Telavi

Telavi (; ) is the main city and administrative center of the eastern Georgian province of Kakheti. As of the 2024 census, its population was 16,800. The city is located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range at above sea level.

AI overview

Telavi is the main city and administrative center of Kakheti, a province in eastern Georgia, with a population of 16,800 as of 2024. Located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range, it serves as the regional hub for this area of Georgia.

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Place details

Locality: თელავი
Region: კახეთი
Country: საქართველო
Population: 19,875
Timezone

Travel guide

Understand

Located within the Alasani valley and besides Sighnaghi, Telavi is an important regional tourist centre with many accommodation options; it serves as a base for trips (churches, wineries, parks) into the rest of the region. Nevertheless, it is also great for a day trip from Tbilisi. The similarity of the city's name to Tel Aviv is often used in Georgian jokes.

In the 2nd century, Telavi was first mentioned as Teleda on the world map Geographike Hyphegesis of the Greek geographer Ptolemy. The name originated from the Georgian word Tela, meaning elm. Under Kwirike the Great and during the 9th century, the city became the capital of the kingdom Kakhati-Hereti. The city developed into an important Georgian trade centre until the 12th century, due to its convenient location near the silk road. King Artshil II. made the city capital of the Kakheti region and built his palace and fortress here.

Get around

The city is small enough to be walkable. However, visiting the neighboring sites requires the use of further marshrutkas and/or taxis.

Whereas seeing one or two sites (e.g., the fortress/palace and nearby Alaverdi Monastery) can be a one-day activity from Tbilisi, it is best to stay several days in Telavi to fully enjoy the surroundings (including Tusheti and Sighnaghi).

See

thumb|300px|right|Alaverdi Cathedral Close-by sights that can easily be reached by marshrutka or taxi are Alaverdi Monastery, Ikalto Monastery, Shuamta Monasteries, Tsinandali and even Gremli – see Kakheti.

Do

Telavi is part of the popular wine route, see #Drink.

Buy

Different sorts of wine in the small wineries as well at manufactures, handmade crafts are very beautiful, take some picture in the local gallery.

Eat

Several restaurants on the main street, majority of them located on the basement level.

Drink

Kakheti is Georgia's most famous wine region, so Telavi is perfect for sampling some. The tourist information (along Erekli 2 street) has an overview of all the wine cellars and companies in and around Telavi, and maps of the region if you have your own car.

~12 min read

Article

13 sections

Contents

History
Russian rule
Heritage
Armenian heritage of Telavi
Geography
Climate
Politics
[[:Category:People from Telavi|Notable Residents]]
In popular culture
Twin towns – sister cities
See also
References
External links

==History== The first archaeological findings from Telavi date back to the Bronze Age. One of the earliest surviving accounts of Telavi is from the 2nd century AD, by Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus, who mentions the name Teleda (a reference to Telavi). Telavi began to transform into a fairly important and large political and administrative center in the 8th century. Interesting information on Telavi is provided in the records by an Arab geographer, Al-Muqaddasi of the 10th century, who mentions Telavi along with such important cities of that time's Caucasus as Tbilisi, Shamkhor, Ganja, Shemakha and Shirvan. Speaking about the population of Telavi, Al-Muqaddasi points out that for the most part it consisted of Christians.