Svanetis Ubani

Overview

Svanetis Ubani (also Svanetisubani; Georgian: სვანეთის უბანი, “the Svaneti quarter”) is an old quarter in the north-east of Tbilisi, on the left bank of the Mtkvari (Kura). It belongs to the Chughureti district, which also includes Arsenali, Kukia, Ivertubani and Chughureti (Vorontsovi, Okrosubani, Plekhanovi).

According to the Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, the name Svanetis Ubani appeared in the second half of the 19th century. We could not find official population figures for the quarter itself, or officially defined boundaries.

Location

In OpenStreetMap the centre of Svanetisubani is at approximately 41.7088° N, 44.8150° E. On the map the quarter lies within about 41.705°–41.713° N and 44.808°–44.825° E.

Its streets include Petre Bagrationi Street and Paata Saakadze Street. Ivertubani, also in the Chughureti district, is about 2.9 km away in a straight line.

History and name

According to Grigol Zardalishvili’s 1978 dictionary of Tbilisi place names, Svanetis Ubani was originally settled by Svans, people from the Svaneti region. The dictionary also gives a second name for the quarter, Shromisubani (“Labour quarter”). One entry says the quarter was “later called Shromisubani”, while another calls Shromisubani the “old name” of Svanetis Ubani. So the source does not make clear which name came first.

According to the same dictionary, the main Molokan quarter of Tbilisi was by the railway station, around Pirosmani (formerly Molokan) Street. The dictionary adds that there was also a Molokan quarter in Svanetis Ubani.

Administrative status

According to Georgian Wikipedia, the Molotov district was created by a decision of the presidium of the Tbilisi city executive committee of 27 July 1939. It was renamed the October district in 1957 and the Chughureti district in June 1990. From 2000 to 2013 Chughureti was part of the merged Didube-Chughureti district, after which it became a separate district again. Svanetisubani is part of the Chughureti district today.

Transport

Based on OpenStreetMap coordinates, metro stations close to the centre of Svanetisubani are Marjanishvili (about 1.5 km), Avlabari (about 1.8 km) and Station Square (about 2.1 km). All distances are in a straight line.

FAQ

1) Where is Svanetis Ubani?
In the north-east of Tbilisi, on the left bank of the Mtkvari, in the Chughureti district.

2) Which district is it in?
Chughureti district.

3) Why is it called Svanetis Ubani?
According to a 1978 place-name dictionary, the quarter was originally settled by Svans.

4) When did the name appear?
In the second half of the 19th century, according to the Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia.

5) What is Shromisubani?
A name that the 1978 dictionary links with Svanetis Ubani. One entry calls it a later name, another an older one.

6) Did Molokans live in Svanetis Ubani?
According to the 1978 dictionary, there was a Molokan quarter in Svanetis Ubani too, though their main quarter was by the railway station.

7) Since when has the district been called Chughureti?
Since June 1990. Before that it was the Molotov district (1939) and the October district (1957).

8) Which metro stations are nearby?
Marjanishvili (about 1.5 km), Avlabari (1.8 km) and Station Square (2.1 km), all in a straight line.

9) How many people live in Svanetis Ubani?
No official population figure is published for the quarter itself.

Sources

• Svanetisubani — Georgian Wikipedia (based on the Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 9, 1985, p. 310)

• Svanetis Ubani — G. Zardalishvili, Toponymy of Tbilisi and its Environs (1978), National Parliamentary Library dictionaries (in Georgian)

• Shromisubani — G. Zardalishvili, Toponymy of Tbilisi and its Environs (1978), National Parliamentary Library dictionaries (in Georgian)

• Chughureti District — Georgian Wikipedia

• Chughureti District — English Wikipedia

• Svanetisubani — OpenStreetMap (outline, coordinates, streets, metro station locations)

• Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 9, Tbilisi, 1985, p. 310 (in Georgian).