David Gareja Monastery Complex

Few destinations in the hills of Mount Gareja are as picturesque, historical or significant as David Gareja Monastery Complex. This Georgian Orthodox center was founded in the 6th century by one of the 13 Assyrian monks. The stunning religious architectural specimen is home to 13 unique monasteries, towering churches, quiet chapels for worship, living quarters for studying monks and hundreds of cells carved from the mountain rock.  
Travelers who make their way to the semi-desert landscapes where David Gareja Monastery Complex rests—between the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan—will find sheer rock faces slanting into the green foliage of rugged mountains where quiet rooms for worship were carved out. The area known as Lavra still houses studying monks and visitors say the lush grounds thatched with quiet walking trails are worth exploring.

Practical Info

The monastery is located in the Kakheti region in Eastern Georgia and is located about 65 kilometers southeast of the capital city of Tbilisi. Visitors can hire a private taxi from Tbilisi or Sagarejo, but it’s also possible to travel by mini-bus from Liberty Square. It departs daily at 11 a.m. and take approximately one hour. Tickets are 25GEL per person.