The naeklesiari in the Batsara gorge is known as the second church of Jokolo. Traces of walls and a levelled platform remain, while the building itself has not survived.
The Batsara gorge is part of the Akhmeta reserve, formerly named Batsara Babaneuri. One of the largest yew groves in the world is protected here: the trees are estimated at four hundred years and more, and single trunks rise to thirty metres. Lower down the gorge lies Pankisi with its Kist villages, Jokolo among them.
Do not climb on the masonry, as the walls hold worse than they look. The site remains part of the everyday life of the area, and that deserves respect.
Tips
- Combine the visit with neighbouring villages to save time.
- Bring a torch if it is dark inside.
- Watch your step in tall grass.
Getting there
- Ask locals for directions, since the short way is not always obvious.
- The last stretch runs along a dirt road that softens after rain.
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