Borjomi and Borjomi Central Park

Borjomi is situated in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region some 50 km northeast of Akhaltsikhe along the main road 8. With its population of a little more than 10,000 it is one of the bigger cities in the province.

Borjomi lies within the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and is known for its mineral water industry – which is a major source of income for the area and one of Georgia‘s main exports – as well as its famous history.

Borjomi water rises to the earth's surface from a depth of 8-10 kilometers through the pressure of natural carbon dioxide. Unlike many other mineral waters, it does not cool down on its way up and, while rising to the surface, is enriched with a composition of more than 60 different minerals.

At the end of the 19th century, the small town of Borjomi was a glamorous health resort. The royal Russian Romanov family erected a palace here, rich Russians and Persians followed and had their own magnificent villas built. To make the rich spa guests feel welcome, well-tended parks and grand hotels were opened. At that time, Borjomi was a meeting point for world stars of the decade like composer Tchaikovsky and poet Maxim Gorky.

Still today, because of the supposed curative powers of the area's mineral springs, Borjomi is a frequent destination for people with health problems. People drink the mineral water right from the numerous springs and take a bath in the sulfur pools in Borjomi Central Park.

The Central Historical Park was also constructed at the end of the 19th century and it is home to the some of the historical heritage of the town, like the remnants of the first hydropower plant in the Caucasus that was built at the end of the 19th century. The former hydropower plant was an innovative project of the time, originally producing more than 150,000 kilowatts per day, supplying this once exclusive region with energy. In the 1990s the building was almost completely destroyed and is to be renovated as an industrial museum.

But Borjomi Central Park also houses one of the most extensive ecologically themed amusement parks in the whole Caucasus. A visit to Borjomi Central Park can be a joyful day for the whole family!

How to get there:
Borjomi is situated in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region some 50km northeast of Akhaltsikhe along the main road 8. Driving time from Akhaltsikhe approx. one hour.

Distance from major cities:
Akhaltsikhe - Borjomi: 50 km

Opening hours:
Every day including weekends.

Professional guide service:
The park also offers professional guides to show you around, languages are English, Georgian, Russian and Indian. Guide costs app. 20 GEL, payment in cash or with credit card possible.

Admission fee:
5 GEL per person, payment in cash or with credit card possible.

Important things to know:
Borjomi Central Park is a well equipped tourist site. There a shops for food, drinks and handicraft, toilets, ATM machines for cash and medical assistance, if needed. And the site can be accessed by people with disabilities, as there are ramps and an additonal transportation system within the park. 

Picture credits: beyondarts GmbH (view down on Borjomi Central Historical Park and Borjomi from the upper station of the cable car)

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.