Trekking in Georgia: an ethnographic journey to Khevsureti. The history of the indigenous people and the sights of the region.
Khevsureti is an area in the mountainous part, which is considered one of the most inaccessible points in Georgia. Khevsureti is the most sparsely populated and undeveloped region of mountainous Georgia. In addition to the picturesque views, you will be able to see the sights and get to know the ethnographic features of the locals.
Where is it located?
Khevsureti is located in Eastern Georgia, in a mountainous region. The Caucasian Ridge runs along Khevsureti and thereby divides it into two parts: the outer one, which is called Pirikitskaya, and the inner one, which has the name Pirakitskaya. Khevsureti borders Chechnya and Ingushetia on the north side, and Pshavia and Tushetia on the south and east sides.
How to get here?
You can arrange for yourself a pleasant ride on horseback, renting them for a small amount from local residents.и
What is Khevsureti?
There are many cultural and architectural monuments located on the territory of Khevsureti, which once represented defensive structures. Among them:
- The fortress of Khakhmati.
- Harati Fortress.
- La Biscari Fortress.
- Gudanis-jvari.
- Anator crypts.
Khevsureti culture and attractions
The indigenous people of Khevsureti are Khevsurs. It is known that Georgians are an Orthodox people, and the Khevsurs were no exception, but it is worth noting that archaic pre–Christian traditions play an important role in the life of the Khevsurs. Thanks to the versatility of the people, a combination of pagan and Christian culture appeared with an interesting name – Anator crypts. They are located near Shatili. It is important to note that one of the basic rules of local residents is to prohibit a woman from approaching holy places.
There are no restaurants in the vicinity of Khevsureti. To taste the local food, visit the famous "dining halls" among tourists in Shatili, Korsha, or Magaroskari.
On the way to Khevsureti, you will be the very first to see the village of Shatili – an extraordinarily beautiful fortress of the 10th - 11th century, which is a monument of Georgian architecture.
Khevsureti is famous for its "colored lakes". You can go to see them from two villages at once: Roshka and Jute. Their secret is very simple – the water has different shades from white to green, with blue shades in the middle. They are located quite close to each other, just 1.5 km away, at an altitude of 2,812 meters. These lakes are of glacial origin, formed from snow or rainwater.
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