Georgia has many regions providing various local specialties. The mountains around Kazbegi are world-renowned for picturesque walking trails and steep skiing slopes, the Black Sea in Adjara offers a holiday resort for international and national tourists, and the Megrulian cuisine offers spices in every dish. Often unnoticed in western Georgia, but extremely popular among citizens of former Soviet states, the town of natural springs called Tskhaltubo gives an extra bit of health tourism to this great country.
Stalin, who is Georgian-born, from the town of Gori, decided every summer to drive down from his Kremlin palace to enjoy the spas and springs stemming from Tskaltubo’s ground. Among the dozens of spring facilities, only one was renovated in the 21st century to recreate Soviet atmosphere. Spring number 6: the biggest one and Stalin’s favorite. In fact, Stalin loved spring 6 so much that he has received his own personal bath, which is now the only room still preserved in its original style. Unfortunately, it is closed off to the public until renovations are done.
Motoring into the town rather feels like entering an abundant Soviet city. Huge, broad roads are a sign of totalitarian politics and the nature springs flowing out of every corner almost fight the many constructions around them while exemplifying the missing maintenance by the authorities. Despite its grandiose look, tourists fill the streets in the summer hoping for the same medical effect that Stalin has once enjoyed. You'll find two parks, the smaller of which boasts a modern restaurant and fishing ground for the townspeople, while tourists sit on the terrace sipping Laghidze, the national drink.
People enjoying a good book every now and then ought to go to a little suburb of Tskaltubo, which hosts the birthplace and museum of Otia Ioseliani, who enchanted the world with his plays and stories. His grandson decided to turn his home into a museum, exhibiting artifacts and background stories to Ioseliani’s works.
WHERE to stay:
Tskaltubo Plaza Hotel
15a Rustaveli St, Tskaltubo
How to get there:
Taxi or Marshrutka from Kutaisi
By Benjamin Music