Things to do in Gudauri

The Georgia-Russia Friendship Monument was built in 1983 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the friendship between Georgia and Soviet Russia. A friendship monument corresponding to the friendship arch was erected in a square in Moscow. Today, the political and diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia are a little ironic, but it does not hinder the daily exchanges between the people of the two countries. The monument stands at an altitude of 2,384 meters in the form of an arch. The inner wall uses bright mosaic tile murals to show the historical scenes of Georgia and Russia. The observation deck is an excellent place to overlook the Caucasus Mountains.

“Ski Light Poles” All along the route Welcome the army of ski athletes, World Ski Festival 2023 Held at GUDAURI

This church, unlike any other in Europe, sits nestled among the hilltops. It's truly a journey of pious beauty. The century-old stone statues remain as fresh as ever. Practicing Taoism here offers a deeper sense of purpose.

We drove along the Georgian Military Highway in July and stopped at Kazbek. The mountains are massive, the peak is covered in snow, and the green slopes below — it looks like a postcard. We hiked up to Gergeti Church, and the views from there are the best on the whole road. The climb on foot takes about an hour, and it's windy and chilly at the top even in summer, so a jacket is a must. It gets crowded, but it's worth it. If you're driving this road, definitely make a stop — you won't regret it.

On the way to Kazbekistan, almost everyone stops here. After crossing the bridge, Ananuri Fortress stands beside the reservoir at the bridgehead, looking from afar like a stone castle stranded in the middle of a lake. I stopped the car and took some photos from the bridge. As soon as I pressed the shutter, it suddenly dawned on me—wasn't this the same angle as on the cover of *Lonely Planet*? The same bridge railings, the same gray-white stone walls, the same blue-green water. So the "cover-style shot" mentioned in the travel guides was just an ordinary roadside spot, not at all pretentious. The reservoir behind the fortress is called Renvali Reservoir, surrounded by concentric circles of mountains, its water a medium-deep green. Standing atop the fortress, the view is indeed the best—the reservoir, the bridge, the mountains, and the winding mountain road in the distance, all spread out below. But getting up there wasn't so easy. The left entrance was blocked off. A local offered a small tip to enter from the right; the fee wasn't much, more like a "gateway fee" for this centuries-old fortress—payable by soldiers six hundred years ago, and by tourists six hundred years later. The internal staircase was narrow and the steps slippery. Every step was taken with extreme caution. My friend slipped while going down, so safety first. This view is best seen in photos :D