Agara: Hotels and Accommodations

Agara lies on the left bank of the Mtkvari in the Doghlauri Plain – a brief orientation for travelers looking to book a hotel here. The town is located on the Kareli–Khashuri railway and road corridor; the SH-23 highway is the Agara–Kornisi–Tskhinvali route.

The Agara Sugar Combine was established in Agara in 1932 as the Georgian Sugar Combine. Until 1995, sugar was produced from sugar beets sourced from local districts. Agara is home to food-processing companies, including sugar-related and other processing industries.

Culture and History

Cultural and religious sites associated with the Kareli Municipality include the Samtsevrisi Church, the Kintsvisi Complex, and the Mdzovreti Fortress Complex.

The Dzama Valley in the Kareli Municipality contains up to 60 historical monuments; near Mount Abukhalo, it also features a 25-meter-high waterfall.

The Kintsvisi Monastery in the Kareli Municipality dates from the 12th and 13th centuries and contains historically significant Georgian works of art.

In the Kareli Municipality, the Abukhalo hiking trail leads to the Bardzimjvari summit. The Abukhalo cave complex dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries and once comprised eight caves.

The Mzovreti Fortress in the Kareli Municipality was built in the early Middle Ages and consecrated as a monastery in 2008. It is described as being open to visitors year-round.

The Ortubani Convent in the Kareli Municipality is part of the Mzovreti Fortress Complex and was considered the political center of Shida Kartli from the 14th to the 17th century.

Nature and Trails

In the Kareli Municipality, a three-kilometer hike is required after the paved road ends to reach Lake Bateti.

The southern marsh of Lake Bateti in the Kareli Municipality provides habitat for the endangered banded newt.

Lake Bateti in the Kareli Municipality is suitable for picnicking.

The off-road route into the Dzama River Valley is described as seasonal, runs from late May to late October, and requires an SUV or a similarly equipped vehicle.

Further destinations: Surami, Didi Ateni, Mekheti.

For the broader travel overview: Shida Kartli.