Chiatura: Non-Standard Tourism and Cable Cars

Chiatura is a small town located in the western part of Imereti, famous for its cable cars and as the birthplace of Ostap Bender... or rather, not the hero of Ilf and Petrov's novels, but one of the best performers of the role of Ostap, Archil Gomiashvili.

The town itself is nestled among high mountains, in the Kvirila River gorge. The backbone of the town's economy is the Chiaturamanganets mine—manganese ore deposits were discovered over a hundred years ago. The enterprise itself is currently one of the largest producers of manganese concentrates in the world.

During Soviet times, Chiatura was considered the pearl of Georgia's tourist scene. Although its luster has faded over time, the town remains popular with travelers and tourists.

Adventure travelers are unlikely to miss the cable cars. Built in the 1950s, these structures, according to sources, have only undergone major repairs once. Nevertheless, they remain operational to this day, transporting tourists and locals.

Chiatura is home to a unique monument of Georgian culture: the Mgvimevi Monastery. According to one theory, it was carved out of the rock. However, experts in Georgian culture and history claim that the monastery was originally located in a natural cave. It was founded in the 13th century.

Another attraction worth mentioning is the caves of Jarbeli and Dzudzuana. According to sources, flax thread dating back nearly 36,000 years was discovered in the latter.

Chiatura can be reached from Kutaisi, about an hour's drive. It's also 220 km by train from the capital of Georgia, about a three-hour drive. Experienced travelers recommend driving.