Why Visit Uplistsikhe Cave Town in Georgia
Uplistsikhe, literally meaning 'Fortress of the Lord’, is an ancient rock-hewn town that had a significant influence on Georgian history over a period of approximately 3,000 years.
As one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia, this ancient cave city could be traced from the late Bronze Age all the way up to the late Middle Ages.
It was strategically located in the heartland of pre-Christian Kartli Kingdom and emerged as a major political, religious and cultural center of the country until it was ravaged by the Mongols in the 13th century.
The complex is made up of three parts (lower, middle, and upper) covering an area of approximately 40,000 square meters. The middle part is the largest and most highlighted.
Today’s Uplistsikhe is a remarkable landmark renowned for the unique combination of styles from rock-cut cultures of the region, most notably from Cappadocia (in modern Turkey) and Northern Iran.