Georgia's Vardzia Cave Complex 🌍️

Nestled in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains near the border with Turkey, approximately 100 kilometers in a straight line from the ancient city of Ani, lies the Vardzia cave complex. This remarkable group of caves is carved into the cliffs along the Kura River, offering a naturally defensible position . The discovery of these caves is quite dramatic. In the 12th century, while the Georgian royal family was hunting nearby, a young princess accidentally fell into one of the caves, leading to their discovery. At that time, the cave complex was already uninhabited but contained rooms, utensils, and murals, the origins of which are unknown. It's as if it appeared out of nowhere, akin to the Water Curtain Cave in the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West." Later, the princess ascended to the throne as Queen and continued to expand the caves. At its peak, the complex consisted of more than ten levels and was home to over 40,000 people. The city served as a fortress against pressures from the west . The landscape is reminiscent of the ancient Guge Kingdom in Tibet and Cappadocia in Turkey, but on a much larger scale. Today, only a few hundred small caves remain due to earthquakes and other factors. The interior tunnel systems are as complex as the地道战 in冉庄, and cultural preservation workers are actively restoring them. There is also an Orthodox church and a spring within the caves, where a few Orthodox clergy reside and sell souvenirs to earn a modest income . #Castle #Georgia #CaucasusTravel #Travel #Photography #HistoricalLandmarks