Lechkhumi

 Tour to Lechkhumi

In Lechkhumi, nature lovers, as well as those fond of waterfalls, canyons, mineral waters, alpine meadows, lakes, and mystical mountains, will find much to enjoy.

 

A vacation in Lechkhumi includes visiting beautiful places like Mount Khvamli, the Rachi waterfall, and the village of Lailashi. Additionally, one can enjoy nature by visiting the resorts of Lashichala or Akhalchala.

 

I want to tell you about a small, little-known mountain region of Georgia for tourists — Lechkhumi.This mountainous area is located between the mountainous regions of Svaneti and Racha. Lechkhumi is situated on the southern slope of the Caucasus, near Svaneti and Racha, but it is very different in nature.

 

It can be boldly said that if it weren't for the high alpine meadows and glaciers of Svaneti, Lechkhumi would take first place. The mountains here are the most beautiful. Just Mount Khvamli alone can be compared to all others. It is not higher than 2200 meters, but there are legends about it, stating that Amiran (Prometheus) was chained here for stealing fire from the gods.

 

This mountain is called the most mystical not only in Lechkhumi but in all of Georgia. At an altitude of 2000 meters, an anchor of a ship was even found. Mount Khvamli, with its slopes and caves, is considered the most interesting mountain for climbers and researchers, despite its modest height.

 

In Lechkhumi, at the foot of Mount Khvamli, in the village of Okureshi, the rarest and most expensive wine in Georgia, Usakhelauri (Nameless), grows. It is so sensitive to nature that if transplanted to a neighboring village, it dies.

 

And its yield is only a few tons a year. This is a semi-sweet red wine. In Lechkhumi, in the canyon of the Lajanuri River, there is one of the richest mineral water resorts — Lashichala. On just a few acres of land, there are 11 types of mineral springs, and all of them are intended for treating various diseases. If you climb the mountains for 14 kilometers from the valley, you can find the Dzruguri spring. It is considered very rare in composition. It is said to help diabetics if they spend a month at the spring. In Lechkhumi, there is a small but very beautiful canyon of the Lajanuri River — Orpiri (rock gates), where you can ride a bicycle, enjoying the elongated rocks that resemble balconies over the road.

 

In this canyon, the coldest water flows from the rocks — the spring "Beburishvilevis Tskaro." It is so cold that even a small glass cannot be drunk without a break.

 

In Lechkhumi, there is a small village of Lailashi, which until the 18th century was the trade center of Imereti (Western Georgia). It was here that archaeologists found an ancient manuscript — a unique parchment of the 10th century, the Torah scroll (the Five Books of Moses), which is very valuable for Jews and Christianity.

 

Due to the high position of this village, it is likely that the Jews felt safe here from external enemies of Georgia.

 

In Lechkhumi, there is the village of Sairme, with beautiful columns of rocks. Lechkhumi also has the village of Gvirishi with a small but beautiful canyon.

 

The canyons of the rivers Rioni, Lajanuri, and Tskhenistskali are also worth seeing.

 Lechkhumi is a very favorable place for flying on hang gliders or small aircraft, as this region with its canyons is considered the most windless in Georgia.