Lanchkhuti
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Lanchkhuti (ლანჩხუთი) is the small town and a capital of the administrative district in Georgia, in Guria region. It is a good jumping off point for nearby beaches, old monasteries and rural tourism. The town lies in the Colchian lowlands south of the river Rioni at the foot of the hill country Gurian.
Understand
Lanchkhuti was a village and gained town charter during Soviet era. Lanchkhuti is famous for Gurian horse riders, who participated in Wild West Shows in USA. Every year on the Orthodox Easter Monday finds in Schuchuti, 5 km east of lanchkhuti, the traditional Rugby Match "Leloburti". The economic development of Lanchkhuti began early 20th century with the connection to the railway line Samtredia-Batumi. Here were - and still are - agricultural products from the area processed.
Get in
By plane
The nearest major international airport is in Tbilisi (320 km), while Batumi (80 km) and Kutaisi (50km) International Airports are the nearest accessible airports. Trabzon airport (280 km) in Turkey might be an option, also.
By train
- 1 Lanchkhuti railway station (600 m north of the center). Lanchkhuti lies on the railway line Samtredia-Batumi. All express trains between Tbilisi and Batumi also stop in Lanchkhuti. Tickets can be bought at stations and online.
By bus
There are daily coach arrivals and departures in several directions: Kutaisi, Samtredia, Poti and Batumi, also Tbilisi, as well as easy mini bus (marshrutka) access to nearest villages and sites of tourist interest in the area. At the main square there is a small bus station where Marschrutkas and taxis in the area and the nearby regional centers depart.
By car
Lanchkhuti lies on the well-developed highway "S 12" (Ureki - Samtredia). It represents a shortcut on the route Tbilisi-Batumi, as you so does not have to Poti. The town is linked with roads to Batumi (southwest) and Poti (northwest), Kutaisi (east) and with two regional roads with region capital Ozurgeti (south). Roads from Ozurgeti are beautiful, but winding, and are ideal for a scenic drive.
By boat
There is a small harbor in village Supsa, which is only used by oil tankers. Supsa is the end point of an oil pipeline from Baku. Next seaports with passenger traffic are in Poti (about 60 km) and Batumi (about 70 km).
Get around
A small town, Lanckhuti is easily covered on foot. The town has no public transport system. Buses and minibuses (marshrutkas) operate only within the surrounding area. Taxis and Marschrutkas in the surrounding area can be found on the main square and on arrival of a train at the train station. Cycling can be an option, also, but there are no bike rentals available. Taxis are cheap and cost 3-5 lari within the town.
See
- 1 A statue of a Gurian man, which represents the Gurian uprising from 1905.
In the city center there is the theater and a nice park.
Museums
- Lanchkhuti museum (ლანჩხუთის მხარეთმცოდნეობის მუზეუმი), #21 Ninoshvili Str, ☏ +995 593196340. Tu-Sun. 10 AM - 6 PM. Lanchkhuti museum was founded in 1978. It contains archaeological, numismatic, fine art, ethnography, nature, historical exhibits. Especially noteworthy are bronze helmet (4th century BC), bronze axes, ancient ceramics, 4th century bronze cross, the 11th century stone inscription, exhibits dedicated to Gurian horse riders, who participated in Wild West Shows in USA. 1 lari.
- 2 Egnate Ninoshvili House Museum (ეგნატე ნინოშვილის სახლ-მუზეუმი), ☏ +995 599564794. Mo-Fr 10-17. The museum was opened in 1950 in honor of the famous writer Egnate Ninoshvili. The museum consists of four exhibition halls. In the first section of the hall is dedicated to Ninoshvili's childhood. The second hall displays illustrations of the novel "The Uprising in Guria". The third hall tells stories illustrating the unlucky in love, about which the writer told his story "Christine". The fourth room is fully dedicated to the theme: "Egnate and modernity". 1 lsri.
Around the town
- 3 Jumati Monastery (ჯუმათის მონასტერი). This 16th-to-18th-century monastery is located on the hill in the village of Jumati. The monastery consists of a basilica of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, a bell tower, walls and other monastic buildings. The facility was built in the early Middle Ages, while the frescoes date from the 16th to 18th centuries. The bell tower with a square base was built in 1904 and is partially destroyed today. Jumati Monastery was an important religious and cultural center of Guria. Here valuable icons, relics and documents, some of which also had secular significance, were kept. In the 20th century the monastery was robbed several times. Fragments of several icons from Jumati are now in the Hermitage at St. Petersburg, the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Beautiful views of Guria and Samegrelo lowlands of Northwestern Georgia and Black Sea can be seen from the hill.
- 4 Jikheti monastery (ჯიხეთის მონასტერი). a XIX century monastery, is located 14 km east from Lanchkhuti
- 5 Our Savior's and 6 Saint George churches in Aketi. The village of Aketi is 12 km south of Lanchkhuti. Saint George church was built in the Middle Ages and Our Savior's church was built in 1899.
- Arches of Gurielis (principals who governed the region during the feudal era), destroyed palace in village of 7 Lesa, 7 km west from Lanchkhuti.
- Medieval fortress in village of 8 Japana, 16 km east of Lanchkhuti.
- Old churches in villages of 9 Machkhvareti, 10 Baglebi and 11 Nigoiti
Do
- Lanchkhuti Theatre (ლანჩხუთის თეატრი).
- Despite Georgia's failure to score a major success since independence, football (soccer) remains the most popular sport in the country, and Lanchkhuti as well. The town has its 1 football club Guria, which participated in the Soviet Super League in 1980s and was very popular, so football is the main entertainment for local people. Even public institutions stop working during the match day.
- Attend traditional Leloburti (very similar to rugby) in Shukhuti on Easter Sunday. Leloburti is played Always on the Orthodox Easter Monday in villages Kvemo Shukhuti and Zemo Shukhuti (upper and lower-Shukhuti), which are about 5 km east of Lanchkhuti. Leloburti is a special rugby match against each other: The ball is made in a special ceremony. The villagers are fighting against each other bitterly After kickoff, and bleeding wounds are not uncommon. After the game, the winning team may drink wine from the ball. For visitors it is interesting to watch, to play along is not advised! Information about past games can be found on internet
- Climb a cave in the village of 2 Oragve.
- Fishing in the small rivers and lakes
Buy
There is Farmers Market (Bazari) and a lot of small stores in the center of the town.
Eat
Eating in Lanchkhuti is very cheap. Prices per person may be vary from US$5-10. Do not buy wine in restaurants, its better to buy wine in a shop and take it in restaurant. The best choices are Corn bread, cheese, cucumber and tomato salad, eggplant with nuts, barbecue, kebab, Khachapuri, Beef with potatoes (Ojakhuri), fried chicken in garlic (Shkmeruli). Almost all cafes and restaurants can be found in the town center.
Drink
If you get invited to someone's house, your host may also offer you Georgian "chacha," an outrageously potent vodka distilled from grapes that is quite similar to Italian grappa.
Sleep
There is only one hotel in Lanchkhuti in the center of the town, but there is wide range of sleeping options outside the town, in resort Grigoleti.
Talk
- See also: Georgian phrasebook
Gurians speak much more quickly than average Georgians from other regions, so it is more complicated to understand them. The older generation speaks Russian fluently, and Armenian as well. The younger generation now studies English. When in need for help, look for younger people; they are more likely to know some English.
Work
Working time in Lanckkhuti starts at 09:00 or 10:00 and end at 16:00–18:00. Locals like to take an hour lunch break and enjoy their food while socializing with their co-workers. Approaches to punctuality used to be very relaxed. Summer (late July-August) and January are months when people take two weeks or a whole month off work to enjoy vacationing with family. A local wage in Lanckkhuti will typically be around 300–400 lari a month, with only a small section of public servants making in the range of 800–1000 lari a month.
Connect
There are 3 GSM operators of mobile phone service: Magticom, Geocell and Beeline.
Stay safe
Lanchkhuti is very safe for travelers. the crime rate is among the lowest in Europe. Most of the streets are illuminated at night. Police cars patrol the streets in the town and can help with any problem. Call 112 in any case of emergency (police, ambulance, fire). The Police Office can be found in the center of the town.
Stay healthy
In the city center there are some pharmacies.
Go next
There are plenty of buses and minibuses to neighboring villages (generally 0.5-2 lari). Buses and minibuses leave from bus station. The best destination may include village Aketi, Jikheti Monastery and Jumati Monastery. Popular destinations may include Kolkheti National Park and Paliastomi Lake near Poti or Capital of the region of Ozurgeti.