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Lagodekhi National Park (also know as ლაგოდეხის სახელმწიფო ნაკრძალი in Georgian) is a 244 km²
park situated in the northeastern part of Georgia, in the region of Kakheti. It's situated in the southern slopes of the Caucasus, in the border with Azerbaijan and the Republic of Dagestan (Russia). This park is considered one of the best-preserved in the country because of its remote position, having impressing deep river valleys, glacial lakes and some of Georgia’s best-preserved forests.
How do I arrive to Lagodekhi National Park?
Despite its geographical position, Lagodekhi National Park isn't bad communicated with other places in Georgia and Azerbaijan.
- Bus: there are marshrutkas departing from Lagodekhi's bus station to destinations such as Telavi (five daily; aprox. 1 hour 45 minutes) or Tbilisi (every hour; aprox. 2 hours 30 minutes).
- Car: Lagodekhi National Park can be reached from places such as Kvareli and Sighnaghi (aprox. 45 minutes), Gurjaani (aprox. 50 minutes), Dedoplis Tskaro (aprox. 1 hour), Telavi (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes), or Vashlovani National Park (aprox. 1 hour 50 minutes). Lagodekhi can also be reached from Azerbaijan, some places here such as Balakən (aprox. 25 minutes) or Zaqatala (aprox. 1 hour 30 minutes).
History
Lagodekhi was founded in the 8th century, under the name of Lakuasti, when the eristavi Archil I ordered to build a fortress here. Lagodekhi was an important monastery in the historical region of Hereti in the 11th century. The territory of Lagodekhi was devastated after the invasion of the Persian Shah Abbas in the 1610s. The military settlement of Lagodekhi was founded in 1830 as a stronghold on the Lezgin cordon line, headquarters of a regiment until 1917 (next to the regiment itself a small settlement began). Lagodekhi Nature Reserve was founded here in 1912 and from 1930, Lagodekhi became the center of its district and gained town status in 1962.
What can I visit in Lagodekhi National Park?
Lagodekhi National Park is a nice place to explore a variety of rare local flora and fauna, part of the Caucasus mixed forests. Now it will be explained what to do in the park according to
the town or village where they are or the nearest one:
- Lagodekhi (სტეფანწმინდა in Georgian, Степанцминда in Russian, formerly Kazbegi): 1,326 inhabitants small town by river Terek in the north of region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, close to border with Russia. The town is the capital of the historical-geographic area of Khevi.
- Lagodekhi Monastery: remains of a two-nave basilica of the 6th-7th centuries. It was destroyed after the expeditions of Abbas I, Shah of Persia, in the 17th century and inactive since this period. A text in asomtavruli Georgian was recently discovered, mentioning king Adarnase of Hereti.
- Lagodekhi Local Museum (10-18 Tue-Sun; 1₾): museum that introduces the visitor to the history of the town of Lagodekhi and this part of Georgia. It houses artefacts from the Neolithic, ethnographic items, military equipment, photographies of Lagodekhi and its people, or coins from different periods.
- Lagodekhi National Park Administration and Visitor Center (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.
- From Lagodekhi departs Rocho Waterfall Trail (4.3 km), a hike through an untouched broad-leaved forest, crossing the noisy Shromaiskhevi river and enjoying small waterfalls, to finally arrive to Rocho Waterfall (6 m high).
- Lagodekhi Monastery: remains of a two-nave basilica of the 6th-7th centuries. It was destroyed after the expeditions of Abbas I, Shah of Persia, in the 17th century and inactive since this period. A text in asomtavruli Georgian was recently discovered, mentioning king Adarnase of Hereti.
- The longest and probably most interesting hike in the national park is Black Rock Lake Route (37.9 km). This round hike is one of the most interesting trails in all of Georgia and is distinguished by its astounding views of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus mountains that finished at Shavi Kldeebis Lake, lake that works as natural border between Georgia and Daghestan (Russia). Visitors can observe rare animals such as deers, chamois and wild goat. There are two shelters to have some rest during the trip (Demidov Hut Shelter and Meteo Shelter) and it's only possible to be done from June to October.
- There are other possibilities of hiking within the national park. One of them is the nice Ninoskhevi Waterfall Trail (7.6 km), a narrow path by river Ninoskhevi river that finishes at Ninoskhevi Waterfall, a 40 m long waterfall which is one of the most beautiful in Georgia. The other one is Machi Castle Trail (4.3 km), a shot trail by the border with Azerbaijan that reaches Machi Castle, the ruins of a remarkable medieval fortress of Kakheti from the 11th century.
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| Shavi Kldeebis Lake |
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| Ninoskhevi Waterfall |
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