The "Royal Apartment"

Tourism is a major part of the Georgian government's economic diversification plan and a way of attracting crucial foreign direct investment. In a personal effort to assist Georgia's policies, a group of the MAGP ladies decided to spend a little time visiting local attractions.

With a busy week of interviews and meetings ahead of us, we grabbed our Georgian lari and hopped in a taxi to check out the Abanotubani or “bathhouse” district of Tbilisi. Located on the eastern bank of the Mtkvari River, the bustling district of Abanotubani plays an important role in the history of Georgia.

According to legend, the Iberian King Vakhtang Gorgasali discovered the thermal springs in this area during a hunting trip and was so impressed that he ordered the capital to be moved here. Beautiful round domes sit atop underground bathhouses containing the city’s renowned hot sulphur springs, which are said to have important healing properties for various health ailments. Local Georgians visit these bathhouses as part of weekly or even daily rituals and they are only growing in popularity with Georgia’s burgeoning tourism sector. 

Cherali-Abano Bath and Space House in the Abanotubani District.

Intent on partaking in this famous Georgian tradition of bathhouses, we stopped by the Cherali-Abano Bath and Spa House, distinguished from its surroundings by its intricate blue decorative tiled facade. Opting for the "Royal Apartment" to accommodate our large group, we were led up stairs to a large private room with deep pools of both hot and cold sulphur water, two saunas, a changing room, and last but not least, the “snow room.”

The Royal Apartment.

The next two hours were spent hopping in between the sulphur pools and bravely attempting to stand for more than 20 seconds in the frigid snow room only to quickly escape to the steamy saunas. We reclined on cool marble slabs for body scrub treatments that left our skin feeling bright and clean. This R&R session was a much-needed remedy for washing away the tiredness we felt from sitting on planes for hours and late nights involving Khachapuri, Georgian wine, and jet lag.

The menus at Cherali-Abano Bath and Space House, written in English, Georgian, and Russian.

The only regret I have is that the rest of our classmates weren’t able to join the fun, although I have a feeling that others will stop by the bathhouses later this week, based on the jealous looks I got from them once they saw how relaxed we all were back at the hotel!

-- Carin R., Cohort 4