The mosque in the upper part of the Pankisi gorge belongs to the Sufi tradition. Sufi communities gather here for the zikr, a collective remembrance, and such mosques differ from ordinary village ones in the arrangement of the prayer hall.
Pankisi is inhabited by Kists, descendants of settlers from mountain Chechnya who came here in the first half of the nineteenth century. Nearby, in the same Akhmeta Municipality, live the Bats people, the only Vainakh Christians in the world, about three thousand of them. The gorge stretches along the Alazani north of Akhmeta and runs up against the mountain ranges.
Closed clothing is expected, with shoulders and knees covered by men and women alike. The site remains part of the everyday life of the area, and that deserves respect.
Tips
- Drop by on a weekday, when there are fewer people.
- Keep your phone charged, as reception comes and goes.
- Bring socks, as shoes are left at the entrance.
Getting there
- Plan the visit together with nearby stops, as there is no dedicated transport here.
- Leave the car at the nearest street and continue on foot.
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