David Gareja monastery complex

5.0

270 ratings

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Utkelova Marina

Level 30 Local Expert

There is no fuss here. You stand on the edge of a cliff, looking at the vast expanses stretching into Azerbaijan, the monotonous landscape of a scorched semi-desert. The air rings with silence, and only the wind whispers ancient prayers. It's not just a monastery. It is a cave city carved into the mountain by monks who sought solitude with God. An incredible, harsh grace still lives here. I still don't understand how people could create such a thing many hundreds of years ago without modern technology. This is one of the largest cave monastery complexes in the whole world! It was founded in the sixth century by St. David of Gareji, one of the 13 Assyrian fathers. The complex stretches for 25 km and includes hundreds of caves: cells, churches, refectories, crypts. Unique frescoes. In the main monastery complex, the Lavra of David, frescoes of the VIII-IX centuries depicting David of Gareji and his followers have been preserved. These are priceless works of art of ancient Georgian painting! A symbol of faith and perseverance. The monastery has survived for centuries: flourishing under Queen Tamara, devastation by the Mongols and Persians, and rebirth again. This place is a symbol of indomitable spiritual power. The dust of centuries, the sun—scorched space and the feeling of eternity - that's what David-Gareja is. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, take water and a hat with you. The climbs are quite steep, but the view from the top is worth it! It is better to drive an SUV with an experienced driver or on a guided tour.

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Valeriy S.

Level 4 Local Expert

Be sure to visit if you have a car and time. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Tbilisi, and the road is good. Admission is free. You can walk for an hour and a half, see the monastery of the 6th century. The monastery has a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

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Кирилл Андреевич

Level 9 Local Expert

A spiritual place, a very ancient monastery. The entire monastery complex is carved right into the rock. Gorgeous desert mountains! Do not forget!

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Anonymous review

A beautiful, secluded place and area. Green steppes and hills interspersed with red, orange rocks. The monastery itself is also impressive, partly built in rocks, partly in caves and in the center of a more traditional architecture. Definitely worth a visit. The main thing is comfortable shoes and clothes. On the way or on the way back, buy the freshest suluguni from a local grandmother. Ask the locals and they will tell you where, we found it the first time by asking an employee of the local MFC in the center of the village in a building with a slightly cosmic view for the village. There is a cafe at the exit from the village towards the monastery.

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I L

Level 30 Local Expert

The monastery is not far (an hour's drive) from Tbilisi, but on the border with Azerbaijan. Beautiful views of the unusual steppe, red in color. The monastery resembles Meteors in Greece. It is very interesting to visit. Part of the road is unpaved, but it is quite flat.

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Надежда Князева

Level 13 Local Expert

The monastery is an hour's drive from the main road, but this place, God knows, is worth it. A stunningly beautiful place. It is a pity that the border guards did not allow them to stay there overnight because of the close border with Abkhazia. But I would definitely go back there again

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Александр Некрасов

Level 15 Local Expert

Beautiful place, great views. We were there early in the morning, while there were no tourists, and we were able to look at everything very carefully and go everywhere.

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Анастасия Катаева

Level 13 Local Expert

Beautiful, quiet, peaceful. It takes more than an hour to drive from Tbilisi, there is a parking lot, toilet, etc. The monastery itself is ancient, part of it is closed to the public.

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Станислав С.

Level 5 Local Expert

It's an amazing place! The views, the nature, the silence, it was January 8, 2025. A scenic way back and forth!

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Владимир Мальцев

Level 21 Local Expert

The main attraction of Georgia in my opinion. A must-visit. The beginning of Christianity in the Caucasus, a surprisingly well-preserved antiquity. The visit is free, it is forbidden to launch drones, unfortunately - the border.

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TauRUS

Level 30 Local Expert

Great place! The monastery itself is very beautiful, as well as the views of the surrounding area from it! I definitely advise you to visit. The road is perfect (only through Sagareggio!) and when approaching the monastery, wonderful views open up along the way! There are few tourists early in the morning. Border guards are present, they are not allowed to bypass.

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Юлия

Level 20 Local Expert

The place is a must-visit for both pilgrimage groups and secular tourists. The current monastery is unusual, the cells are located in the rocks. And this is not just architecture, but a place of solitude for prayer.

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Александр

Level 9 Local Expert

The Georgians told me that David Gareji was given to Azerbaijan, but this is not so!! The Lavra itself works, this well-known rock with cells. However, the passage to them is closed for single visitors. Probably groups can, I don't know. But even so, everything is visible and clear, it is not necessary to climb into them. It is better to go in a group, probably with a guide, so that he tells the story of the monastery. But I liked it anyway. I wanted to hear the desert, its silence. There are two reliquaries with the relics of saints, St. David and St. Dodo of Gareja. The border area, there is an armed border guard, groups can go by agreement to a cell with a source (in the same place in these rocks, and district 26!! there used to be monasteries), they wouldn't let me in alone. There are quite a lot of pilgrims / visitors, the silence of the desert can be destroyed by the cheerful cries of a Georgian family (10-15 people :)), who does not understand what is in the holy place and how to behave here, or maybe this is normal for them, I do not know. In general, to appreciate the asceticism of the monks of those times, it was a useful trip. And of course, to venerate the holy relics, to pray. The landscapes around are very unusual, people call them Martian. The area around is rural and sparsely populated, I mean a few kilometers to the monastery. I really liked the views. If you drive your own car, this is the best option.

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anlimani

Level 13 Local Expert

An interesting historical site. Unfortunately, the inspection is limited to a small area, as knowledgeable people explained that the border with Azerbaijan runs along the top of the mountain. Very good (asphalt) road to the monastery with beautiful views.

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Дионисий П

Level 12 Local Expert

Great Orthodox Saint! There are relics (under the tombstone in the temple). The area and part of the monastery itself resemble the most famous ancient monastery of St. Sava the Consecrated in the Jordanian desert. The road to the monastery has recently been paved and now it is easy to get there and beautiful as before!

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Агеев Игорь

Level 20 Local Expert

An amazing place in beauty and power. In the past, it was like a mark in the Muscovite Kingdom, only with a powerful spiritual content. Be sure to take a good guide with you, who will plunge into the ancient history of Georgia, tell the legends of this place, which are heavily involved in the events that took place here. On the way here, if you're lucky, grandma will sell you delicious and fresh suluguni and puri for 20 lari in Udabno. They will be nice to have a snack of Kakheti or chacha, sitting at David Gareji...

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Катерина

Level 5 Local Expert

An unusual, beautiful place, worth a visit. It was a particularly pleasant surprise that there was a very unremarkable place outside, unlike when you go inside! It's not very close, though. But it's beautiful!

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Дмитрий Сиводедов

Level 17 Local Expert

A very interesting quiet place. It is absolutely necessary to climb the paths to the mountain behind the monastery. There is also a part of the cells and a beautiful view

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Алексей Каландия

Level 6 Local Expert

An austere but very atmospheric place. It is a pity that over time the opportunity to inspect very old monastic cells cut out of the rock was closed, but apparently this is for their safety.

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Светлана Б.

Level 4 Local Expert

A Shakar place, a must-visit. It's a bit difficult to drive from Tbilisi, because there's not a good road all the way, but it's worth it.

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Вера Старикова

Level 10 Local Expert

It's a great place. It's breathtaking! The road to the monastery is excellent. It's definitely worth getting here.

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Илья Ш.

Level 9 Local Expert

A very beautiful place, go up to the top, there is also a cave and a couple of military border guards

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Кузьмичева Марина

Level 12 Local Expert

A stunning monastery. We drove along the ideal mountain roads before him. It's just fascinating inside.

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Дмитрий У.

Level 10 Local Expert

Beautiful place and red mountains. The road is in excellent condition

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вячеслав чегодаев

Level 12 Local Expert

An interesting place! Unique nature! The road to the monastery runs in places 100 meters from the border with Azerbaijan!The cells are located right in the sandstone mountain. It reminds me of Petra in Jordan! There is a village on the road where the Svans live! You can taste their traditional dish, khachapuri with meat!

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Инкогнито 9850

Level 8 Local Expert

It's very beautiful, I recommend visiting. Nearby there are very beautiful sandstones or rocks with multicolored layers. And the monastery itself is very beautiful.

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Алла Мегеря

Level 15 Local Expert

It's a very beautiful way to the monastery! In the monastery complex itself, you can walk everywhere, you need comfortable shoes and more time to experience grace! A cat with intelligent eyes followed us everywhere and looked after us!

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Anton

Level 16 Local Expert

A place for meditation, prayer and solitude. Incredible landscape , fascinating views . The air is saturated with freshness. The famous Saint David of Goregia rests in the monastery. I recommend taking comfortable sports shoes. And in general I recommend this place

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Alan Alan

Level 13 Local Expert

A beautiful and interesting place. There is an organized parking lot. Toilets, a church store. Sections of the "colored mountains" are visible nearby.

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Анастасия М.

Level 6 Local Expert

Beautiful views, well-groomed territory, usually sparsely populated and quiet. The road to this place is beautiful

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Кондратьев Владимир

Level 8 Local Expert

A must-visit. Beautiful, picturesque road to the monastery. The monastery itself is simply breathtaking. I just want to stay there, linger.

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Дмитрий Стоянов

Level 18 Local Expert

It's a long day and the stunning watercolor silence of autumn in the mountains. A picturesque place! The spaces (and constantly changing camera angles) of the main courtyard are mesmerizing!!!

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У.

Level 7 Local Expert

This is an incredible place! The beauty is such that you want to stop and take pictures all the time! It was here that the hermits left, we were in the morning, even before the main influx of tourists, there is such silence that you can hear the rustle of grass. Very beautiful, very unusual, on the way back we met two turtles, they just crawled across the road, so unusual! Just a lot of emotions from everything! If necessary, we will definitely go again!

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Светлана Давыдова

Level 12 Local Expert

History and atmosphere

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О. П.

Level 13 Local Expert

One of the most ascetic monasteries, always very quiet. The temple in the rock, the cells of the monks, too. In the temple of the relics of St. David of Gareja and his disciple.

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DZN Dх2

Level 8 Local Expert

It is about 100 km from Tbilisi, there are few tourists, probably due to bad roads, in some places the speed is no more than 5 km/ hour. As it seemed to us, this situation is good for the monks. There is no hustle and bustle. I liked the place itself, because monks live there, run the household, there is no feeling that you are in an ordinary museum. Take comfortable, athletic shoes because you will have to go upstairs. At the request of the guide-15 GEL

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Dark Sochi

Level 11 Local Expert

It is located on the border with Azerbaijan. the border itself and the border guards are not visible. the road is good, very picturesque along the way. Not everything is open (due to territorial disputes with a neighbor). There is a paid toilet, a shop with wine and cheese of local production (inexpensive). from the parking lot there are stunning views of the striped mountains (similar in color to carpets) I recommend.

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Александр

Level 6 Local Expert

Unfortunately, in 2024, movement around the monastery is limited. You can get around in 5-10 minutes at a very slow pace. Realizing that the monastery is active, I have no complaints

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Алиса

Level 9 Local Expert

A picturesque road to the monastery, lying near the border with Azerbaijan (border guards were visible). Only a small part of the monastery is freely available to visit, as I understand it due to political problems, but I really liked what I saw.

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Мария М.

Level 6 Local Expert

A very interesting place! Beauty, silence! The views are incredibly beautiful!

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Светлана Гриненко

Level 23 Local Expert

Beautiful views, colorful mountains nearby, the border....

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Анна Анатольевна Сохач

Level 10 Local Expert

An incredibly spiritual place almost on the border with Azerbaijan. To contemplate and be at peace

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Натали

Level 14 Local Expert

A beautiful place, a unique monastery. You should definitely visit.

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Игорь Н.

Level 22 Local Expert

Impressive!

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Виктор Петряев

Level 4 Local Expert

A very beautiful and atmospheric place, a must-visit

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Грушин Анатолий

Level 29 Local Expert

A beautiful road to the castle, the location is small, as I understand it, half of the castle is in Azerbaijan and half in Georgia, but I did not see the border guards...

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Екатерина Маркина

Level 6 Local Expert

Very beautiful Definitely need to see

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Алексей Кученков

Level 21 Local Expert

Definitely 5 points. A few meters from the Azerbaijani border. It fits very romantically into the mountain landscape. There is a small shop at the monastery. We bought a bottle of Kakheti wine. The road from Tbilisi is good. Definitely worth a visit. I recommend.

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Станислав

Level 7 Local Expert

A great and beautiful place! I recommend that you definitely visit. It became easier to get there by car, the road to the monastery was paved. On the way, do not forget to stop at the cozy cafe Udabno Terrace.

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Роман 89093947065

Level 12 Local Expert

A cool place with a unique view of the mountains. A very atmospheric place, everything is saturated with antiquity and the life of the Middle Ages. By the way, on the other side of the upper cell is the border of Azerbaijan

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David Gareja monastery complex

91 review