Berdiki Fortress in Kvemo Kartli: Historic Route

The Berdiki Fortress (Poladauri) is a historic fortress built in the mid-feudal era in the Kvemo Kartli region of Bolnisi Municipality, on the right bank of the Bolnisi Tskali River, near the village of Poladauri, in a high mountainous area offering a wealth of sightseeing in Georgia.

History.

The fortress was named after the nearby village of Berdiki. A unique feature of the fortress is that almost nothing is known about it: there are no markers on maps, and there are no roads or trails. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, the fortress has preserved its appearance better than many others. Part of the wall remains, along with two guard towers, one of which is four stories tall.

It is believed that this area was once a route to Armenia, and the fortress was built on a mountain at the confluence of two rivers with gorges for the sole purpose of controlling passages from the south. Reliable information about who built the fortress and when is lacking. Local residents of the villages and towns around the fortress know of its existence, but that's where their interest ends.

If you're interested in visiting Georgia's landmarks, including this fortress, it's best to start your journey along the road from the south, where its façade is visible. Its orientation toward the nearby village of Poladauri is such that only a cross and a watchtower are visible, easily lost from view. A gorge runs north of the fortress, the only way to find the way to this structure. There are no signs or trails from the main road to easily find it. Once you reach the gorge, you need to look for a trail, which will then branch off into several smaller ones. Once you've found one, you can simply follow your intuition and ascend to the fortress.

The fortress's interior is unremarkable and offers little in the way of surprises. The fortress was built in two parts, each standing on its own cliff face. The existing stone staircase doesn't inspire confidence, so exploring the fortress wouldn't exactly be called an "easy stroll." In many places, you'll have to climb and crawl to reach the spot you're interested in. According to the latest information, it's unknown how people got there previously, but there's now a split in the wall that makes it easier to enter the fortress.

Near the fortress, in the eastern part, there are cliffs with a few trails leading up to them. You can reach them if you're willing, but be aware that it's high up there. However, from the top, you'll have views of Georgia's most beautiful sights, including Mount Loki.