Borjomi: Mineral Resort of Georgia and Its Healing Springs

Georgia is famous worldwide for its spa resort, known to many from the mineral water of the same name. In this article, we'll discuss the resort town of Borjomi and its many attractions.

Borjomi was once a unique natural fortress, surrounded by high mountains. The town is located in the Kura River Gorge in southwestern Georgia. The gorge is surrounded by high, picturesque mountains covered in dense, wild, broadleaf and coniferous forests.

The Borjomi forests are renowned for their flora and fauna. There's also a world-famous national park with exceptionally beautiful and ancient monuments. Borjomi is one of Georgia's main tourist destinations, attracting countless travelers from around the world. In the surrounding area, you can admire not only picturesque landscapes but even see the Romanov Palace.

Borjomi has a very mild climate. In winter, temperatures drop to a maximum of -2°C. Winters are snowy and warm, making them just as comfortable as summer. Summers in the gorge are cool. There are virtually no winds in Borjomi. These weather conditions are maintained by the town's seclusion in the mountains, which protects it from air masses and the scorching sun.

Tourist hotspot of Georgia

Borjomi is a key destination on the Georgian tourist itinerary. While traveling through the country, don't miss the opportunity to visit this lush, mountainous town. It boasts a cozy, lush Central Park, beautifully landscaped. Well-equipped public gardens and the pure mountain air will help you unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is very large, stretching for one kilometer along the river.

It offers everything you need for a family vacation. You can ride amusement rides and carousels, relax in cozy cafes, or simply stroll along paved paths in the shade of lush trees. Accommodations are available near the park for your trip to Borjomi, with numerous hotels and guesthouses. The town itself boasts sanatoriums where you can enjoy wellness treatments and soak up the positive atmosphere of the resort town of Borjomi. The park is famous for its natural mineral spring, which is uniquely designed. All visiting tourists make sure to visit this landmark hidden under a blue dome. The spring's water tastes different from bottled water. It gives strength and energy for the entire day, and doctors recommend drinking it three times a day. You shouldn't drink more than that, as the water is saturated with hydrogen sulfide and has a distinctive odor.

Be sure to visit the beautiful glass pavilion housing the spring. This is a truly unique place with numerous photo opportunities. The next stop for the inquisitive tourist is the cable car. It takes you to other natural landmarks and, in general, to see the green Borjomi from above.

Despite Borjomi being a major tourist destination, prices for travel and accommodation here are no different from other cities in Georgia.

Borjomi cable car

The cable car in the resort town of Borjomi was built in the 1960s. Its age doesn't affect the comfort and safety of travelers. The cable car was recently restored, and the cabins are now stylish and modern.

• The cable car will take you 1,000 meters above the ground, offering breathtaking views of the gorge and the peaks of the gigantic mountains. The cable car has only one cabin. From its windows, you'll see a large waterfall whose waters flow toward the Prometheus monument. The waterfall's full height isn't visible from below, making it appear small. In reality, it's enormous and hidden behind dense greenery and rocky outcrops.
• This journey will take you to the small church of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The church is very young and elegant, but it's so small that it can't accommodate all the people attending services.
• At the final station, a Ferris wheel and a picturesque café with delicious Georgian cuisine and a wide variety of wines await you.

The cable car operates only during the summer, so please take this into account when planning your trip. The cable car starts at the exit of the Central Park and has two observation decks. The upper deck is called "Plateau," named after the mountain peak on which it is located.

Borjomi is a city with plenty to see. You'll definitely not be bored here. Visiting all the picturesque and remarkable sites will require more than one day. Therefore, when traveling here, plan your itinerary in advance.

Tour companies plan itineraries so that the first few days include the most famous and visited sites in Borjomi, which are located close to each other. This way, you can visit all of the above-mentioned places on your first day.

National Park

One of the largest national parks in Europe is Borjomi National Park. Opened in 1995, it was the first national park in the Caucasus. Its founders were the German government and the World Wildlife Fund.

The park is very large, occupying approximately 10% of Georgia's total area. When developing the park, everything necessary for tourist comfort was considered, adhering to the highest European standards. The park administration laid out paths and created designated areas for camping, picnics, and even overnight accommodations.

Visiting Borjomi National Park is free. However, the administration requires mandatory registration. This is all done for the safety of all tourists. If someone fails to leave the park on the designated day, emergency services are dispatched immediately. Mounted rangers are on duty 24/7 to maintain order in the park.

The park administration offers visitors a variety of rides (horseback riding, cycling), excursions, hikes, and trips. Tourists benefit from the park's year-round operation, so excursions and trips can be booked at any time. All equipment for exploring the park can be rented on site.

Feruz's House

In the very center of the resort town of Borjomi stands a majestic and beautiful palace—the house of Mirza-Riza Khan. Constructed with unique grace and an oriental motif, the building blends beautifully and seamlessly into the high-altitude landscape, covered in dense, lush greenery.

Anyone who saw such a residence would want to own it. But such fortune smiled upon only one man: the Persian consul Mirza-Riza Khan. This mysterious and majestic mansion was built by order of the general in 1892.

It is called Feruza, which means turquoise. Mirza-Riza Khan's house is truly an extraordinary turquoise color. More precisely, the ceiling and balcony are lined with stones of this color. The balcony railings and other elements of the building have an openwork design, giving the building a light and airy feel. It seems as if the house has stepped straight from the pages of an oriental fairy tale. After the general's death, the house became city property. It once housed a hotel, then a sanatorium. Today, the building is considered the city's main historical landmark and is protected by the state.

Green Monastery in Borjomi

The Church of St. George in Chitakhevi is one of the oldest monasteries in Georgia. The monastery is known as Mtsvane and is located in the Borjomi Gorge. For many years, the monastery was abandoned and inactive.

It was recently restored and is now a popular tourist attraction. Not all of the buildings of Mtsvane Monastery survive to this day. Many were severely damaged during earthquakes and attacks by invaders, and are now beyond repair.

This medieval monastery lies amidst high mountains and dense, lush vegetation on the banks of a mountain river. The blissful silence and seclusion from the bustle of the world perfectly convey the temple's antiquity and antiquity. Holy springs are located nearby, and the site is never deserted. Today, this place is highly revered by pilgrims who come here from all over the world.

Monument to Prometheus

In Samtskhe-Javakheti, in the resort town of Borjomi, in the heart of its Central Park stands the most visited and popular monument to Prometheus. The monument was erected in 2007 in honor of the ancient Greek titan. He protects people from the wrath and tyranny of the gods. The statue was originally erected in Tbilisi, but the people did not accept it, so it was moved to Borjomi.

Many locals believe that the statue does not represent Prometheus at all, but rather the hero of the Georgian epic poem, Amirani. The fate of the mere mortal Amirani, son of the Georgian goddess Dali, is very similar to that of Prometheus. He also struggled with evil spirits and the wrath of the gods.

Near the statue is a picturesque waterfall, the waters of which fall directly at the feet of the Prometheus statue. Amidst the rocks and greenery, the enormous sculpture makes a mesmerizing impression on tourists.

Borjomi Museum of Local History

When in Borjomi, be sure to visit the local history museum. Here you'll get to know the town's history, learn about the people who vacationed here, and see various historical artifacts. You can also see household items from the Romanov Palace. If you decide to visit, book a guided tour. It will be much more informative and engaging.

Borjomi sulfur pools

Borjomi's signature attraction is its sulfur baths. The thermal springs are located three kilometers from the entrance to the city's Central Park. They consist of three pools filled with sulfur water.

• The large pool is designed for adults;
• A smaller pool is for children;
• The round pool has a high water temperature.

Water flows into the pools from taps. Because this water is saturated with hydrogen sulfide, it has a cloudy color and a distinctive odor. However, this does not detract from the importance of the healing springs, where travelers receive an incredible boost of energy. The healing effects of these waters on the human body have been medically proven.

The sulfur pools have all the necessary infrastructure for a comfortable stay. Specifically:

• Benches for relaxing;
• Shower stalls for washing up after bathing;
• Restaurants and cafes for refreshments.

It's worth noting that not long ago, the site of these beautiful pools was occupied by a very old and unkempt concrete pool. Tourists would arrange their own relaxation areas and even pitch tents.

At the beginning of the 20th century, stone baths were discovered here. This suggests that the healing properties of the Borjomi mineral springs were known as early as the beginning of the first millennium. For many years, the springs lay abandoned. It was only in 1829 that their waters were rediscovered. The commander of the Kherson regiment once saw a spring with an unpleasant odor, but drank from it despite it.

It is known that during his long campaigns, he began to suffer from stomach pains. After a while, his illness subsided. By his order, a marker was erected here. After this, the fame of the healing spring spread throughout the country, and then the world. The remote village of Borjomi became a world-renowned tourist resort town.

Useful information about the resort town of Borjomi

You can get to Borjomi by train or bus. The most reliable and comfortable option is a transfer.

• From Tbilisi, it's a 160-kilometer journey. You can take a minibus to Borjomi at Didube station. Another very inexpensive and convenient option is the commuter train, which goes directly to Borjomi. The downside is that it takes two hours longer than the bus, but the commuter train runs twice a day. By minibus, the journey will take about three hours.
• From Batumi, the journey to Borjomi is 270 kilometers, taking about six hours. There are direct routes to the resort that run once a day.
• From Kutaisi, Borjomi is 130 kilometers away. You can leave from here by commuter train or bus. The journey takes over two hours.
• Alternatively, you can travel to Khashuri from all of these cities. From Khashuri, you can reach Borjomi in about 20 minutes by car or minibus.

You can choose the following modes of transportation from Georgia's capital to Borjomi:

• A minibus will take you to your destination in three hours. The fare is 8 lari.
• A taxi will be much more expensive, but the journey will be more comfortable. A roundtrip will cost around $60. The journey will also take about three hours.
• A commuter train costs 2 lari, but takes twice as long.

Experienced travelers have shared some tips to help you on your trip.

• Carefully plan your route to see as many sights as possible. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, choose traditional Georgian restaurants, of which there are plenty. Georgian cuisine is delicious and filling, and the dishes and wines convey the country's true flavor.
• To better understand the history of cities, towns, and historical and natural monuments, it's best to book a professional tour.
• Don't miss out on a horseback riding tour. It will help you experience the beauty and atmosphere of Georgia's wild nature.
• Don't forget to take a souvenir of Georgian wine home. Here, in the heart of winemaking, you'll find the most natural and delicious wine.
• When in Georgia, don't forget to try churchkhela. The locals make it the most delicious.

This resort town lies 800 meters above sea level in a high mountain gorge. To fully appreciate the charm of this place, you need to stay here for a while. Many come here to ride the vintage narrow-gauge railway. We recommend you don't miss this opportunity.

The luxurious Borjomi Palace spa hotel recently opened here. The hotel offers diagnostic and treatment services for guests. It features a diagnostic department, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and a spa center with cosmetology services. The Likansky Palace, the summer residence of the Romanovs, is also worth a visit. The palace is very beautiful and designed in the Moorish style. Today, it houses a museum, although it was closed to the public for a long time.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Borjomi is a very picturesque, cozy, well-advertised town in a high mountain gorge, and well worth a visit. Here lies the tranquility and incredible natural beauty of Borjomi.

There's no hustle and bustle here, yet there are countless architectural monuments and fascinating buildings. Once you've visited, you'll never regret the time spent. Borjomi, like other places in Georgia, is very friendly and welcoming. Here you can enjoy all the delights of Georgian cuisine and sample the famous Georgian wines.