Everything about Vardzia totally explained
The
Cave City of Vardzia (
Georgian ვარძია) is a
cave monastery dug into the side of the
Erusheli mountain in southern
Georgia near
Aspindza. It was founded by
Queen Tamar in
1185.
The monastery was constructed as protection from the
Mongols. and consisted of over six thousand apartments in a thirteen story complex. The city included a church, a throne room, and a complex irrigation system watering terraced farmlands. The only access to the complex was through some well hidden tunnels near the
Mtkvari river.
An
earthquake in
Samtskhe destroyed approximately two thirds of the city in
1283, exposing the caves to outside view and collapsing the irrigation system.
The church was reinforced and an externally visible bell tower added during the reign of
Beka Jakheli in the thirteenth century.
Persians commanded by Shah
Tahmasp I raided the monastery in
1551, capturing all important icons and effectively ending the life of the monastery.
Vardzia now
In the modern days Vardzia is a major tourist attraction in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region of
Georgia. The place is maintained by a small group of monks and can be visited for a small fee.
Marshrutkas go to Vardzia daily from the city of
Akhaltsikhe.
About three hundred apartments and halls remain visitable, and in some tunnels the old irrigation pipes still bring drinkable water.
See also
Further Information
Get more info on 'Vardzia'.
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