Akhaldaba: Tamara’s Fortress on a Mountain Peak
An archaeological site in the village of Akhaldaba in the Borjomi Municipality. It is located on the right bank of the Mtkvari River, atop a high mountain. The Nedzvura River flows down from the northeast. Akhaldaba Prison dates back to the 8th-9th centuries; they date back to the 9th-10th and 10th-11th centuries. Locals call it "Tamari Castle" or "Golden Castle."
Chronological Dates
Ahaldaba Castle is first mentioned in Georgian sources by a chronicler (1260). Vakhushti Batonishvili describes Akhaldaba Castle as follows: "On the right side of Akhaldaba, on the top of a high cliff, stands a castle, well-built and steep."
From a letter sent by Givi Amilakhvri to Bardzi and Luarsab Amilakhvrishvili in 1743, we learn that he renovated the Surami and Akhaldaba castles.
In 1747, King Teimuraz gifted Akhaldaba Castle to Kaikhosro Orbelian, who in turn housed his wife and children there while awaiting Nadir Shah's campaign.
In 1772, in the German traveler Johann Güldenstädt's "Journey to Georgia," Akhaldaba Castle appears empty and abandoned. The castle was significantly damaged by an earthquake in 1920. It is difficult to access.
Today, it is in ruins; only its northeastern side remains. The remaining castle stands 10 meters high. The castle also had a lower wall that protected its southwestern side. Part of the enclosure, built of boulders and mortar, has been dismantled. The wall follows the mountain's contours and has an irregular shape. Within the wall, a small area houses the citadel. Several multi-story towers are built into its walls.
In the lower part of the fortress are residential buildings and a reservoir. The foundations of hidden warehouses are clearly visible in the prison. In the western corner is a large, dilapidated pit built of white limestone. It protected the Nedjvi Valley and the Mtkvari River, which overlooks it from the southeast. The castle protected the central part of Kartli, the entrance to the Mtkvari Valley.
Location
We all love to relax in beautiful and unusual places. Georgia is just such a place. The country is renowned for its nature and architectural monuments. One of the most frequently visited is the Akhaldaba Fortress (Tamara's Fortress).
The Akhaldaba Fortress, also known as Tamara's Fortress, is located on a mountain peak in the center of Akhaldaba, in the Borjomi region, on the Mtkvari River. The top of the fortress is adorned with a cross and the Georgian national flag.
The unusual location is truly impressive: it offers a stunning view of all of Akhaldaba and the strategically important roads. This is precisely what gave the fortress such a rich history.
The mountaintop on which the fortress is located is covered in mixed forest. Part of this forest is a pine forest, particularly beautiful and impressive in its majesty.
The road from the city to the fortress is short, only 1.5 kilometers. Several forest trails lead to the fortress, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the local nature, its splendor, and the scents of the forest. It won't take long to reach the fortress—about 30 minutes. The trail is easy and pleasant, and the summit offers a 360-degree view.
The distance from Georgia's capital to Akhaldaba is 144 kilometers; by car or rental, the journey takes about two hours.
History
Historical sources sometimes refer to Akhaldaba as a small town; some scholars even call it a small country. A glance at the town and its surrounding area reveals numerous historical monuments. Given this, it becomes clear that the fortress was one of the country's most important strategic points at the time. Scholars have called the fortress "great," in part because of its abundance of agricultural structures and vast living spaces, including pits and pools.
Clay pipes that supplied water to the fortress have been discovered numerous times during excavations. The construction date of the Akhaldaba Fortress is unknown, but it is believed to have been erected in the 9th or 10th centuries near the Nedzura Gorge by monks living there at the time: Saint Gregory and his followers, Theodore and Christopher. The fortress's name is mentioned in numerous historical documents, but each appearance is dated differently, so there is no precise date for its construction.
The town where the fortress is located was also mentioned as an important trading post through which caravans passed. The fortress played a significant role in many battles; not only enemy forces fought for its possession, but also internecine battles between Georgian rulers.
The rich history of the Akhaldaba Fortress (Tamara's Fortress) draws people to it, increasing the flow of tourists every year.
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როგორც ჩანს, ეს ციხე-ქალაქი ულამაზეს ადგილას მდებარეობს. მაინტერესებს, არის თუ არა შესაძლებელი გამართული ექსკურსიები ამ ადგილზე? სურსათის საწყობები და წყლის რეზერვუარი დიდ ყურადღებას იპყრობს. ნუთუ მანდ გახსნილია სალაშქრო ბილიკები, რომლებსაც ადგილობრივი გიდები განიხილავენ?