The Zekarsky pass connects two regions of Georgia - Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti. In a few hours on an off-road vehicle, you can make a fascinating journey along the steep slopes of the Meskhetian ridge. The road from the small town of Bagdati leads to an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level. A significant part of the journey is over the clouds.
Sairme resort: from an all-union hospital to a fashionable health resort
During the Soviet Union times, the Sairme resort was famous throughout the country for its mineral springs. According to its medicinal properties, the water is not only not inferior to Borjomi and Nabeglavi, but also surpasses them. The main thing is to know when to stop and not harm your health. Mineral-rich springs help to get rid of liver, gall bladder, gastrointestinal tract diseases, as well as problems of the musculoskeletal system. After the beginning of the 90s, the resort was restored again. And now it is popular not only among locals, but also among tourists from the CIS countries. Today you can meet tourists from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Georgian Alps hidden in fog
Further on Sairme the Zekarsky pass begins. The road is steep. Dense forests are gradually disappearing and the beauty of the harsh mountains of the Meskhetian ridge is revealed. Alpine zone. The asphalt ends and the dirt road begins. The SUV goes through the pits and potholes without much difficulty.
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However, here you can also find legends of the Soviet automobile industry. An old "Kopeyka" is busily circling the serpentines and is admired by foreigners. “Made in the USSR and for centuries!”, Tourists note. An hour and a half of the road through picturesque landscapes and ahead is the highest point of the pass. This is Kvasakdara. Imeretian Stonehenge. Here, on the alpine slopes, are scattered giant boulders of volcanic origin. According to scientists, they are several million years old. They say that this place has magical powers. Anyone who rises here and meets the full moon at these stones will become the owner of heroic strength and health. It's hard to say how true this is, but on the green grass you can see the colorful tents of tourists. For them, extreme and adrenaline are important, not legends.
Forward on narrow terraces
It is better to leave Kwasakdar before dark. Due to heavy fog, which may or may not dissipate, the road is almost invisible. So it's not worth the risk. The road down to the Borjomi Gorge passes through narrow terraces. There are cliffs on both sides in several sections. This is a kind of border-watershed between the basins of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The maximum speed of movement by car is 10-15 kilometers per hour. And this makes it possible to take photos on the go.
Cafe-hut and cows like from the label "Condensed milk"
Going down the pass, after 30 kilometers, one can feel the "approach of civilization". Small settlements of shepherds are scattered in the gorge. They spend the season here from May to September. For tourists - a small wooden cafe. They are treated with cheese, milk, yogurt and natural honey. Cows graze nearby. With the ringing of bells, they attract attention and happily pose in front of the camera lens, however, good-natured shepherd dogs do not refuse selfies.
Christmas trees again - dense forest
Ahead is the reserve. Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Thousands of hectares of unique pine forest. These places are under state protection. Foresters on the road check the cars. There was a time when people came here to uproot young trees, and then sell them for big money in Tbilisi.
Meanwhile, in the reserve it is worth stopping for a while, turning off the car engine and enjoying the silence, which is broken only by the singing of birds. The pass is over and in a few kilometers the nearest settlement is Abastumani. This means there are roadside restaurants where you can taste dishes made from natural products.
Mikhail Robakidze