Kakheti (Georgian: კახეთი) is a historical province in Eastern Georgia. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan to the Southeast, and the Georgian province of Kartli to the west. Kakheti is geographically divided into the Inner Kakheti to the east of Tsiv-Gombori mountain range and the Outer Kakheti to the west of it. The major river of the eastern part is Alazani, while that of the western part is the Iori.
The Georgian David Gareja monastery complex is partially located in this province and is subject to a border dispute between Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.[1]
Beyond the modern-day administrative subdivision into the districts, Kakheti has traditionally been subdivided into four parts: Inner Kakheti (შიგნით კახეთი, Shignit Kakheti) along the right bank of the Alazani River, Outer Kakheti (გარე კახეთი, Gare Kakheti) along the middle Iori River basin, Qiziki (ქიზიყი) between the Alazani and the Iori, and Thither Area (გაღმა მხარი, Gaghma Mkhari) on the left bank of the Alazani. It also includes the medieval region of Hereti whose name has fallen into gradual oblivion since the 15th century.
The Kakheti region is divided into eight the municipalities:
- The Telavi Municipality (area 1.094 km2, population 68.000)
- The Akhmeta Municipality (area 2.248 km2, population 44.100)
- The Gurjaani Municipality (area 849 km2, population 73.200)
- The Kvareli Municipality (area 1.000 km2, population 40.663)
- The Dedoplistskaro Municipality (area 2.531 km2, population 30.240)
- The Lagodekhi Municipality (area 890 km2, population 50.300)
- The Sagarejo Municipality (area 1.515 km2, population 60.396)
- The Sighnaghi Municipality (area 1.251 km2, population 42.652)[2]
Signagi is becoming an important cultural center in the region
Kakheti was an independent feudal principality from the end of the eighth century. It was incorporated into the united Georgian Kingdom at the beginning of the eleventh century, but for less than a decade. Only in the beginning of the twelfth century did Georgian King David the Builder (1089–1125) incorporate Kakheti into his Kingdom successfully.
The Alazani River Plain, with the Caucasus Mountains in the background
After the disintegration of the Georgian Kingdom, Kakheti became an independent Kingdom in the 1460s. In 1762, the Kakhetian Kingdom was united with the neighboring Georgian Kingdom of Kartli, with the capital of the former, Telavi also capital of the Albanian Hereti, becoming the capital of the united Eastern-Georgian Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti and assimilation of Albanians strengthened by church. Both Kingdoms were weakened by frequent Persian invasions. In 1801 the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti was annexed to the Tsarist Russian Empire.
In 1918–1921 Kakheti was part of independent Democratic Republic of Georgia, in 1922–1936 part of Transcaucasian SFSR and in 1936–1991 part of Georgian SSR. Since the Georgian independence in 1991, Kakheti is a region in the republic of Georgia and Telavi is still its capital.
The travel infrastructure in Kakheti is fast developing, since it is the most visited region of Georgia. One can choose to stay in a guest house, in a small and comfortable hotel, or a beautiful boutique-style hotel while traveling in this Region. Telavi and Signagi are the most visited towns. Signagi was renovated three years ago. Until recently there were only some family hotels (simple rooms in a family-owned house with a shared bathroom), but now Signagi features several hotels, one of them being the most popular due to its interior and restaurant - "Hotel Pirosmany", named after the famous Georgian artist.
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Coordinates: 41°45′N 45°43′E / 41.75°N 45.717°E / 41.75; 45.717
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