Tbilisi – Telavi, #2.4

Day tour to Telavi from Tbilisi – Viticulture and Winery District, History Museum, Architecture of the 6th – 11th c.

Day-tour to Telavi First archaeological findings from Telavi date back to Bronze Age. One of the earliest surviving accounts of Telavi is from the 2nd century AD, by Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus, who mentions the name Teleda (a reference to Telavi). Telavi began to transform into a fairly important and large political and administrative center in the 8th century AD. Interesting information on Telavi is provided in the records by an Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi of the 10th century, who mentions Telavi along with such important cities of that time’s Caucasus as Tbilisi, Shamkhor, Ganja, Shemakha and Shirvan. Speaking about the population of Telavi, Al-Muqaddasi points out that for the most part consists of Christians. 

Telavi the capital of the Kingdom of Kingdom of Kakhet-Hereti

From the 10th until the 12th century AD, Telavi served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti and later Kingdom of Kakhet-Hereti. During the so-called Golden Era of the Georgian State (12th-13th centuries), Telavi turned into one of the most important political and economic centers of the Georgian State. After the disintegration of the united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century, the role of Telavi started to decline and the city eventually became an ordinary town of trade and crafts. Telavi re-gained its political importance in the 17th century when it became a capital of kingdom of Kakheti. By 1762, it turned into the second capital (after Tbilisi) of the united Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti.

The reign of King Erekle II, who was born and died in this city, was a special epoch in the history of Telavi. style=”text-align: justify;”>During this period (1744-1798) it grew into a strategic and cultural centre. Erakle II established there theological seminary and founded a theatre. Erekle II’s reforms touched upon all the aspects of life in the country. They changed fundamentally the political, economical and cultural orientation of Kartli-Kakheti and, subsequently of the whole Georgia. His name became a symbol of freedom and national independence of the Georgian people. Erakle II is still called affectionately “PataraKakhi” (Little Kakhetian), and his heroic deeds are described in the folk literature.

History of Tbilisi

City was founded by Vakhtang Gorgasali in the 4th century. The city is located in Eastern Georgia. The oldest architectural monument in Tbilisi is the 6th century Christian church Anchiskhati. Christianity was spread in Georgia in 4th-5th centuries. Since the foundation of Tbilisi, there are ancient shrines of Hebrew, Islamic and Catholic confessions.

Battles for Tbilisi

Until the 19th century, Tbilisi was conquered many times. This is the obvious illustration of conquests chronology: As a result of the conquest of the 4th and 6th centuries the city was occupied by the Persians; In the beginning of the 7th century Byzantines and Khazars with united powers had an attempt to conquer Tbilisi. In the first half of the 8th century The Arabs occupied Tbilisi, but in the second half of the 8th century Khazars raided the city. At the beginning of the second half of the 9th century, The Arabs occupied the city with many battles. In the middle of the 11th century, by the first time the Elders Council took over the city authorities. By the end of the 60s of the 11th century the Turk-Seljuks took over Tbilisi;

12th and later centuries

At the beginning of the 12th century Tbilisi was liberated by King David IV Builder and from that time Tbilisi is a capital city of Georgia (before that Mtskheta was a capital of Georgia), as a result in the 12th and the 13th centuries the population of Tbilisi exceeded 70 000 inhabitants. In the 20s of the 13th century, the Kvarezians took over Tbilisi. Within a few years Tbilisi was occupied by the Mongols; In the first quarter of the 14th century Tbilisi was exempted from the invaders. By the end of the 14th century Amir Timur took over Tbilisi (who has battled 8 times in Georgia); In the 15th century the Persians took over and occupied Tbilisi 2 times.

Division of the state into principalities

At the end of the 15th century Georgia was divided into principalities and Tbilisi Became the capital of Kartli. In the first quarter of the 16th century Tbilisi was again taken by the Persians and King David X soon exempted it; At the end of the first half of the 16th century Tbilisi was once again taken by the Persians; From 1578 year Tbilisi was occupied by Ottomans; In the 18th century, because of these battles the number of inhabitants of the city decresead by 20 000 and within a weak economic conditions at the beginning of the 18th century the first printing house was founded in Tbilisi.

In the first quarter of the 18th century Ottomans conquered Tbilisi, within 10 years Persians occupied the city; In 1748 King Erekle II liberated Tbilisi. Since then the development of the industries began in the city but the trace of it faded away quickly because of the occupation of the city by Persian Shah – Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar in 1795. These conquests made it impossible for Georgia to develop economically. In 1801 Georgia was merged by Russia.

Fight for State Independence

Since 1802, fighting for restoration of state independence of Georgia has begun, which was achieved only in 1918 year. Georgia has restored state independence, but it soon was lost in 1921 year. After a great standoff, Georgia was able to re-establish the statehood in 1991 and the avant-garde of this 2-century battles and struggles was permanently Tbilisi.

• The Telavi tour lasts one day
• The Telavi tour is mainly reserved for groups

For those who want to travel to cultural monuments in Georgia!

This page presents only one-day tour, which includes one days and nights with hotel, three- or four-time meals and transport services.

Therefore, it is better to create a tourist package consisting of two, three or more different routes according to your interests from the 51 different tours available on this website.