Uplistsikhe – The Ancient Cave Town in Georgia
Located just an hour away from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Uplistsikhe fortress is one of the ancient cave towns in Georgia. Uplistsikhe is translated as “Lord’s fortress”. However, in pagan times Uplos was the local tribal leader and it is thought, that he built the fortress; as a demonstration of power. So, it has nothing to do with religion. According to the legend, the city was built by slaves. Their axes were made of half iron and half gold. So, if a slave worked hard and his axe’s iron was worn-out, he was gifted the gold and freedom.
The city consists of a diverse architecture, dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages. And like in any other town, there were variety of buildings for religious, social, governmental and other uses. So, Uplistsikhe was a major religious, political and cultural center.
Georgia is often called the cradle of wine. So there is no surprise, that plenty of remains of Kvevri (clay pot for wine) can be seen in Uplistsikhe. Locals explain the reason behind it. Apparently, when a baby was born, a family would fill up a new Kvevry with a wine and bury it. Then, when a child turned 16, family would donate kvevri full of wine to the church. In 9th century, St. George’s Byzantine-style basilica was built on the rock, without any foundation. It survived multiple earthquakes and it is fully functioning today. Archaeological excavations in Uplistsikhe revealed many unique items, which are displayed in the National Art Museum of Georgia.
In the ancient times, there were up to 700 caves in Uplistsikhe, but today, only 150 of them are left. Earthquakes and region’s mild rock structure are the main reason of damage. Most of the remaining caves are preserved in their original state. Marvelous halls, gates, cobble stone streets and squares, and secret tunnels make visitors feel transported to the glorious past of Georgia.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Uplistsikhe Cave Town archaeological site, near Gori, Shida Kartli, Georgia (marker represents the site area, not the ticket gate)
- Coordinates
- 41.966784, 44.2073341
- Access
- Open-air archaeological site with an uphill route over uneven, polished sandstone, steps, low tunnels, exposed edges and little shade. Wear shoes with grip, carry water, and keep children close near unguarded drops; wet stone can be slippery. The mapped point is within the cave-town site, not the ticket entrance.
- Admission
- Adult admission is listed at GEL 15 by a Gori-based guide checked in September 2026 and a separate current Georgia visitor guide. Prices and concessions can change; confirm the tariff at the reserve. Audio guide and private guiding cost extra.
- Time needed
- Allow about 1.5–2 hours for the cave town; allow closer to two hours if you include the small museum and a guide. This is an itinerary estimate, not a site time limit.
- Best season
- April–June and late September–October are the most comfortable periods according to independent Georgia travel guides. The exposed ridge has almost no shade; visit early or late in July–August. In winter or after rain, polished sandstone may be slippery.
- Opening hours
- Published hours conflict: the heritage agency page lists Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00; a Gori-based guide checked September 2026 reports daily opening, including Mondays, with seasonal hours. Confirm directly with the reserve before travelling, especially on Mondays and public holidays.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-16
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-16
Location
Use the zoom buttons or pinch to zoom. Use arrow keys to pan when the map is focused.
Interactive map loads when in view.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I really enjoy all the articles
I enjoyed being able to read this article about a part of the past of the state of Georgia. I do believe that our Children an our younger generation really does need to read an learn about the past History of their state. I will look forward to seeing more Post to read like this Post.