11:19
Banknotemaniac
.jpg/1280px-Martkofi_Monastery_(24).jpg)
Tbilisi National Park (also know as თბილისის ეროვნული პარკი in Georgian) is a 380 km²
park situated in Saguramo Range in Georgia, close to Tbilisi and the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. It was established in 1973 and is considered to be the oldest national park in the country. The historical town of Mtskheta lies outside of the western boundary and Tbilisi in the southern part of the park.
How do I arrive to Tbilisi National Park?
Tbilisi National Park is quite well communicated because of its proximity to Mtskheta and Tbilisi.
- Bus: there are marshrutkas departing from Tbilisi and Mtskheta to Saguramo.
- Car: the main entrance to Tbilisi National Park is via Saguramo, that can be reached from places such as Mtskheta (aprox. 20 minutes), Bulachauri (aprox. 30 minutes), Tbilisi (aprox. 35 minutes), Kaspi (aprox. 40 minutes), Dusheti (aprox. 45 minutes), Gori (aprox. 1 hour), Tianeti (aprox. 1 hour 5 minutes), Pasanauri (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes) or Stepantsminda (aprox. 2 hours 40 minutes) in Kazbegi National Park.
History
Tbilisi National Park is the first national park in Georgia, established in March 1973 as a result of the unification of Mamkodi Memorial Park and Gldani, Martkopi, Ghuleli, Tskhvarichamia forests, by the Central Committee of the Georgian Communist Party for the improvement of the conditions of recovery and rest of the workers. After some time it lost the status of a national park and in 2007, it was re-established.
What can I visit in Tbilisi National Park?
Tbilisi National Park is a popular destination for Tbilisians to breath some fresh air and enjoy nature. 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:
- Mamkoda (მამკოდა in Georgian): 91 inhabitants village close to Gldaniskhevi river located in the southern part of the National Park, being one of the easiest ways to visit the park from Tbilisi.
- St. Grigol Ghvtismetqvelis Georgian Orthodox Church: three-aisled basilica that was built in 9th-10th centuries, on the territory of the old cemetery.
- Mamkoda is the starting point of most of the routes and trails in Tbilisi National Park. One of them is Big Viewpoint Bike Trail (10.1 km), a short loop that goes along parts of an old road and that reaches Big Viewpoint, from where there's a beautiful panoramic view of Tbilisi. There are other longer and harder routes such as Mamkoda Difficult Bike Loop (38.5 km), a quite difficult route with ascents and descents that goes close to Mamkodi Monastery and passes next to Martkopi Monastery, having picturesque views of Tbilisi and the nature of the national park; and Mamkoda Medium Bike Loop (37.8 km), an easier version of the previous loop.
- Mamkoda Monastery: monastery complex located on the outskirts of Mamkoda that was founded around the 9th century and whose origin is linked to David IV of Georgia, who greeted the local priest before one of his battles here. Most of its churches date back to the 19th century. One of its churches was blown up by Soviet authorities but the whole monastery was restored in 2006.
- Vejini Complex: ruins of a complex with churches, agricultural buildings and a palace that dates back to 8th-9th centuries.
- St. Grigol Ghvtismetqvelis Georgian Orthodox Church: three-aisled basilica that was built in 9th-10th centuries, on the territory of the old cemetery.
- One of the highlights of the national park is Martkopi Monastery, located into the woods. This a Georgian Orthodox monastery has a history that dates back to stylite practices (Christian ascetics who lived on pillars, preaching, fasting and praying) in the 6th century and is linked with one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, Anton Martkopeli. Most of the existing structure of the monastery are from the 17th to the 19th century, process in which old Georgian murals and multilingual inscriptions (in Georgian, in Russian or in Greek) were lost, although it still has some nice frescoes. The main church was completely rebuilt in the mid-19th century because the medieval church was ruined and close there's a bell tower and Monk Anton's Pillar (structure that is believed to have served as a stylite hermitage in the last 15 years of the life of Anton Martkopeli).
- Outside the national park but very close to it, the visitor can arrive and visit Bochorma Fortress, a 10th century complex that consists of a castle and a domed dodecagonal church. The frescoes of its main church are in very poor conditions, dated to the early-12th century, and that church has some additions from the 17th and 18th centuries like the iconostasis or the belfry. Unfortunately almost all its structures are half-ruined or significantly damaged.
- The main settlements in the national park are connected via Zedazeni-Didveli-Mamkoda Trail (18.1 km), a trail linking Mamkoda and Saguramo that pass next to Zedani Monastery. In the way it can be found a park for healthy development of children, Mokolendi Park.
- Saguramo (საგურამო in Georgian): 1,921 inhabitants town in the eastern part of the national park, considered historical monument and the largest town in the park. It's also the birthplace of Davit Guramishvili, a poet who wrote some of the finest pieces of pre-Romantic Georgian literature.
- Ilia Chavchavadze Museum (10-18 Mon-Fri; free): museum that houses photo and documentaries related to the life and work Ilia Chavchavadze, a famous Georgian writer and public figure that was the leader of the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century. It has paintings, sculptures and items depicting his life and ethnography of Georgia.
- Saguramo Georgian Orthodox Church: the small local church, that built in the late feudal era.
- Close to Saguramo it can be visited Zedazeni Monastery, a Georgian Orthodox monastery that was founded in the 8th century in the place where Ioane Zedazneli, another of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, preached. In 1915-1922 the monastery was destroyed and, during the Soviet period, the monastery was fortified and cleaned. Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta can be seen from here too.
- Without any kind of doubt, the main natural attraction of Tbilisi National Park is Sabaduri Forest, a colourful forest with untouched nature. It's very beautiful in all seasons of the year, but especially in winter and autumn.
.jpg/1280px-Martkofi_Monastery_(8).jpg) |
| Frescoes inside Martkopi Monastery |
 |
| Forest Sabaduri |
.jpg/1280px-Tsilkani_church_(1).jpg) |
| Tsilkani Cathedral |
 |
| Views of Dusheti |
Not far from here are located the Ruins of Zemo Kodistskaro Palace, remains of a 16th century complex that used to have a palace, a tower (the best preserved building of the complex), a church and several buildings.
In the way north it can be visited Bodorna Rock Column Natural Monument, a naturally suspended rock of 15m high that has a small cave that was used as a shelter by early Christian monks. Driving 33 km north from Mtskheta, the visitor can stop at Dusheti (დუშეთი in Georgian), a town with 6,167 inhabitants that used to be the capital of the Duchy of Aragvi (who ruled the Upper Aragvi Valley between the 13th and 18th centuries). The main things to see here are Amilakhvriantkari Georgian Orthodox Church in Dusheti (small and simple 18th century church built of cobblestone, that is falling into disrepair, with some graves that date back to as early as 1810s) and Chilashvili Fortress-Hall (small castle-hall built in 1800 for the Chilashvilis, a very wealthy family in Kakhetia, that contains all the characteristic elements of these constructions: a fence, towers, a house, a door church, gardens and vineyards). In the south of the municipality it can be enjoyed Bazaleti Lake, a small lake that is used for fish culture and its a popular recrational area too.
 |
| Ananuri Castle Complex |
Posted in: 