GEORGIA - Kazbegi

15:54 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Kazbegi (officially named Stepantsminda) is a mountain town on the famous Georgian Military Highway. It is also famous for its view of the Mount Kazbeg and the Gergeti Trinnity Church (Tsminda Sameba).

Driving up to the mountains as we headed to our next destination, Kazbegi.

Reached Qumlistsikhe which is also a ski resort but we only stopped by here briefly at a convenient store for some refreshments.

After exiting the store, I first thought it was just raining. It took a while before I realized it was actually snowing.

It started snowing heavily when we were driving higher and higher up to the mountains.

Gudauri is a nearby ski resort. Well, it was not even winter, so we didn’t went there.

I have never experienced such heavy snow before.

A snow storm during autumn!

Lots of tunnels along the Georgian Military Highway were built to protect from snow drifts.

Why is it called Military Highway? Well, the highway was actually built by the Russian military in 1799.

Of course we stopped by the roadside and started taking pictures excitedly.

But regrettably there wasn’t enough snow for me to make a big snowball and start a snowball fight yet.

Anri told us that we are really lucky to have witness snow during autumn as the snow during winter is beautiful but unbearably cold at -30°C.

The mountains were covered in snow.

Continued along the Georgian Military Highway.

Completely captivated by the pure beauty of snow covered mountains.

Crystal clear River Bidara flows through the valley.

If you continue heading north of Kezbegi about 10 more kilometres along the Military Highway, you will eventually reach Russia.

Approaching Kazbegi town.

Arrived at Kazbegi.

And we’re going to climb that mountain to see Tsminda Sameba Church. Well, not by foot, but by jeep. It’s possible to hike up to the church, though not with an infant.

Our jeep had to crisscrossed through the local residence area at the foot of the hill before we entered the mountains.

It was a bumpy ride up the hill especially on muddy roads but the scenery was also unbeatable.

Our jeep stopped here. The total journey took about 30 minutes instead of a 3 hours hike by foot.

The seventh highest mountains of the Caucasus, Kazbek (5047 m), shrouded in the clouds, is right behind us.

Mount Kazbeg is a dormant volcano.

We still have to hike up a small hill to reach Tsminda Sameba Church as the jeep driver had no confidence to drive up the slippery road to the church.

I didn’t really mind as the scenery is breathtaking.

It was really foggy as I hiked up to the church.

Tsminda Sameba or Gergeti Trinity Church was built in the 14th century.

No invaders could take this prize easily as this iconic church is located remotely on top of the mountains (altitude over 2,300 meters).

The belltower beside the church which was also built at the same period as the church itself in the 14th Century.

Some of the rules and regulations in the church. No photographs inside? Really don’t understand why so many monastery in Georgia disallows photography inside.

Still managed to take some pictures of the Gergati Trinity Church's interior.

The interior of the church is beautiful but the view outside is even more beautiful.

No words can describe this hauntingly beautiful view before me when it was not obscured by the clouds.

Trekking trails to the mountains.

The mountains towering above the town of Kazbegi.

Officially, Kazbegi is called Stepantsminda.

Under Soviet rule, it was named Kazbegi in 1925. But in 2006, the town reverted to its original name of Stepantsminda.

However, when I was there, everybody seems to refer the town as Kazbegi.

Fountain for thirsty travellers below the church.

That’s me, enjoying the beautiful mountain range.

Time to go back to our jeep before the sun sets.

Panoramic view of Tsminda Sameba and its surrounding mountains.

This breath taking scenery will always be in my memory.

Kazbegi is just a small town. There are many adventurers activities to do such as hiking up the many mountains. However, there is nothing much in the town itself other than a spending a night.

Stepantsminda Restuarant. There are just a few restaurants in this small town of Kabegi.

Decided to have my dinner here at Shorena’s Restaurant.

Beautiful setting.

I think the owner is a Georgian but with a Jewish ancestry.

My beau had a Georgian beer, Golden Eagle. The food was also good.

This is the guesthouse that I stayed for the night. It was really, really cold in the night. Thankfully the heater worked.

The surrounding scenery of Kazbegi sure is beautiful. But too cold for my liking.

Clear view of the Kazbeg mountain from the Guesthouse.

Breakfast at the guesthouse before making a move..

The car was covered in frost and it took a while for the car to heat up properly.

Cold!!

It was –2 degrees Celsius! No wonder it was so cold.

A scenic scenery as we travel around the region.

Mountains covered in snow.

The signboard indicating that we are exiting Stepantsminda.

Then our tour guide stopped by this deserted observatory deck in the middle of no where for photo stop. It was built during Soviet times and like many Soviet era buildings and monuments, it was abandoned like that after independence.