Resort of Khidikari is located 4 km away from Ambrolauri center. The main point of interest in this historical village is a hall church of St. George dating XI c., ruins of later Middle Ages ‘Tsulukidze Tower’ and medieval Khidikari Fortress at the entrance to the village, between rocks in the Rioni river gorge. This Fortress for centuries was a shelter from the East side for the residence of Racha’s Eristavi (Rulers) Barakoni while on the other side the Fortress of Mindatsikhe stood guard. The Fortresses had the function of giving alarm, maintaining a look-out and providing defense. Racha-Lechkhumi plays an important role in manufacturing sweet and semi-sweet wines. Ambrolauri is well-known as a microzone of the Georgian wine brand of ‘Khvanchkara’. Naturally semisweet wine ‘Khvanchkara’ is made by mixing two Georgian grapes varieties – Alexandrouli and Mujuretuli. It has a ruby color and velvety, pleasing sweetish taste. Racha noble family of Kipiani were the first who produced wine of this kind in the XIX century. In 1907 this wine was awarded Gold Medal in the wine festival held in the Belgian city of Ostend. Precious semi-sweet table red wine is also prepared from Racha endemic variety of grapes called ‘Usakhelauri’ that provides the best harvest only in Tsageri district, under the impact of its climate and soil. Even in Tsageri district this variety is grown in only several villages. 

 

1. Khidikari rocky passageway.

2. Vineyards in Racha. The area of ‘Khvanchkara’ wine’s raw material base is roughly 903 ha. The microzone spreads from the hamlet of Tsesi to the hamlet of Kvishara.

3. There are many cultural heritage monuments in Ambrolauri: Church of Nikortsminda (XI c.), Barakoni Church (1753), ruins of Zemo Krikhi, Bugeuli, Patara Oni churches, Minda Fortress, Kvaratsikhe, Khotevi Fortress and others. There are many karst caves in the villages of Nikortsminda and Skhvavashi. In the village of Znakvari, on the Znakvrula river there are several beautiful waterfalls.

 

Location: foot-hill of Racha range (system of Greater Kavkasioni), left bank of river Rioni

Distance: 4 km from Ambrolauri, 294 km from Tbilisi

Sea level: 680 m

Landscape: mountainous

Climate: low mountain subtropical climate, winter mild, with little snow, mean temperature in January -0,3 degrees centigrade; summer very warm, moderately humid, mean temperature in August 22,1 degrees centigrade

Average annual precipitation: 1000 mm

Average comparative annual humidity: 74%

Duration of annual sunny light: 1900-2000 h.

Natural treatment factors: low mountain climate and lightly sulfide, hydro-carbonate (and sulphuric-hydrocarbonate), magnesium-sodium-calcium (and sodium) mineral waters with general mineralization of 0,4-0,8 g/ dm3; discharge – 50 thous. l/day

Types of therapy: mineral water baths, passive climate therapy

Diseases for treatment: musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory (dry pleuritis, long-lasting pneumonia) and nervous system functional disorders.