Information will be added soon
Flora
Steppe vegetation is widespread in the territory of the municipality, oak-hornbeam and other deciduous forests are relatively small. Tugai forest is preserved along the river Aragvi.
Mountain pine forests are common in the valleys of the rivers Asa, Arghuni and Andaki in the north of the municipality. The gorge of the Mtiuletsky Aragvi river above Mleta is forested, both sides of the river valley starting from Mleta are covered with deciduous forest. There are also subalpine and alpine meadows in the municipality.
Fauna
There are quite a lot of representatives of the fauna in the municipality, including East Caucasian goats and birches live in highland areas. Rare ungulates such as Niamor inhabit of the Khevsureti Aragvi River. Niamor lives only here in Khevsureti, in hard-to-reach rocky areas. In the forest zone there are roe deer, deer, brown bear, fox, rabbit, wolf, lynx, badger, marten and queen. There is an Otters near Zhinvali Reservoir.
Among the birds there are Caucasian snowcock, Caucasian grouse; Among the predators, you can find Chough, Bearded vulture, Mountain Eagle, etc. In the forest zone, there are milvus, pheasants, woodpecker, common blackbird, etc. The rivers of Dusheti municipality are rich in ichthyofauna. Trout are found in the upper and middle reaches of the Aragvi River; There are also labeobarbus, Mtkvari nase, Squalius cephalus, etc.
Rivers
The hydrographic network is dense and represented by: rivers, lakes, glaciers and groundwater. There are mountains as well as foothills and plain rivers. Scattered are quite a few lakes, most of which are small in area.
The main river network is formed by four Aragvi (Mtiuleti-Gudamakari and Pshav-Khevsureti), the most important of which is Mtiuleti Aragvi.
Mtiuleti Aragvi (length 41 km) originates in the volcanic ridge of Keli, from the slopes of the peak Khorisari, at 3180 m above sea level. The river has a southeast direction towards the Pasanauri settlement; This rather long section is called White Aragvi.
Mtiuleti Aragvi is connected to Pasanauri from the left by Gudamakari Aragvi, which in turn starts from the slopes of the Chiukhi peak. Gudamakari Aragvi is formed by the confluence of the rivers Bakurkhevi and Bursachiri, at 1250 m above sea level. The length of Gudamakari Aragvi is 29 km.
The river Pshavi Aragvi (length 56 km) descends from the southern slope of Mount Didi Borbalo. In Ortskali, it joins the Khevsureti Aragvi, heads south and flows into the Zhinvali Reservoir.
Its tributaries are Tsatsada, Lasharistskali, Maturkhevi, Naroula, Tetrakheva.
Khevsureti Aragvi (length 24 km) originates from the western slope of the southern section of the Khevsureti ridge and it has a southwest direction. The main tributaries of Khevsureti Aragvi are the rivers: Gudanistskali and Gorsheghmistskali.
The section between Zhinvali and the city of Mtskheta is called Aragvi. This section also belongs to Mtskheta Municipality and it flows into the Mtkvari River from here. The section between Zhinvali and the city of Mtskheta is relatively wide and this section has approx. 30 km length (straight line). The main tributary of the Aragvi River is the Narekvavi tributary with the Tiniskhevi.
The municipality of Dusheti also has rivers on the northern slope of the main ridge: Arguni and Asa.
The Arghuni River is quite long (length 148 km) and waterlogged (basin area 3390 km) (Shatili-Mutso).
The total length of the river Asa is 133 km. Its upper section is called Arkhotistskali. (Arkhoti Valley)
Among the lakes located in Dusheti municipality, Bazaleti and Abudelauri lakes are noteworthy. Lake Bazaleti is located on the Bazaleti plateau, at an altitude of 878 m. The surface area is 1.22 km ². The lake area is well-maintained.
Abudelauri Lakes (3 lakes) are located at the head of the Abudelauri River, a tributary of the Roshkistskali River, at 2812 m above sea level. The area of the mirror is 0.035 km, the maximum depth is 3.8 m.
Zhinvali Reservoir is built on the river Aragvi, with a mirror area of 11.5 km3 and a volume of 520 million m3.
Dusheti, a city in Eastern Georgia, Mtskheta-Mtineti region, is the administrative center of Dusheti Municipality. It is located in Dusheti cave, on both banks of the river Dushetiskhevi. 33 km from Mtskheta, 900 m above sea level. It was declared a city in 1801, first mentioned in 1215. In the XVII century. Here was the residence of the Aragvi nobility.
There are food industry enterprises, educational and cultural institutions in the city (theater, museum of local lore, Dusheti Geophysical Observatory). There is the church of St. Gregory the Theologian (IX-X centuries), Officers' Hall (XVII century), Chilashvili Fortress Hall (XVIII century). Dusheti is the residence of Tsilkani Diocese.
Currently, 96 buildings in the city of Dusheti have the status of a real monument of cultural heritage. between them are:
Khevsureti
Khevsureti includes the valleys of Aragvi (Barisakho, Gudani - Piraketa Khevsureti), Arkhoti, Shatili and Ardoti (Pirikita Khevsureti). Khevsureti is bordered by Tusheti to the east, the Russian Federation (Chechnya) to the north, Khevi and Mtiulet-Gudamakari to the west, and Pshavi to the south.
Until the 1950s, 81 villages were inhabited in these valleys, 35 of them were located at the headwaters of the Aragvi Valley. Today 33 villages in Khevsureti are completely deserted, 48 villages (200 households, 700 persons) are inhabited, but only 20 of them remain in the permanent household in Khevsureti.
There are 10 main communities in Khevsureti:
Piraketa Khevsureti
Pirikita Khevsureti
Barisakho is the administrative center of Khevsureti. The village has a school, a medical center and a police station. The Georgian National Museum keeps a ritual water vessel with the depiction of a lion sacrificed to the Barisakho Khmala Angel (12-14th cc).
Giorgitsminda Hill-Fortress (Tsikhetgori) Necropolis is an archaeological monument 5 km from Shatili at the confluence of the Arghuni and Giorgitsmindistskali Rivers (v. Giorgitsminda, Pirikita Khevsureti). It dates back to the end of the 3 rd century BC. The village has no permanent residents today.
Gudani Cross, the 19th-century relic is situated in the village of Gudani (Piraketa Khevsureti). It is considered to be the principal deity of the three main tribal-communal unions of Arabulis, Chincharaulis and Gogochuris and is a religious center for all of Khevsureti.
Guro, the former village of Shatili, is situated 7.5 km southwest of Shatili’s current location. Currently, the village has no permanent residents. In the town, there are the remains of a 17-18th century pyramid-shaped tower that used to have five stories in the village.
Arkhoti is situated in the Asa River Gorge, in northern Khevsureti, bordering Ingushetia to the west. It joins Piraketa Khevsureti via the footpath. The principal sanctuary of the Arkhoti community is the cross of St. Michael the Archangel. Only three villages still remain in Arkhoti.
Amgha is situated near the Arkhoti community. The fragmentary remains of buildings preserved on terraces of the former village are built from dry slate stones. The monuments preserved in the village environs are Gagati House-fortress; Tatraulebi Tower; Orbelti Church, the site of an ancient village; Kaviskatri Tower; the iron cross of church ruins; the Sveti Angel’s Cross; and the ensemble of a shrine including a hall, granary, “Droshat Sabzani”, tower, belfry tower, and the wall.
Akhieli Batakat House-fortress is located in central Akhieli. Kharat Tower-fortress is located 200 m northeast in the upper part of the village.
Anatori Cross is situated in Pirikita Khevsureti, 3 km from Shatili, at the confluence of the Arghuni and Mutsostskali rivers within the ancient village of Anatori. According to historical sources, the village, where the family of Sisuaris lived, died out in the 18th century. Long ago, the village was plagued by an infection, and since no one remained to bury and take those who had passed away to the crypt, the sick villagers had to go themselves to the crypt and patiently await their demise there. In the crypt, along the wall, slate stone three-tier burial spaces were arranged. Archaeological excavations in the crypt discovered wooden vessels, various knickknacks, arrowheads and coins. The Anatori Cross was the common sanctuary of the Shatili community.
Ardoti is a village built on the left bank of the Andaki River in the Shatili community (Pirikita Khevsureti), at a height of 1,820 m a.s.l.—15km from Shatili. A church from the 19th century, a so-called “free cross” type structure, the Ziviadauri Tower (which is located in the southern part of the village, on the slope), dates back to the Middle Ages. The Blessed Virgin’s Cross can be found in the village. The sanctuary consists of a hall, belfry, lighting towers, boiler, public room (sajare) and a granary.
Kistani Village-fortress—this medieval historic-architectural monument is situated in the Arghuni river gorge at an elevation of 1,800 m a.s.l. The village fortress is built on a rock relief and is divided into two compact units. The main part of the village (now the site of an ancient settlement) consisted of up to 30 house-for-tresses, which served both domestic and defensive purposes. The ruins of this house-fortress have been preserved. Not far from the village, on a high rock, two well-preserved defensive structures stand.
Lebaiskiri Tower is located in the Arghuni river gorge, near the site of the ancient settlement of Lebaiskiri, at a distance of 300 m from the Barisakho-Shatili motor road. The tower dates back to the Middle Ages. The tower has five stories and is built of rubble. The entrance is in the east on the second floor, 2.2 m above the ground.
Mutso—a village-fortress situated in Pirikita Khevsureti, in the Ardoti river gorge, at 1,800 m a.s.l., at a distance of 12 km from Shatili, on top of high rocks. Since time immemorial, Mutso has been a single fortification, a defensive system and the principal safeguarding point of the roads leading to Georgia from the north. In the village, which was depopulated more than a century ago, there are up to forty medieval houses and household structures. They are located on vertical terraces on top of Mutso-Ardoti Gorge. Today, four tower-fortresses and the ruins of several dwellings have been preserved, including the legendary Torghvi Fortress and a tower. Mutso is divided into two parts: the upper, older, Shetekari district, and the second, relatively new, Diauri district. The remote village is a popular site among tourists and mountain climbers.
Roshka is situated in Pirikita Khevsureti and is one of the oldest settlements, through which an important inner road passed. In the 19th century, the local population began migrating from Roshka to Ertso-Tianeti. According to the 1924 census, 137 people lived in the village; their primary economic activity was cattle breeding. Currently, the village has only a few permanent residents. Didgori Cross— the principal sanctuary of Roshka-Kmosti—is not far from the village. It includes a hall, a space for castrating cattle, Mariamtsminda Tower and a belfry.
Khakhabo Village-fortress is located in Pirikita Khevsureti, 25 km from Shatili. The ruins of over 30 house-fortresses have been preserved in the village. Prince Bedli Angel’s Cross is located on a high rock northeast of the village. The ensemble of the shrine consists of a granary, boiler and belfry.
Shatili Village-fortress is a monument of Georgian architectural art. It is located to the north of the Greater Caucasus Range, at 1,400 m a.s.l. The village fortress is 170 km from Tbilisi. This late Middle Ages construction served as both a dwelling and fortification. A series of clustered house-fortresses create a single, defensive wall that protected the village. Only a narrow road running through the Arghuni Gorge connects the village to the outer world. Shatili is terrace-built; the principal type of buildings are flat-roofed houses and tower dwellings. What makes Shatili unique is its system of connection through inner passes, which makes it possible to move within the whole village without leaving its defenses. Since 2007, Shatili has been included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.
Local Handicrafts and Clothes
Handcraftsmanship is a long-lasting tradition in the remote mountainous villages of Pshav-Khevsureti. Mastering fancywork was the duty of highlander women. Women were trained in wool processing and dying from their childhood. Highlander women used to color fabrics using natural dyes, which they would sew into clothing and other household items.
Clothes in Pshav-Khevsureti were made from local wool. The cloth used is thick, heavy and crude but is durable and resistant to wear and tear.
A remarkable specimen of Georgian folk art is a traditional garment of Khevsurs called a talavari. It is sewn from dark blue or black wool cloth. Women’s traditional outfit, a dress called a sadiatso and a mantel called a koklo. Sadiatso are shorter dresses that are tight around the waist and decorated with sophisticated geometric patchwork, embroidery, fine beads, coins and buttons—all of which have sacred meaning. The traditional Khevsur woman’s headdress was also remarkable and differed according to whether the woman was married or was recently widowed. Samkhedroni, a male’s attire, had colorful embroidery with crosses and astral symbols. The outfit was traditionally accompanied by chain armor, and a sword, shield, and helmet. An indispensable part of the outfit was the knitted britches (pachichebi) and bast shoes (tatebi) with leather soles.
The traditional clothes of Pshavs resemble those of Mtiuls. A one-piece female dress in Pshavi is called a juba. Later on, one-piece cloth dresses, as well as wrinkled two-piece dresses, were introduced. The dresses, which were short and tight around the waist with an opening around the armpits, had a mantel called a papanagi, which was decorated with buttons and coins. Women wore shirts and a short, long-sleeve jacket called a sagule under the juba. Women also wore belts and a headdress called a tavchita to complete the outfit.
In wintertime, women wore a coat made of sheepskin in addition to their other attire. The coat tightens around the waist and shorts. Pshav and Khevsur women were fond of decorations and wore necklaces made of silver coins and crosses. It was common for leather or silver to adorn women’s dresses.
The male outfit consisted of a bright-colored shirt called a samkhre and the traditional slimline Khevsur chokha, which had cross-like details on the shoulders. Indispensible attributes of the male dress were the silver belt, dagger and knitted britches, cow-hide footwear and felt cap. The modest character of the ornamental pattern and color combination obtained by natural dyes is a general element of Georgian art that one can see reflected in the traditional clothes in every region of the country.
Carpet and rug production are among the leading products of local cottage craftsmanship. It is characterized by the sophisticated combination of cross-shaped ornamental patterns. Black, green, blue, dark red and yellow are the dominant colors.
Woodworking and wood carving are also long-standing traditions in Pshav-Khevsureti. Archeological discoveries of carved ottomans, chairs, and bedsteads, the graphic ornamental pattern used in residential and religious buildings are evidence of the region’s expertise in the aforementioned crafts.
Waterfalls
Bursachiri Waterfall - a waterfall in Dusheti municipality, in the middle of the river Bursachiri (one of the tributaries of Gudamakari Aragvi). 2170 m above sea level, 3 km northeast of the village Bursachiri. The total height of the waterfall reaches 20 m. It flows in two stages. Top - small step height 3-4 m. Lower - large step - 16-17m.
2 waterfalls in the Khada:
1. Waterfall "Rostiant waterfall"
2. A waterfall near the village of Tskere.
Spring waters:
- Acid water near the village Chargali.
- Water Mitala - village Ghuli (Piraketa Khevsureti).
- Acid water - Khadi gorge.
Views - places worth seeing:
1. Roshka Chukhi Massif - the area around Abudelauri Lakes, near the village Roshka. Altitude 3750-3900 m above sea level.
2. View from the vicinity of the Church of st. Mary, mother of Jesus in Bodorna.
3. View from Datvisjvari Crossing Pass.
4. View from the Ksani and Aragvi valleys from the vicinity of the Church of St. George in Lomisa.
5. Confluence of white and black Aragvi with Pasanauri.
6. View of Zhinvali Reservoir.
7. View from the castle complex Zemo-Kodistskaro (Mukhrani Bagrationi summer residence).
8. View from Korogo Fire Cross Complex (IX-XII centuries), Khada gorge and the ridge separating Seturi.
9. Didveli - view from the fiery cross.
10. View from the complex of the Virgin of Korogo (X-XI centuries). Villages Banyan-Begoni, Yukho, Sviana, Rostiani, Mugure, Tskere.
11. View - from Tskere Kviratskhoveli complex (developed in the Middle Ages).
12. View - St. George Church (village Dgnali).
13. View of Lake Bazaleti (from the south to the north of Lake Bazaleti).
Information will be added soon
Dairy products, meat and beer are characteristic features of Pshav-Khevsureti cuisine. Round-shaped bread is generally baked from barley in stone ovens. It is also a tradition to shape loaves of bread by means of a wooden implement. Kada bread is baked both kveliani (with cheese) and khavitsiani guliani (with cottage cheese). Khinkali are made with meat, cottage cheese and potato fillings.
Milk is used to produce melted butter, cheese, dambali khacho, which is special soaked cottage cheese. Dambali khacho is a Pshav dish that was recognized as part of Georgia’s intangible heritage in 2014. Beef and mutton are in a variety of local meat dishes.
Melted butter is used to prepare a traditional dish called khavitsi (cottage cheese boiled in butter). The most popular dishes to treat guests are kninkali (dumplings generally with the filling of mutton but also of cottage cheese and potatoes spiced with onion and pepper) and ketseula (khachapuri cooked in melted butter).
KHAVITSI – 4 kg melted butter 50 g milk (or water) 1 tablespoon salt 1.5 kg brown flour Khavitsi is cooked in a copper pan. Melt a tablespoon of salt in 50 g of milk, add 4 kg of melted butter and stir the mixture until it is fully combined. After it boils, add 1.5 kg of brown flour, put it on low heat and stir occasionally with a flat wooden spoon for about 2 hours. At first, a thick mixture is produced which should be stirred until it starts thinning – the flour mixture will sink to the bottom and the butter will come to the surface. When the mass changes its color, the khavitsi is ready. Fruit and vegetables grow well in Piraketa Khevsureti and Pshavi. To prepare pkhali (a vegetable pate made of spinach and other herbs), the following herbs can be used: amaranth, pigweed, fern, nettle and watercress. Local fruits and berries include pears, apples, strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, bilberries, etc. For holiday feasts, locals make vodka and beer. Vodka is distilled from barley, hop and barley-hop mix. Sometimes it is made from common elder and elder. Beer has a special place in Pshav-Khevsur culture.