Hiking At Khojori

Helloo friends hope you are all doing well. Today I want to share with you all an amazing experience that I had with my friends in a beautiful hike spot called Khojori.

The fortress is not so big but the experience we had in Khojori is a thing that we can still remember.

As we were about to get our holidays for easter we were planning for a trip outside Tbilisi. It was actually a tough job to find a perfect spot to go as most of my classmates wanted to return back home the same day. We were asking everyone's opinion for finding out what kind of activity was everyone interested in. The result that we got was "Hiking".

Most of the people wanted to hike somewhere and we almost went everywhere within Tbilisi that is good enough to do at least a bit of hiking. Moreover everyone was interested in going to a new place and it was really a tough job to find a place within the vicinity of Tbilisi.

Finally we got to know about this place Khojori which is located very close to Tbilisi in the Mtasminda district. As we finalized our place to visit it was just the trip remaining in front of us. We were all eagerly waiting for the holidays to arrive and it just came in a couple of days.

It was bright sunny day during the day of our travel. We all planned to gather at the metro station in Delisi so that all of us can go together. We bought some eatables from the nearby superparket and we also prepared some food to eat when we reach our destination. We were almost 10 people who were travelling together and making food for all was not an easy job after all. We almost spend half of our night before the journey preparing and packing food for our journey.

It took some time for all the people to gather at the metro station. We departed from the metro at around 9 in the morning. It was a short and quick journey about 20 minutes as we got down at the Liberty Square metro station. We planned to reach our destination through city bus. There is a bus numbered 107 to get to Khojori. However the bus is not frequent and you can get into the bus from the April 1 Park Bus Station located in Liberty Square just behind the Contemporary Art Museum.

We started to walk slowly from the metro station to the bus station. The bus was not frequent and the bus that was waiting when we reached the bus station was completely packed. We can't even imagine of getting into the bus and moreover with so much people its hard to travel in such a bus. The next bus was approximately an hour later.

We thought that even the next bus will get filled if we stand in the same place.

So we thought we would go to a bus station where a bus that arrives from Khojori will stop, get into the bus, sit in the same bus, and return back to Khojori in the same bus. It was a good idea and we proceeded according to it. Everyone of us got a seat and when the bus arrived to the bus station to wait for a while the entire bus was packed within minutes. It took almost 20 minutes for the bus to start from the bus station and move towards Khojori.

The bus journey was good but the bus was full till it entered the district of Khojori. The bus passed through the city and started to climb up the Mtsaminda mountain. We were able to see the so called Eiffel Tower of Georgia at a close proximity.

The bus kept on moving on a constant speed. After the bus passed a specific point there were no bus stops. It appeared that the bus has entered a village zone. The bus stopped wherever people asked the driver to stop. It took almost one hour and thirty minutes to reach Khojori.

The roads inside the village were so narrow that only one vehicle could travel in it in a single time. The roads were descending and ascending so steep and the entire journey was like a roller coaster ride in an amusement park.

We were able to feel that we were reaching the final stop as the number of people inside the bus was almost reaching zero except us. The bus finally stopped in a place until which we were unable to recognize that it was the last stop.

The driver asked us to get down as it was the final stop and once we stepped out of the bus all that we could see was the bus parked in a space between four or five houses. We were really confused if we had came to the correct place.

We asked the driver if it was Khojori and he nodded his head. A local person nearby voluntarily came towards us asked what were looking for. We said that we were looking for the fortress in Khojori. The old man pointed his finger towards the top of a hill and said that the place we were looking for was there. We were able to see the fortress which appeared to be a mile away from us. There was not a single shop in the surrounding and we were really thankful to God as we luckily had something to eat and drink with us.

Before beginning our journey we marked the start point to make sure that we return to the same spot inorder to find the bus again. We also asked the driver about the final bus from Khojori. He said that the bus was at evening 4pm.

We started our hiking and we were walking steadily towards the hill which was our only identification mark. After travelling a small distance the road actually forked into two and we were really confused which way to choose.

We knocked the door of a house and we were actually a bit scared if they will understand us or not. To our surprise the people there were so kind hearted and polite. They told us the exact way that we need to follow inorder to reach the fortress.

The walk continued for about 30 minutes through a path bounded with bushes. At the end of the path we were able to see a small church with a bell tower outside it.

The path to the church was a bit steep and once we climbed up we were on the top of a hill but there was long way still to reach the fortress. The scenic beauty from this point was fantastic. We were lost for few minutes in the beauty of nature.

There was a small path sliding down from the point into a small forest like area. As we were really interested to know what was there we just walked down the path. There was nothing interesting but it was a perfect place to take some amazing snaps. We came back up and we wanted to spend some more time there. From this place we were able to see some splendid valleys and a small lake that was lying at a distance. The cold breeze that was blowing added up the charm of nature.

After a while we continued on our hike and now the surroundings changed. It was a steep path covered with grass ascending uphill and there were some medium sized rocks randomly scattered in the path. It was a bit hard to climb uphill as it made us consume a much of our energy. We were able to see two mountain bikers who were racing their way to the top of the hill.

We walked slowly and reached the top of the main hill. We were at the fortress now but still had some climbing to do. We were now standing in the middle of a ruined fortress. The walls of the fortress were high and by finding some places to position the legs we were able to climb them. We climber up some walls and took some amazing snaps. From the top we were able to have an awesome sight of the entire place.

We were even able to see the place we got down from the bus. There was a small cliff on the other side of the fortress below which was a massive pit of forests. It was really thrilling to get to that place as the path that led to the cliff was very narrow.

We planned to have a break at this point and have the food we bought with us. We chose a spot in the shadow of the fortress were we all settled down and began to serve everyone the dishes we bought. Although it was not a grand feast it was something memorable to sit with all my friends amidst the beauty of nature and have food.

We ate till our tummy got filled and rested for a while at the same place. After a rest period of 30 minutes we started the dangerous part of our journey.

We started to walk through the first part of the fortress through the edge of the mountain to reach a small access. It was in the form of a cave and after passing through it we were able to reach an iron stair case to climb down the hill to a specific height where the land was flat. Believe me or not some of the steps in the stair case were broken and we had to make our own way using our creativity to reach the land!

We then walked through the flat surface where another stair case awaited us. It was a horizontal one but it too had many of its steps broken. Unlike the last one it didn't have any flat land below but a massive ditch! You will fall to the bottom of the mountain if you slip.

Taking great caution and care we had to carefully move through this broken stairs to reach another point where another great trouble was awaiting us. It was another stair case but this time it is a steep one standing at an agle of 80 degrees.

It even had many of its stairs missing.

You will faint for sure if you just turn back and see the way you climbed when you are climbing up the stairs!

Since the stair case had many broken steps we had to get out of the stairs in the middle and with no protection we had to climb in the mountain and then return back to the stairs. It was terribly scary but at the same time it was adventurous.

After all of us reached the top of the stairs we were all bit relieved. There was a small tunnel like narrow passage through which we had to move inorder to reach the top of the fortress. Once you reach the top there is a small part of the wall of the fortress that stands erect even today, if you think that you possess some great climbing skills you may try climbing it by grabbing the bricks. However be sure that you don't have any kind of protection.

From the top of the hill there is a cliff below which you can see miles of outstretched forests. It is really a breathtaking view to see a place from such a height. We took some really cool photographs there.

There was a cross at the top of the fortress on the other side. To reach it we had to climb further up but this path is not that difficult and we reached it.

It was a big wooden cross placed at the top of the fortress. We spent some time there discussing about the fun and the adventure that we had during the climbing process. The cold breeze felt like a strong wind at this altitude. We didn't actually know the elevation at which we were standing. We could see a nearby city which appeared like a miniature to our eyes. It was really a feast for the eyes.

We were not able to withstand the wind for a long time therefore we decided to climb back down.

As we returned back we took some group pictures in the cave and at the end of the cave was standing again the series of broken stairs.

The first one we had to encounter was the steep vertical one. As you know it is more difficult to climb down than to climb up. When we just looked below through the stairs we almost fainted. It was really scary and we had to take some extra caution as we climb down because there were some additional probabilities of slipping down.

Then the second broken stair case that ran horizontally awaited us this was offering us the same dangerous situation that we had during the onward journey.

We all crossed this stair and climbed up the third stair case after which we were at the place where we started this dangerous part of the journey.

From there we walked upto the place where we had our food.

At this time we again saw the two mountain bikers riding at an extreme speed performing some amazing stunts.

As we walked we were able to see another cross on a cliff. This was not at a great height but the cliff was in the shape of a curve with a cross at its extreme end. We thought it was a burial place of someone.

From this point we researched echo shouting some funny stuffs at the mountain. It was super cool and we from this point we were able to see a bus arriving at the bus station in Khojori.

We thought of getting into this bus and therefore decided to leave from the place. We followed back the same path we climbed up till we reached the small church. Finally when we arrived at the church some of my friends got a crazy idea.

They wanted to do somemore real hiking. They thought it would be fun to go through the bushes than to just walk in the small mud path between the bushy forests. The gang actually split into two where some of my friends moved through the bushes and the others walked in the same way they climbed up. Those who decided to move through the bushes thought that their way would be faster than the normal way as they walked straight but both the gangs arrived at the same time.

Those who moved through the bushy forest arrived at the backyard of a Georgian house. They were not able to walk around the house and reach the road as there were houses located one after another. The Georgian man who was living in the house opened up his backyard gate for them and allowed them to reach the road through his home.

We were all feeling really thirsty and all our water resources were depleted therefore we asked the same man for some water, He was really kind to offer us some icy cold water which we really needed after walking for such a distance in the bright sun!

After relaxing a bit we just started to walk to the bus station but unfortunately the bus left a few minutes before. We were really disappointed and the local people said it will take another hour for the next bus to arrive.

We really didn't know what to do for an hour, till we met a super cool Georgian family who were living in a home nearby.

It was actually the kids who were playing on the streets and as we were standing the kids came towards us and started talking. They knew some basic English through which we were able to manage. The kids were followed by two other members of the family who enquired about us and as we knew some basic Georgian, we were able to manage the situation. In no more than 10 minutes all the people in the home from the same family was with us in the streets.

They were explaining us about their love towards bollywood movies, India and many such things. We also were telling us about our lifestyle in Georgia and how much we like Georgia etc. The discussion kept on continuing after which a man from the same family whom we thought must be the father of the kid asked us to perform an Indian dance. We didn't really want to dance in the street as it may look hilarious. You wouldn't believe this the man started dancing singing a song. Even the dog from the house was in streets with us.

So after a long discussion we didn't really have much to discuss. As it was Easter all the relatives of the family were at the same place which accounts for the large number of people in a single family. The same man who danced invited us to have a glass of red wine with him which is actually a Georgian tradition but we actually don't consume alcohol which made us to deny his invitation with apologies.

We started to while away the time by playing with kids. They had a ball with them and a bicycle which made us spend much of our time. As time ran we were a bit worried about the bus. If in case the bus doesn't arrive we would have to stay in the road.

To our great relief the bus arrived in another 10 minutes which made us to jump into the bus as soon as it arrived.

The driver was the same one who took us here to Khojori. He said that it will take another 30minutes for the bus to depart. We were not really bothered about it. In the meantime we got some delicious Easter cake from the Georgian family who was taking with us. It was so tasty and we all enjoyed it.

When the bus started to depart from Khojori we waved a big bye to this beautiful family and thanked them for their kindness. We really loved the family and the kids.

As the bus started to move through the narrow streets of the village we were chatting about all the fun that we had in Khojori.

The return journey was also as cool as the onward journey. We were able to get an amazing view at the Trinity Cathedral from the top of Mtasminda hill which we can never forget.

The bus slowly made its way to the centre of the city where we got down.

It was time to say bye to my friends as each ones home is located at a different place. I got down at Liberty Square reached the metro station from where I was able to get a metro train back to Delisi concluding a round trip from Delisi to Khojori.

Getting down at the Delisi metro I had to walk back home slowly as I was really tired after this awesome trip. I reached my home in the night and immediately after refreshing myself I jumped into the bed to take some rest. I almost slept like a log for the night without any awareness about what is happening around me and finally woke up the next morning.

After a while I had a look at all the pictures that we took during our journey and they were super cool. I was able to visualize them just by looking at the pictures.

We were even chatting about the same for the rest of the day when we met.

Ultimately the trip to Khojori was really a fascinating one that was really very economical. To us it was only the bus fare apart from the food. You don't have to pay anything at Khojori to visit the site neither you have any shops to by something from Khojori. It is just a historical monument which you can admire and at the same time have some adventure.

It will also expose you to a community of Georgians who are really kind hearted and will offer you the best hospitality ever. It is a perfect place to visit if you want to do something on a boring day in Tbilisi.

As this place is not too far away from Tbilisi you can go and come back within a day.

In our case we used the city bus to reach Khojori but there are also mashruthkas or minivans available to reach Khojori.

This is just a perfect place to hike and have some fun with your friends in a place filled with natural beauty. Hope you liked my experience at Khojori and till I write my next article keep smiling and cheers :) :) If you have any comments or suggestions about my works please feel free to mention them below and thank you for reading it patiently..!