Chkhorotsku Municipality
Chkhorotsku in Samegrelo: “nine springs”, Lugela mineral water of Mukhuri, Otsindale monastery, waterfalls and Tobavarchkhili lakes.
Chkhorotsku Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Chkhorotsku Municipality lies in the centre of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, between the Colchis lowland and the Egrisi Range, with the townlet of Chkhorotsku as its administrative centre, at about 180 m above sea level on the Khobi River. The municipality covers about 619 km² and rises from around 200 m in the south to about 3,000 m in the north. It borders Martvili to the east, Tsalenjikha to the west, Zugdidi to the south-west, Senaki and Khobi to the south, and Mestia and Lentekhi to the north.
The name Chkhorotsku is usually explained in the Mingrelian language as “nine springs”, an etymology published as early as 1899. The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age and belonged to the historic land of Samegrelo (Mingrelia). Medieval strongholds such as the Garakha and Najikhari fortresses recall the region’s defensive past, and the Otsindale St George Monastery, with a large cave beneath it, is an important local sanctuary.
The municipality is known for its mineral waters: in the village of Mukhuri rises the Lugela spring, a natural calcium-chloride water used for medicinal purposes, with a children’s resort nearby. The Chkhorotsku Historical Museum presents the history and ethnography of the area, and the town’s central park is known for its ginkgo trees.
The northern, mountainous part of the municipality is rich in natural beauty: the Gvalashara and Ghunji waterfalls, forested gorges and, on the high ridge shared with Tsalenjikha, the alpine Tobavarchkhili lakes, known as the “Silver Lakes”, a popular summer hiking destination.
For travellers, Chkhorotsku is an off-the-beaten-path corner of Samegrelo: visit the Lugela spring in Mukhuri and the Otsindale monastery, hike to the waterfalls, and in summer take the multi-day trek to the Tobavarchkhili lakes. It is easily reached from Zugdidi and Martvili.
FAQ
1) Where is Chkhorotsku Municipality located?
In the centre of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, between the Colchis lowland and the Egrisi Range.
2) What is the administrative centre?
The townlet of Chkhorotsku, on the Khobi River at about 180 m.
3) What does Chkhorotsku mean?
It is usually explained in Mingrelian as “nine springs”.
4) What is Lugela?
A mineral spring in the village of Mukhuri, used for medicinal purposes.
5) What is Otsindale?
The St George Monastery of Otsindale, with a large cave beneath it.
6) Which waterfalls can be visited?
The Gvalashara and Ghunji waterfalls.
7) What are the Tobavarchkhili lakes?
Alpine lakes on the high ridge shared with Tsalenjikha, a popular summer trek.
8) Which fortresses are in the municipality?
The Garakha and Najikhari fortresses.
9) How large is the municipality?
About 619 km².
10) Where can I find official municipal information?
On the municipality’s official website.