Tour Guide, Baku, Azerbaijan
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Interesting Facts about Kazbegi, Georgia
Stepantsminda Historic Museum
The Museum is located in the memorial house of the Georgian writer Alexander Kazbegi (1848-1890). Together with the library and personal belongings of the writer, the museum houses ethnographic artifacts typical of the Khevi region, archaeological exhibits, religious relics, books, and various works from local artists.
Gergeti Trinity Church
This architectural complex from the XIV century is located in the village of Gergeti, 6 km from the town of Stepantsminda, at a height of 2200 m. The complex includes Holy Trinity Cathedral, constructed in the XIV century, the bell tower built in the XIV century, and clergy houses from the XV century. You can hike up to the complex in about two hours, hire a driver, or even rent a horse!
Gveleti Waterfall
The waterfall is located in the village of Gveleti, 7 km from the town of Stepantsminda. You must first drive through the stunning Dariali Gorge, from which a short, leisurely hike up a narrow footpath leads the way to the Gveleti Waterfall. Gveleti means "place of snakes" in Georgian, so keep an eye out for local wildlife!
Devdoraki Glacier
A hiking trail leading to the glacier starts in Stepantsminda and follows the Dariali Gorge. Along the way, you will pass the Gveleti Waterfall, as well as a birch forest, and a wide variety of plants typical for the Alpine climate.
Dariali Gorge
The gorge begins at the confluence of the river Chkheri (close to Stepantsminda) and ends near Upper Lars. The Gorge itself is 11 km long. The confluence of the Kabakhi and Khda rivers is the most narrow and rocky part of the gorge. You will also have an opportunity to see a Georgian Orthodox Church located within the gorge.
Upper Truso Gorge
You will encounter plenty of historic and cultural sites here, including abandoned villages, colourful sediment deposits from mineral waters, and glacial and river deposits. Truso Gorge is rich in carbonated mineral waters. You will also find birch forests throughout.
Khada Gorge
The Gorge is located near the Russian border at Upper Lars. This area is mostly visited by mountain climbers. To get here, you will pass through the Dariali Gorge, where a hiking trail passes a newly built monastery complex and leads through the riverbed of Brolistskali. The distance from Stepantsminda to the monastery is about 11 km and the length of the footpath is approximately 17 km.
Gorge of Artkhmo
The gorge begins at the village of Akhaltsikhe (the Sno Gorge) and stretches along a riverbed of Artkhmostsqali. Here, you can visit the ancient abandoned villages Miguda and Artkhmo, and see beautiful waterfalls along the way. Akhaltsikhe is a small town located 10 km away from Stepantsminda.
Village Sno
If you blink, you'll miss this tiny settlement, located about 5 km from Stepantsminda. The home of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church is here, and there is a small church in the courtyard of the residence. Sno also has a large statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali and a tower fortification from the XVI century.
Juta
The village of Juta is one of the highest settlements (2200 m) in the municipality of Kazbegi and is located 24 km from Stepantsminda (8 km of paved road and the remainder is a dirt road). The Chaukhi mountain range, located near the village, is situated on the main ridge of the Caucasus mountain range, at the source of the River Bakurkhevi.