David Gareja Tour

25 km from Gardabani (a suburb of Rustavi) there is a unique monument of Georgia - the grandiose complex of cave monasteries David Gareji, standing in line with such masterpieces of world heritage as the rock monastery of Vardzia, the cave city of Uplistsikhe, the village of Ushguli. This monument is known throughout the world for its exclusivity and originality. The David Gareji complex includes hundreds of rooms carved into the rocks - temples, cells, warehouses, rooms, etc. This cave complex is located in Gare Kakheti and stretches for 25 km along the semi-desert slopes of the Gareji ridge, presenting a majestic sight. A total of 14 monastery ensembles built at different times have been discovered here - the Lavra of David, Mokhatuli, Tsamebuli, Natlis-Mtsemeli, Dodos Rka and others. The historical beginning of the complex dates back to the first half of the 6th century, when one of the 13 Syrian fathers, named David (he and his disciples are buried here, in David Gareji), settled in the natural cave of Gareji on the slopes of a small gorge and soon founded the first monastery there, the Lavra of David. In the same 6th century, his disciples Dodo and Lucian founded two more monasteries - Dodos Rka and Natlis-Mtsemeli. It is interesting that the greatest shrine was kept in David Gareji - a stone brought by David from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Having reached Jerusalem, David experienced such awe that he did not dare to enter the city, but only took 3 stones and went back. That same night, the king had a dream from which it followed that someone had taken all the spiritual power of Jerusalem. The soldiers caught up with David and took 2 stones from him. And he brought the third to Georgia. And now this stone, a third of the spiritual power of Jerusalem, is kept in the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi, and is brought to David Gareji only for various ceremonies.