If you were looking for the Israeli city, look hereTelavi (Georgian: თელავი), with a population of 21,800, is the capital of the province of Kakheti in the country of Georgia.
Located within the Alasani valley and besides Sighnaghi, Telavi is an important regional tourist centre with many accommodation options; it serves as a base for trips (churches, wineries, parks) into the rest of the region. Nevertheless, it is also great for a day trip from Tbilisi. The similarity of the city's name to Tel Aviv is often used in Georgian jokes.
In the 2nd century, Telavi was first mentioned as Teleda on the world map Geographike Hyphegesis of the Greek geographer Ptolemy. The name originated from the Georgian word Tela, meaning elm. Under Kwirike the Great and during the 9th century, the city became the capital of the kingdom Kakhati-Hereti. The city developed into an important Georgian trade centre until the 12th century, due to its convenient location near the silk road. King Artshil II. made the city capital of the Kakheti region and built his palace and fortress here.
- Tourist Information, Erekle II. St. 9, +995 350275317. daily 10:00-18:00.
Tourist Information, Erekle II. St. 9, +995 350275317. daily 10:00-18:00.
- Palace of King Erekle II, 1 Erekle II street. closed for renovation as of March 2017, likely to reopen in summer. Palace of the ruler of Kakheti Kingdom between 1744 and 1798, and afterwards fortress and seat of Kakheti Kingdom through the centuries. The palace inhabits influences of the nearby neighbour in the south, Persia. Southeast of the palace also the King Erekle II on a horse monument can be found.
- 900-year-old Plane tree, Chadari street (100m in front of the statue of King Erekle II. 46 m in height, and 36 m in diameter at the top. Likely the oldest living thing you will hug in your life. This tree has an unusually large circumference and in summer provides shade for the local (friendly) street dogs. The local people call it Chadari. Free.
- St. George Church.
- Cholokashvili Street. Beautifully renovated street/old town. Not very busy during low season. The renovation is considered critically by some, because it does often not resemble the original version and many of the buildings behind are left untouched and thus continue to fall apart.
- Russian Era Monument, Kartuli Universiteti St. (west of the city, the forest side road to the monument is shortly after the cemetery on the right hand side. Here you find the 40-50 m high St. Barbare, which appears to be a monument for the fallen soldiers
Close-by sights that can easily be reach by marshrutka or taxi are Alaverdi Monastery, Ikalto Monastery, Shuamta Monasteries, Tsinandali and even Gremli – see Kakheti.
Palace of King Erekle II, 1 Erekle II street. closed for renovation as of March 2017, likely to reopen in summer. Palace of the ruler of Kakheti Kingdom between 1744 and 1798, and afterwards fortress and seat of Kakheti Kingdom through the centuries. The palace inhabits influences of the nearby neighbour in the south, Persia. Southeast of the palace also the King Erekle II on a horse monument can be found.
900-year-old Plane tree, Chadari street (100m in front of the statue of King Erekle II. 46 m in height, and 36 m in diameter at the top. Likely the oldest living thing you will hug in your life. This tree has an unusually large circumference and in summer provides shade for the local (friendly) street dogs. The local people call it Chadari. Free.
St. George Church.
Cholokashvili Street. Beautifully renovated street/old town. Not very busy during low season. The renovation is considered critically by some, because it does often not resemble the original version and many of the buildings behind are left untouched and thus continue to fall apart.
Russian Era Monument, Kartuli Universiteti St. (west of the city, the forest side road to the monument is shortly after the cemetery on the right hand side. Here you find the 40-50 m high St. Barbare, which appears to be a monument for the fallen soldiers
Telavi is part of the popular wine route, see #Drink.
Different sorts of wine in the small wineries as well at manufactures, handmade crafts are very beautiful, take some picture in the local gallery.
Town Market.
Several restaurants on the main street, majority of them located on the basement level.
- Bravo, Nadikvari street, +995 593 15 27 13. Lovely spot with the lower floor café-style and upper floor for dining, and a terrace too. They serve typical Georgian food and foreign dishes too. Reasonably priced and some of the staff speak English.
Bravo, Nadikvari street, +995 593 15 27 13. Lovely spot with the lower floor café-style and upper floor for dining, and a terrace too. They serve typical Georgian food and foreign dishes too. Reasonably priced and some of the staff speak English.
Kakheti is Georgia's most famous wine region, so Telavi is perfect for sampling some. The tourist information (along Erekli 2 street) has an overview of all the wine cellars and companies in and around Telavi, and maps of the region if you have your own car.
A good starting point is the shop close to the big Plane tree and the statue in Telavi itself. The staff speaks fluent English, they sell wines from a number of wineries and they have information and prices for different tastings you can do. They can also organize a driver to take you there.
- Georgian Post, Service Center Telawi, Erekle II. St. 12.
- Several medical clinics, some specialized, can be found on southern hillside of the city, nearby the university.
Georgian Post, Service Center Telawi, Erekle II. St. 12.
Several medical clinics, some specialized, can be found on southern hillside of the city, nearby the university.
Besides the close-by sights mentioned under #See, the following are popular destinations from Telavi:
- Sighnaghi – A restored wine town with an extensive wall and close-by the popular Monastery of St. George at Bodbe (aka Bodbe Convent).
- Gurjaani – One of the centres of Georgia's wine industry. Landmarks include the Church of the Dormition aka Church of All Saints (Kvelatsminda; 8th-9th century).
- Tusheti National Park – A mysterious, remote region high in the mountains bordering Chechnya with ancient pagan and Christian monuments; to go here is to wander back in time hundreds of years. Famous for its historic towers.
- Pankisi Gorge – The gorge is now safe and still home to many Chechen refugees–probably the safest place in the world to experience Chechen culture.
- Lagodekhi – A pretty boarder town (next to Azerbaijan) and a nearby nature reserve with subtropical forests.
Also, see Kakheti for more details.