# Auadhara
- URL: https://explore-georgia.ge/en/places/auadhara
- Type: place to visit
- Region: Abkhazia
- Coordinates: 43.528611, 40.631944

Auadhara, also spelled Avadhara, lies in Gudauta Municipality on the southern slope of the Abkhazian Caucasus, 18 kilometres above Lake Ritsa at about 1,600 metres, and is one of the highest resorts of Abkhazia. The resort stands in the valley of the Avadhara, an 11-kilometre river rising on the southern slope of Mount Azhara and joining the Lashipse from the right; its basin covers 38 square kilometres. The valley lies within the Ritsa Relict National Park, a protected area created in 1996 on the basis of the Ritsa reserve of 1930, where the snow cover reaches 5–6 metres in winter.

The resort is famed for its mineral springs: in the Avadhara basin there are several outflows of sodium-bicarbonate medicinal table water, as well as a hydrogen-sulphide waterfall of carbonated water. Today only one spring is developed; its water is taken to the bottling plant in Sukhumi and sold under the name Auadhara. At the height of the alpine meadows lie beautiful lakes. The name in Abkhaz means, approximately, "the heights of the broad-leaved ragwort".

## History

The Auadhara valley lies within the Ritsa reserve, created in 1930; in 1996 the Ritsa Relict National Park was founded on its basis, stretching along the southern slope of the Main Caucasus Range from the Gega river to the Pshitsa.

Today only one of the springs is developed: its water is carbonated at the plant in Sukhumi and bottled in plastic under the name Auadhara. Because of the occupation Georgia can neither study nor protect the territory.

## Visit info

Auadhara lies about 18 kilometres from Lake Ritsa by mountain road. In winter the snow in the valley reaches 5–6 metres, so check the state of the road and the services locally before setting out.

Abkhazia is an occupied territory. Under Georgian law entry to the region is lawful only through the Enguri crossing; entry from Russia is a breach of Georgian law. Check the current conditions of movement before travelling.

## Tips

The alpine meadows are carpeted with flowers of many kinds. Auadhara is easily combined with Lake Ritsa, 18 kilometres away.

## Safety

Weather at 1,600 metres changes fast, so warm clothing and rain protection are needed even in summer. Consular assistance in the occupied territory is limited.

## Sources

- [Avadhara river — Georgian Wikipedia](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/ავადჰარა)
- [Avadhara — Russian Wikipedia](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Авадхара)
- [Reserves of Abkhazia — Russian Wikipedia](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Заповедники_Абхазии)
- [Avadhara — Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3596043)

## This page in other languages

- [ქართული](https://explore-georgia.ge/ka/adgilebi/avadhara)
- [Русский](https://explore-georgia.ge/ru/mesta/auadkhara)