Katskhi Pillar

Katskhi, Georgia

The Katskhi pillar is a natural limestone monolith. It is approximately 40 metres high, and overlooks the small river valley of Katskhura.

The rock, with visible church ruins on a top surface measuring c. 150 m2, has been venerated by locals as the Pillar of Life and a symbol of the True Cross, and has become surrounded by legends. It remained unclimbed by researchers and unsurveyed until 1944 and was more systematically studied from 1999 to 2009. These studies determined the ruins were of an early medieval hermitage dating from the 9th or 10th century. A Georgian inscription paleographically dated to the 13th century suggests that the hermitage was still extant at that time. Religious activity associated with the pillar was revived in the 1990s and the monastery building had been restored.

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Address

Unnamed Road, Katskhi, Georgia
See all sites in Katskhi

Details

Founded: 9th century AD
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Georgia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Marben Solania (19 months ago)
The Katskhi pillar is a fascinating and unique attraction in Georgia that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. Accessible via a cobblestone walkway, the 40-meter high limestone monolith stands tall and proud, crowned by an ancient church that is simply awe-inspiring. While climbing the pillar itself is not permitted, visitors can take a challenging but rewarding trail to the top of the mountain in front of it for a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. It's truly breathtaking to see the pillar from this vantage point, and the hike is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Katskhi pillar is its historical and cultural significance. The pillar has been a site of worship for centuries and is still reserved for monks and priests to this day. Learning about the spiritual importance of the site adds an extra layer of depth and meaning to the experience. Whether you're interested in history, culture, or simply enjoying the beauty of nature, this towering limestone monolith and its ancient church will leave you speechless. Instagram: marben.sol
Jasper (2 years ago)
Super cool place to visit! Also the drive up is fun to do. The road might be challenging when it is busier, as the road is quite small and some parts are a bit steeper(12%). There was almost no one there when we visited.
Rufat Rassulov (2 years ago)
We found this place on google maps and were amazed by the views there. Trust me, it’s even better in real life. It’s ~80 minute drive from Kutaisi city centre, the road is mostly perfect with scenic views. It was a joy to fly there with my drone. We hired a driver from the InDriver intercity rides (130 lari two ways), expect to get a ride to there and back because it’s impossible to get a taxi from there, ask your driver to wait, overall, we needed 4 hours. The place itself has a small museum and a beautiful path that is surprisingly well-made considering it’s pretty far away from main cities. The air is really fresh, my head hurts from so much oxygen. Really calm and untouched nature is all around.
Otarr jomidava (2 years ago)
That was really cool experience! Do not forget to carry your hiking boots and sticks if you wanna to look this pillar from above! You can not go up on the pillar you should go to the mountain which is front of the pillar and you will see everything inside of this church. Road is so good so you can just go with your car. Carry your fresh food or meat you can cook in nature but please do not trow away your garbage in the forest! Inside this church you can drink natural mountains water. And outside is outstanding trust me.
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