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Official visitor guide


Shuakhevi Municipality

Okropilauri village, Tamara Fortress (XI-XII)

Shuakhevi municipality is situated along the feeders of the Acharistskali River, i.e., the Chirukhistskali, Uchambistskali and Chvanistskali Rivers. Length of the borders is 195 km. Shuakhevi Municipality borders Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri municipalities on the north, Turkey on the south, Khula on the east and Keda and Kobuleti on the west. The total area of the Shuakhevi municipality is 588 sq/km. The Shuakhevi Region was formed as a separate administrative unit in 1952. At present it comprises one small town, nine communities, 43 villages and 25 settled areas. The population is 22.600 people.

There are high mountains in Shuakhevi municipality including Kheva (2.812 m) in the Shavsheti Range and Taginauri (2.662 m) in the Meskheti Range.

There are numerous local natural resources as well as mineral waters including those of Shuakhevi, Shambaleti, Lamazmare, Batalvaki, Gudni, Bogili, Tkemalta, Uchamba, etc. Near the village of Tomasheti can be found sulfur thermal waters reaching 30 Co.

Local fauna include: roe, chamois, wild boar, hedgehog, mole, hare, wolf, fox, bear, badger, jackal, and marten as well as green lizard and grass snake. There is a diversity of birds including woodpecker, thrush, cuckoo, hoopoe, partridge, black grouse, swallow, and woodcock; there are many types of fishes in the rivers: trout, barbel, goby, etc.

Flora of the area includes oak, chestnut, hornbeam, maple, ash-tree, beech, linden, elm, pine, spruce, azalea, bilberry, cherry laurel, and rhododendron). Forests are rich in wild fruit and medicinal plants. In addition to natural species, the inhabitants grow vegetables, wine, tobacco, and fruit. They also keep bees and raise cattle.

Agriculture is the main industry in Shuakhevi. The locals pride themselves on their generosity and hospitality. Here visitors can experience village life and participate in farming activities. It is possible to taste local dishes prepared with ecologically pure products, to explore popular activities including wood plaiting, wood work and masonry, making musical instruments, spinning and knitting. One can also observe a rare trade of making a unique local wind musical instrument, the chiboni (bagpipe).

Shuakhevi is a typical mountainous municipality. Villages are surrounded with low and high mountains covered with diverse forests. Visitors can walk through the woods, hunt wild bears, hare, badgers, and other game seasonally. In the villages of Nigazeuli, Takidzeebi, Zamleti and Gorkhanauli, several tourist farms are available with owner/hosts who have had extensive experience in tourist hosting.

In Shuakhevi municipality there is developed ski resort - Gomarduli.

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