Imereti - this strangely green and peculiar region is located in the western part of Georgia, occupying mountainous areas covered with dense forests in the middle course of the Rioni River.If you look at this area from a bird's eye view, you can see a bright green carpet of forests, cut by long, winding gorges.Almost all free space in the valleys and floodplains of numerous rivers is built up, sometimes it is even difficult to determine where one village ends and another begins.The history of the region goes back to the time of the myths about the Argonauts, in which Kutaisi is mentioned as the center of the Colchis kingdom.
The subtropical and humid climate of Nizhny Imereti makes it convenient for recreation throughout the year.The best time to get acquainted with the culture of the region is the beginning of September - when the traditional harvest festival for all of Georgia is held.Performances of the best folklore groups are arranged at many venues in populated areas.Such fiery dances cannot be seen anywhere else!The atmosphere is extremely friendly and fun.
Imereti is also very interesting for cultural tourism, as there are many historical monuments in the territory of the region, which are kept in excellent condition.However, not all of them are easily accessible in winter, so for similar impressions it is worth coming here in the period from April to October.
A lot of natural monuments are concentrated on the territory of the Sataplia Reserve. The limestone surface of the karst caves preserves numerous traces of carnivorous dinosaurs that lived here 60-70 million years ago. Galleries of natural underground structures are decorated with huge stalactites and stalagmites of the most bizarre forms. A settlement of primitive people was discovered not far from the caves. In the reserve, it is also worth visiting the crater of an extinct volcano.
Among the numerous architectural monuments of Imereti, it is worth highlighting the partially destroyed temple of Bagrati, consecrated in 1003. For a long time, it was considered the main religious building of the country, where its rulers, including King David, were crowned.No less interesting will be a tour of the Gelati monastery, the construction of which dates back to the 11th century.It is a real masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture.The walls of the church included in the complex are decorated with beautiful ancient mosaics.In the vicinity of the city of Vani, it is worth visiting the ruins of an ancient antique town that flourished in the period of the III-I centuries.BC when the Colchian Kingdom flourished.
