The best rock pillars in Georgia. Natural Monuments. The rocky pillars of Kvernaki.

The Kvernak ridge extends on the left bank of the Kur River Sakasheti (from the west) to the Aragvi River (to the east). The length of the range is approximately 70 km. The central part of the range reaches between the rivers Didi Liakhvi and Lehur. Passes along the left bank of the Kura River at a distance of 27 km. The width of this section of the range is 7-8 km, the height of the highest summit of the ridge - Zegarda - reaches 1114 m.

The rocky relief of the southern slope of the eastern section of Kvernake is represented by cliffs and cliffs with a large number of artificial caves. Of particular interest is the fortress-city Uplistsikhe - a cave complex, carved in the rock. It was the residence of the chief of the local tribe. He bore the title of "Godlike". The chief had great power and influence. Hence the name: "Uplistsikhe" - "falli" (the Almighty), and "tsikhe" - a fortress. The ancient complex, carved in a rocky massif Kvishakhvi, for centuries was a significant point of trade and caravan route, known as the "Silk Road". The city successfully combined administrative, defensive and even religious work.

Now Uplistsikhe is an open-air museum and receives several thousand tourists a year.

Some of the Kvernak rock pillars are on the left side of the Kura River, in the Ashurian Field, in the so-called "Tetrahevi Desert" and are enclosed by the overhanging southern slope of the Kvernak Ridge. Many of the caves are carved at a high altitude, and this indicates that there used to be a monastery in this cozy and remote place. On the southern slope of the ridge, in the front section of the valley of the rivers Kotsakhura and Sakdriani, the ruins of Tetrahevi monastery are preserved. The foundation of the monastery is associated with the name of Saint Tadeoz of Stepantsminda, one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers.