Chargali: Vazha-Pshavela House Museum and Landscape

Chargali lies at an altitude of 1,200 metres in the Chargluli Gorge. The gorge is considered a tributary of the Pshavi Aragvi.

Vazha-Pshavela and Vazhaoba

Chargali is considered the birthplace of Vazha-Pshavela, whose given name was Luka Razikashvili. The Vazha-Pshavela House Museum is a single-storey house with two rooms. On 5 April 2018, it was designated an object of national significance. Since 1961, Vazhaoba has been celebrated in Chargali every year on 14 July to commemorate the poet's birthday. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the date in advance.

Landscape, Seasons and Travel

Chargali offers impressive views. The surrounding area includes forests, golden fields and high mountains. The Vazha Spring lies near the turnoff to Chargali; its water is considered rich in minerals. Summer and autumn are considered the best seasons for hiking and relaxation in Chargali. Since seasonal conditions can vary from year to year, take this into account when choosing your travel dates.

The estimated drive from Tbilisi takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Road conditions and traffic can affect the actual journey time, so use this estimate as a guide and allow some extra time.

Mtskheta-Mtianeti: More Nature and Cultural Highlights

The wider destination of Mtskheta-Mtianeti has other regional highlights. Kazbegi National Park lies in a historic valley on the northern slopes of the Caucasus. Forest covers 35 percent of the park; the rest consists of alpine pastures, moraines, snow-covered peaks and rugged rocks.

Juta also offers a useful hiking comparison: the main trail starts in the village centre and leads to Juta Lake at the foot of the Chiukhi Massif. The route is almost four kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half; trail conditions can vary seasonally. Juta lies at an altitude of 2,200 metres and is one of the highest mountain villages in Georgia. Compared with Chargali at 1,200 metres, Juta is 1,000 metres higher.

Mtskheta is the administrative centre of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and is considered a museum city. The present-day Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta is a stone-built episcopal church dating from the first half of the 11th century. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built between 1010 and 1029. Armaztsikhe, south of Mtskheta, existed from the 4th century BC to the 8th century AD; the complex includes a royal palace, a church, a wine cellar and outbuildings. The wider destination of Mtskheta-Mtianeti also includes Lake Bazaleti in the Dusheti region. The volcanic lake covers 1.22 km² and is no more than seven metres deep. Visitors can swim, fish, go boating and enjoy beach sports there; check seasonal rules before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Birkiani, Roshka, Natakhtari, Chinti, Karsani, Stepantsminda, Dusheti, Saguramo

Return to the regional travel overview: Mtskheta-Mtianeti.