Uplistsikhe Cave Town Guide
Journey to the Heart of Ancient Georgia: Uplistsikhe Cave Town Guide
Uplistsikhe, meaning "Lord's Fortress," is an ancient cave city carved into a sandstone cliff in eastern Georgia, near the city of Gori. This extraordinary site offers a unique window into the region's pre-Christian past and its evolution through various historical periods. Exploring Uplistsikhe is like stepping back in time, allowing you to wander through the remnants of a once-thriving urban center. Uplistsikhe's history stretches back to the early Iron Age, around the 6th century BC. It served as an important political and religious center for the ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli (Iberia). Over the centuries, it was influenced by various cultures, including pagan, Christian, and even some traces of Zoroastrianism. The city reached its peak in the 9th-11th centuries AD before being sacked by the Mongols in the 13th century. The cave complex features a variety of structures, including dwellings, temples, and even a theater, all carved directly into the rock. Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved ruins of Uplistsikhe, marveling at the ingenuity of its ancient inhabitants. You can wander through the cave dwellings, climb the rock-cut staircases, and admire the remnants of the city's once-grand structures. The site offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. While in the Gori region, be sure to try local Georgian specialties like Khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and Khinkali (meat dumplings).
Transportation
From Tbilisi, take a marshrutka (minibus) to Gori. From Gori's central bus station, you can hire a taxi to Uplistsikhe, which is about 10 kilometers away. Alternatively, some local buses may run to nearby villages, requiring a short walk to the site.