Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[ironman]

Map of Tbilisi and Flag of the city

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Tbilisi is mentioned in Georgian annals for the first time in connection with the events occurred in the IV century C.E. At that time it was already a powerful fortress which played an important defensive role in the struggle of the Georgian kingdom against foreign invaders, the Persians in particular.

Monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, founder of the city and Metekhi Cathedral

Click on the pictures to enlarge

The foundation of the city has come down to us as legend. One day King Vakhtang Gorgasali was hunting with his retinue in impenetrable woods whitchj at that time covered the slopes of the Mtkvari (Kura) Valley. While pursuing his game the king lost sight of the rest of the hunters. Suddenly a pheasant came flying out of bushes. The king hit him with an arrow.When he dismounted and wanted to pick up his bag he found that the pheasants had fallen into a hot spring and was cooked. The retinue found its ruler immersed in thought by a hot spring. King Vakhtang announced that a town would be built there and the he would name it TBILISI, "City of Warm Springs" in Georgian.

Tbilisi was repeatedly invaded all through the many centuries of its history. In the 730s the town passed into the hands of the Arabs who ruled in Transcaucasia for several centuries. Despite intervention and destruction, Tbilisi was in the XII-XIII centuries one of the populous and economically well developed towns of the Middle East. During the subsequent epoch, however, Tbilisi gradually fell into decay. This was caused by the constant invasions of enemy hordes and the break-up of the united Georgian state. It is estimated, that during this epoch Tbilisi was captured and razed to the ground more than 80 time ! The last time the city was subjected to a destructive attack of the Persian Shah Agha Mohammed Khan in 1795.

The panorama of Tbilisi from the old part of city

Click on the pictures to enlarge

A peaceful era of development in the history of Tbilisi started at the turn of the XIX century. Though Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire, the repressive Russian regime brought political and ecnomical stability to the country. The construction of the Transcaucasian Railway provided for the city a convenient egress to the most important land and sea communications; a number of industrial enterprises were put into operation; trade and handicraft rapidly increased. Considerable changes occurred in the cultural life of the city; the network of the schools expanded, newspapers and magazine began to be published and thatres opened. (Unfortunately, thess changes were accompanied by a repressive policy of Russification of the local population.) The population of the city substantially increased and by 1897 numbered almost 200,000 men.

Monument of Yetim Gurji, national poet, who was writting his poems in Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijanian languages, and Old Tbilisi street.

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Another major period in the history of Tbilisi began with the Independence of Georgia in 1918. Though the sovereign country lived for only three years, Tbilisi prospered and achieved a new level. Tbilisi State University was established in 1918 and many new enterprises put into operation. Yet, these developments were checked by the annexation of Georgia by the Soviet Russia in 1921.

The Tbilisi State University

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Still the city found its own way to prosper under the Soviet Regime. New districts were built, institutions established; an important project - embankment of the Mtkvari River, initiated in 1930, that prevented the annual deluges and floods. Though the first horse tramway was put into operation in 1883 along the present Agmashenebli Avenue, it was in 1937 the the first city trolley-bus traffic started on the same route. The location and appearance of Tbilisi are unique. The city is surrounded on three sides by the slopes of Trialeti and Saguramo-Ialoni ranges. The hollow in which Tbilisi lies merges with Lower Kartli Plain in the south-east and the Samgori plain in the east.Most of the city lies on the different slopes from 380 to 550 m. above the sea level.

As you approache Tbilisi, you can see Mount Mtatsminda ("The Holy Mountain") from far afar. At the foot of the mountain is the lower station of the funicular railway, while on the plateau that crowns the mountain is one of the city's parks, a large and beautiful building of the upper station and the TV tower. On the steep slope of the mountain, just above its foot, stands as though grown in the cliff, the ancient St. David Monastery. Its cemetery has a pantheon containing the graves of outstanding Georgian writers and public figures. Here Nikoloz Baratshvili, Ilya CHavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Vazha Pshavela, Yakob Gogebashvili, Niko Nikoladze, Galaktion Tabidze, Georgi Lebanidze, Iosif Grishashvili, Simon Chikovani and others found their last Peace.

Narikala Fortress in the background

Click on the pictures to enlarge

The city itself is a combination of Western and Eastern architecture and culture. The Old City has a narrow, winding and steep streets with typically oriental style. A unique hot spring bathes, that had excited King Vakhtang, are still functioning to the pleasure of visitors. The Narikala Fortress dominates this part of the city.

Among the main street of the city Rustaveli Avenue is noted for the beauty of its buildings and its luxuriant verdure. In the beginning of the avenue is the central square of the city - The Independence Square. In the 1850s a huge caravan-serai building was erected in the middle of this square. It was the first modern theatre building in the Transcaucasia and was richly decorated by G.G. Gagarin, well-known Russian artist who then served in Georgia. According to Alexander Dumas (the Father), in its beauty the theatre vied with the worlds best theatres of the times. In 1874 the theatre burned down and the owner of the caravan-serai prohibited its restoration. In our days, the square is fundamentally reconstructed and a beautifull square with paved road was made. The City Hall building faces from the one side. On the opposite side there is a monument to Alexander Pushkin, great Russian poet who lived in Tbilisi in 1829, and a street named after him runs nearby. Not far from the Independence square is a beautifull Neo-Classic building - a former residence of the vice-regent of the Emperor of Russia in Transcaucasia.

The Paliashvili Opera House and Shota Rustaveli Academic Theatre

Click on the pictures to enlarge

On the opposite side of the Rustaveli Avenue stands the Kashveti Temple well known for its finest stone ornamentation. Further up the street visitor will find Rustaveli Theater with its domimant and unique facade, Paliashvili Opera house built in a graceful pseudo-moresque style. In the middle part of the avenue, one can find the Supereme Court of Georgia with its grand colonade; Academy of Science of Georgia built in Neo-Gothic style and crowned with a tall tower. Nearby is a newly erected monument to the greatest Georgian King, David Agmashenebeli....

A blend of cultures, a smell of spices on the air, different nations meeting on street corners, different faiths sharing the same courtyards ... this is Tbilisi, the city that has been dominated by traders, warriors, tyrants and dictators in turn. Take a walk around the old town, and breathe in the living past.Visit the bustling markets, the ancient sulphur baths, the dazzling treasury, and the magnificent churches, and gain a sense of the crossing place of the Caucasus. Tbilisi is a town which conquers you with a slow fascination and lodges in your heart forever.

[starlagurl]

Thanks for that, do you live in Tbilisi?

[branefatboy]

You said click on the pictures.....but there is only one picture

[orik]

I live in neighbor country of Geogia, right?

I know, Georgia has good travel destinations, spots, but I there is no good vacation service there. Very few investment put for comfort tourist services. If The needed money invested there, it can be good vacation spot to travel, but personally it is Not Impressive for me, because of not good service.

So - the money and service needed to invest there to make Georgia More attractive as a tourist destination. But I Love Georgia really.

[starlagurl]

Hm interesting. If it's not comfortable, why do you love Georgia so much then?

[kulula]

Yes, Georgia is a beautiful Country and intresting travel destination, with the time it becomes better fast. Most popular travel activities for now are hiking and trekking in Caucasus mountains and I am also reccommend to plan the vacations to Gudauri ski resort

[dremen_key]

Hi, if you want to save your basketball teams from unnecessary stress and fatigue the best thing you could do is have an Image van rental waiting for them when they touch ground. It will not matter how short of a flight is involved to get any athletic team to their destination fatigue sets in. Cheerleading teams have often reaped the benefits of having a 15-passenger van rental waiting for their arrival. This gave them the time to relax before they had to go for warm ups knowing they were not depending on crowded slow moving public transportation. See signature link below to get more help.

All the best!














A VAN RENTAL COMPANY

[emanuelh]

Hi,

The main goal is to have everyone satisfied and entertained. Usually employers do not have the time or know how to organize such events, thus, the magic hand of a professional is needed. There are companies that organize corporate outings and company picnics in the most professional and positive way, allowing participants to have fun and enjoy their time away from work.

____________________________
Company picnic tampa

[littlekate]

Dear Georgians,
I remember your country perfectly well since soviet times. It was impossible not to love it – people with their life-loving attitude, landscapes, food. That time we found perfect all the conveniences available. And besides all that food, fruits, consumer goods available we (Russians) were happy!

The question is that since then a lot of things changed. Some 5 years ago I saw on the net a photo of the vocation home where once I have been as a small girl. On the photo it was all ruined – a huge mess of boards and glass. I guess, it was because of Abhasian wars in 1990-s. Now I have a friend who is an Armenian girl. Her kinsmen live in Armenia, and she lives in St. Petersburg (where I live), trying to earn some money. This means, that her way to Armenia from Russia comes through Georgia. The thing is she always flies to Armenia in spite of huge flight costs, never trying to cross Georgia. She says crossing Georgia is unsafe. Someone armored may stop your car on the road demanding money. Dear Georgians, what is going on?! This has nothing to do with politics, this is what people say!

[ulla15]

Dear Georgians,
I remember your country perfectly well since soviet times. It was impossible not to love it – people with their life-loving attitude, landscapes, food. That time we found perfect all the conveniences available. And besides all that food, fruits, consumer goods available we (Russians) were happy!

The question is that since then a lot of things changed. Some 5 years ago I saw on the net a photo of the vocation home where once I have been as a small girl. On the photo it was all ruined – a huge mess of boards and glass. I guess, it was because of Abhasian wars in 1990-s. Now I have a friend who is an Armenian girl. Her kinsmen live in Armenia, and she lives in St. Petersburg (where I live), trying to earn some money. This means, that her way to Armenia from Russia comes through Georgia. The thing is she always flies to Armenia in spite of huge flight costs, never trying to cross Georgia. She says crossing Georgia is unsafe. Someone armored may stop your car on the road demanding money. Dear Georgians, what is going on?! This has nothing to do with politics, this is what people say!

I have been in Georgia three weeks ago and I never felt unsave in any region or town. I think you should check it out yourself and not just listen to rumors or opinions from people who do not know the country at all. If you just fly over it you are certainly not able to judge about a country
As I have experienced myself Georgia is not dangerous at all despite its economic problems, there are lots of police officers on the roads and people are so friendly and helpfull so you really don't have to be afraid.

[ulla15]

I live in neighbor country of Geogia, right?

I know, Georgia has good travel destinations, spots, but I there is no good vacation service there. Very few investment put for comfort tourist services. If The needed money invested there, it can be good vacation spot to travel, but personally it is Not Impressive for me, because of not good service.

So - the money and service needed to invest there to make Georgia More attractive as a tourist destination. But I Love Georgia really.

What is obvious if you travel to georgia is that it is a post-communist country, which means there is a lot to improve concerning the infrastructure. These problems however stand in huge contrast to the warmth, the hospitality and the generosity of the georgian people, the great landscapes and the ancient culture. Georgia is really worth seeing it, even if you have never been before in an ex-soviet republic and need 1 or 2 days to get accustomed to wrecked buildings or bad roads. At the end of your trip you will certainly promise yourself to come back as soon as possible.