Chiatura and Katskhi Pillar

Chiatura is a manganese-mining town in a deep gorge, famous for the network of cable cars that once carried workers between the hillsides and the valley floor, and for the Soviet-era industrial landscape that surrounds it. Nearby, the Katskhi Pillar rises about forty metres from the valley, a natural limestone monolith with a small church and monastery cell built on its summit more than a thousand years ago. A day trip from Kutaisi visits both, usually with a stop at a monastery or a viewpoint and a Georgian lunch. It is a striking, offbeat excursion that rewards travellers looking for something different from the standard canyons and caves.

Chiatura feels like a place frozen in the twentieth century. The town grew rapidly with the manganese industry, and in the Soviet period the cable cars were built to link the neighbourhoods, mines and factories scattered across steep slopes. Some of the old cabins still run, creaking over the gorge, while newer ones have replaced others, and riding one is the highlight of the visit. Concrete apartment blocks, ruined mine buildings and brightly painted houses jostle together, giving the town a distinctive and photogenic appearance.

The Katskhi Pillar is the other star. The tall rock column, around forty metres high, is crowned by the ruins of a small church, and legend holds that early Christian hermits lived on top. In recent decades a monk has revived the tradition, living at the summit for much of the year. Visitors cannot climb the pillar, but they can see it from the base, where there is a small monastery complex, and understand why the site has long inspired awe. The surrounding valley is quiet and green.

Tours usually combine the two with a stop at Mgvimevi Monastery, a cave monastery cut into a cliff above the river, which adds a dramatic setting. The drive from Kutaisi takes around an hour in each direction, passing through villages and hilly countryside. A full day typically lasts seven to nine hours with lunch included, and group and private options are common. It is a good choice for travellers who have already done the main sights and want more depth.

Bring comfortable shoes, a camera and a little cash for cable car rides and snacks. Respect the religious sites by dressing modestly and keeping quiet near the pillar, where visitors are asked not to approach the monk’s dwelling. Industrial areas can be dusty, and roads can be rough, so a light jacket and sunglasses help. Conditions are usually fine in spring to autumn, with winter fog sometimes affecting the views.

Allow time to talk with locals if your guide offers the chance. Many Chiatura residents have lived through the rise and decline of the mining industry and have vivid stories about life on the hillsides, and the town is gradually reinventing itself with new cable cars and small cafes.

The drive back to Kutaisi can include a stop at a roadside stall for fruit, honey or fresh bread, which makes a pleasant end to the day. Travellers who like photography will find golden hour at the Katskhi Pillar especially rewarding, so ask whether the tour allows a late-afternoon stop.