
Route: Gori/ Tbilisi Vake Park
Hotel: L Plaza Hotel Tiblisi, Georgia

(The pretty ladies in the group)

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia. Its cobblestone old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures. Looming over it all are Narikala, a reconstructed 4th-century fortress, and Kartlis Deda, an iconic statue of the “Mother of Georgia.”

This morning we travelled by van to Gori to visit several attractions there.

(The map of the abandoned rock-hewn town)

(The path leading to the entrance)

(Archaeological findings from the cave town)

(Once an enormous cave city)

(The city is to the north side of the Mtkvari River)

Uplistsikhe is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia, some 10 km east of the town of Gori. Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages, and is notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran, as well as the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture.

(The entrance with maximum headroom)

(Climbing the steep staircase to the hilltop)

(The view of the river and the valley)

(The cave city on top of a hill)

(Climbing the steep rock to the top)

(Exploring the caves with a canine escort)

(A peek through the hole)

(An Orthodox Church in Uplistsikh)

(A photo shot with Luka, our guide)

(The door to the chapel)

(A view overlooking the Mtkvari River)

(Lizard replica on the hot stones of Uplistsikhe)

Next visit was to Joseph Stalin Museum dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics. The museum has three sections. With the downfall of the Soviet Union and independence movement of Georgia, the museum was closed in 1989, but has since been reopened, and is a popular tourist attraction.

(Joseph Stalin Museum)

(The entrance to the museum)

(An intricate carving at the main door)

(Joseph Stalin)

(A Soviet revolutionary and politician)

(Dedicated to the life of Stalin)

(A chamber of the museum)

(Another statue of Stalin)

(Stalin original wooden house)

Gori Fortress is a medieval citadel standing above the city of Gori on a rocky hill. The fortress controlled major strategic and economic routes and accommodated a large garrison. In the 16th century the Ottomans captured the fortress then later the fortress continued to change hands between the Georgians and the Persians. The Castle, an oblong, 200 paces in length, placed sixteen fathoms above the level of the Liakhvi, running at the foot of the hill on which it stands, is now abandoned, a Chapel in its South-Eastern angle being the only part in use. The best preserved structure is Tskhra-kara, the Nine-gated, which looks to the west, and is adjoined by the supplementary walls on the south and east.

(A church around the Gori Fortress)

(Another church in the vicinity)

(The Gori Fortress on the hill)

(View of the fortress from the Warrior Memorial)

Next we visited the Memorial of Georgian Warrior Heroes situated at the foot of Gori Fortress. The eight warriors’ statues were made by Georgian sculptor Giorgi Ochiauri and placed around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Vake Park in Tbilisi. In 2009 the sculptures were moved to their present location. The statues of the eight warriors were seated in a circle on individual rough hewn stone blocks.

(Statues of the war heroes)

(Inspecting the remains of the statues)

(A complete statue of a warrior)

We travelled back to Tbilisi and had a late lunch at Beirut Pasha Lebanese Restaurant.

(Green pasture along the way to town)

(Fried chicken and fries for lunch)

After lunch we went for a stroll in Vake Park the biggest public park in Tbilisi. The park was opened in 1946. Glory World War II Memorial sits at the top of the hill. Vake Park is used for a variety of events and gatherings. Its 200 hectares is prime example of a Socialist Classical park, complete with a grand classical entry and a huge stairs leading to the 28 m Statue of Victory. In Soviet times, the park was called Victory Park.