Getting There
The nearest village to David Gareja is called Udabno. You can take a marshrutka there and hitchhike to the monastery or use the Gareji Line transfer service, which leaves from Freedom Square in Tbilisi. The road to Davit Gareja is part asphalt and part rubble, so a vehicle with high clearance is recommended.
What to Expect
The beautiful monastery, unique cave paintings, and the vast spaces of the stunning landscape make it worth all the effort to travel David Gareja. The frescoes in the caves of David Gareja show religious subjects painted with unique techniques and colors. Some of the frescoes show historical figures, like David the Builder (in Natlismtsemeli), Queen Tamar (in Bertubani), and Demetrius the Self-Sacrifice (in Udabno).
History
The complex was founded in the first half of the VI century by one of the Assyrian mokns called David. He settled in a small, natural cave in the Gareji Desert, and that is how the monastery was founded. It was known in the later centuries by the name David lavra. As time went it broadened and added branches.
Facilities Available
Book tours, check itineraries, and prices below: DAY TRIP HIKING IN GAREJA CAVESDAY TRIP GAREJA CAVES, SIGHNAGI AND BODBE
