Machakhela National Park

Machakhela National Park (also know as მაჭახელას ეროვნული პარკი in Georgian) is a 130.7 km² park situated in Machakhlitskal Valley in Georgia, in the south of Adjara Autonomous Republic and in the border with Turkey. It's only 25 km far from Batumi and that make it a nice place to have a daytrip. The park was established in 2012 and helps to preserve the unique biological and landscape biodiversity and the long-term protection of ecosystem of Colchic forests.

How do I arrive to Machakhela National Park?

  Machakhela National Park isn't quite well communicated with other Georgian towns and cities.

• Car: the main entrance to Machakhela National Park is via Acharisaghmarti, that can be reached from places such as Batumi (aprox. 45 minutes), Sarpi (aprox. 55 minutes), Kobuleti (aprox. 1 hour 20 minutes), Mtirala National Park (aprox. 1 hour 30 minutes), Khulo (aprox. 1 hour 40 minutes) or Ghorjomi (aprox. 2 hours 10 minutes).

  Once in the Park the best ways to move around the park are the car or simply hiking.  

History

In the second half of the 19th century, part of the Abkhazian Muhajirs moved from the Ottoman Empire to some villages in the present-day Khelvachauri municipality (about 52 people descendants of Abkhazian Muhajirs still live in the region). The territory of the current Khelvachauri municipality was included in the Batumi district of Kutaisi province until 1917 and from 1921, in the Batumi district of Adjara. In 1924 it was separated and called Chorokhi Mazra, from 1929 it was called Batumi Mazra, from 1930 to 1968 it was Batumi district. Khelvachauri district since 1968, and Khelvachauri municipality since 2006. In 2011, the territory of the municipality was significantly reduced due to the expansion of the borders of the city of Batumi.

What can I visit in Machakhela National Park?

  Machakhela National Park is a unknown destination and not touristic at all. Therefore it can be a nice idea to breath some fresh air and enjoy unspoilt nature very close to Batumi. In the following lines it will be explained what to do in the park according to the town or village where they are or the nearest one:    

• Acharisaghmarti (აჭარისაღმართი in Georgian): 404 inhabitants village on the right bank of river Machakhelistskali at the foot of the southern slope of the Shavsheti Range.
  

  • Machakhela National Park Administration (9-18 Mon-Fri, 9-16 Sat-Sun): office where getting registered to get into the national park and getting some information about the area.
  • Mtavarangelozi Trail (12.3 km): moderate trail that passes through beech and chestnut forest massifs, mountain streams and springs, old settlements and pass through the Mtavarangelozi Mountain, from where watching the city of Batumi and the rest of Machakhela National Park.
    
  • In a nearby village the visitor can explore a nice wooden mosque from the 1880s, Uchkhiti Mosque. This simple wooden mosque represents a transitional period between the elaborate incised carvings of the Ottoman era and the colorful murals and applied  ornament of the later Russian imperial era.
• Deeper into Machakhlistskali Valley, it can be a good idea to visit Machakhela Historical-Ethnographical Museum (10-18 Mon-Fri; 2₾/ 1₾  adults/ students and kids), a small museum situated in a former mosque whose collections show the history of this valley through archaeological materials and different things of Adjarian life (like paintings, local craft works and photos). This part of the valley has several waterfalls and, among them, the most spectacular ones are: Karimana Waterfall, Dunga short Waterfall, and Tkupi Waterfall. This latter is possible to be reached by taking Tkupi Waterfall Trail (12.5 km), an easy hike to discover these twin waterfalls beautiful 47 m twin waterfall that go down from the high green cliffs.
  
• In the entrance to the national park there's the village of Mirveti (მირვეთი in Georgian), 57 people, by river Çoruh/Chorokhi. Next to this settlement it can be found another waterfall, Mirveti Waterfall, and Mirveti Arch Bridge, a bridge probably built between the 11th and 13th centuries that was restored in 2013.
  

Mtavarangelozi Mountain

Mirveti Waterfall

Zundaga Mosque

The road that connects Batumi and Machakhela National Park with Inner Adjara and Khulo has several places that can be worth a small visit. The interior of Adjara is more heavily influenced by Islam and there are more mosques, some of which are specially worth to be seen like, for example, Bzubzu Mosque (19th century wooden mosque that, like most mosques in the region, has its verandah enclosed), Zundaga Mosque (mosque from the 1860s that keeps part of the original decoration typical of Ottoman-period mosques, having a cementery from the 19th century too) or Pirveli Maisi Mosque (mosque from 1865 that is characterised with the abundance of exuberant vernacular wood carvings). Other sights in the road are Makhuntseti Arch Bridge, a medieval stone-arched, vaulted bridge on the river Adjaristskali; and Makhuntseti Waterfall, one of the most popular waterfalls in Georgia.

Where can I eat in Machakhela National Park?

There aren't many places to eat within Machakhela National Park and it's probably a good idea to eat in the nearest large town.

Posted in: Adjara,Europe,Georgia,National Park