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Borjomi

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Overview

Borjomi (Georgian: ბორჯომი [ˈbo̞ɾd͡ʒo̞mi]) is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population of 11,173 (as of 2024). Located 165 km from Tbilisi, it is one of the six municipalities of the Samtskhe–Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern part of the region in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. The town is noted for its mineral water industry, the Romanov summer palace in Likani and the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Borjomi mineral water is particularly well-known in Georgia as well as other countries that were part of the former Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area's mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,163 words

WBP editorial3

A walk beyond the spa – the park’s quiet corridors

While most visitors gravitate toward the famed mineral springs, the adjoining Borjomi‑Kharagauli National Park offers a network of low‑traffic trails that reveal a different side of the town. Early‑morning walks along the Katsura River let you hear the ripple of water before the crowds arrive, and the pine‑scented air carries the occasional call of the Caucasian grouse. These routes are especially rewarding for cyclists, as the park’s 400 kilometres of mountain bike paths intersect with quiet village lanes, allowing a seamless transition from urban spa culture to rugged woodland. Pack a thermos of local tea and pause at a wooden bench to watch the mist lift off the forest floor – an experience you won’t find in a guidebook.

Seasonal rhythms: when the gorge changes its coat

Borjomi’s climate shifts notably through the year, and the timing of a visit can colour the whole experience. In late spring, the gorge awakens with a carpet of alpine wildflowers, turning the surrounding hillsides into a pastel tableau, while the river swells with melt‑water, perfect for gentle rafting. Autumn brings a crisp clarity to the air; the deciduous trees blaze in amber, and the cooler evenings are ideal for sampling the town’s signature carbonated water straight from the tap, a tradition locals claim enhances digestion after a hearty Georgian feast. Winter, though quieter, offers a snow‑covered backdrop for photographic walks, and the mineral baths become a warm sanctuary against the chill.

Beyond the bottle: sourcing the water the way locals do

Most travellers know Borjomi for its branded bottles, yet the town’s relationship with its spring is more intimate. Residents often fill reusable flasks from public fountains that draw directly from the same artesian source, a practice that reflects both sustainability and a cultural belief in the water’s therapeutic qualities. When you sit in a modest café near the central park, ask the staff for a glass from the “k’vashi” – the local term for the untreated spring – and you’ll be part of a daily ritual that bypasses commercial bottling. This simple act offers a glimpse into how the community balances global demand with everyday life, and it provides a fresher, unfiltered taste of the region’s most iconic resource.

Introduction

This article is about the town. For the mineral water brand, see Borjomi (water). Town in Samtskhe-Javakheti, GeorgiaBorjomi ბორჯომიTownBorjomiPanorama of BorjomiStreet near parkMobius Loop BridgeBorjomi Central Park FlagCoat of armsBorjomiLocation of Borjomi in GeorgiaShow map of GeorgiaBorjomiBorjomi (Samtskhe-Javakheti)Show map of Samtskhe-JavakhetiCoordinates: 41°50′20″N 43°22′45″E / 41.83889°N 43.37917°E / 41.83889; 43.37917Country GeorgiaMkhareSamtskhe-JavakhetiMunicipalityBorjomiArea • Total63 km2 (24 sq mi) • Land43 km2 (17 sq mi)Population (2024) • Total11,173 • Density120/km2 (310/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+4 (Georgian Time)Websitehttps://www.borjomi.gov.ge/ka Borjomi (Georgian: ბორჯომი [ˈbo̞ɾd͡ʒo̞mi]) is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population of 11,173 (as of 2024). Located 165 km from Tbilisi, it is one of the six municipalities of the Samtskhe–Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern part of the region in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. The town is noted for its mineral water industry, the Romanov summer palace in Likani and the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Borjomi mineral water is particularly well-known in Georgia as well as other countries that were part of the former Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area's mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

History

[edit] Borjomi in 1887 "Catherine's Spring" in Borjomi so named after General Golovin's daughter. Photo by Prokudin-Gorsky, 1905–15 Spa Hotel in Borjomi near the Borjomi Central Park In the Middle Ages, the area of what is now Borjomi was part of the Tori province. It was populated by a series of forts guarding the strategic crossroad of routes leading to the western, eastern, and southern provinces of Georgia. Three important forts – those of “Gogia”, “Petra”, and “Sali” – still overlook the town from nearby hills. From the 16th century into the 19th, the area belonged to the noble family of Avalishvili, but was largely depopulated as a result of Ottoman inroads. After the Russian annexation of Georgia, the Borjomi area began to revitalize. The toponym Borjomi is first recorded in the 1810s. The town and its surroundings were placed under the Russian military authorities. Borjomi began receiving soldiers in the 1820s. Buildings and baths began going up in the 1830s. Early in the 1840s, when the Russian Viceroy of the Caucasus Yevgeny Golovin brought his daughter down to partake of the cure, he expedited the official transfer of the waters from the military to civil authorities. The viceroy Mikhail Vorontsov, fascinated by local landscape and mineral waters, made Borjomi his summer residence and refurnished it with new parks. Its warm climate, mineral water springs, and forests made Borjomi a favorite summer resort for the aristocracy, and gave it its popular name of "the pearl of Caucasus". In the 1860s, new hotels were built, and an administration for mineral waters was established. In 1871, Borjomi was bestowed upon the royal family member, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayvich, then the viceroy of the Caucasus. In the 1890s, Mikhail’s son, Nikolay, built a park and a chateau at Likani, at the western end of Borjomi. The bottled mineral waters began to be extensively exported. The town grew significantly at the expanse of Russian migrants and, in 1901, the number of ethnic Russian inhabitants (2,031) outstripped the native Georgians (1,424) for the first time. Following the Red Army invasion of Georgia in 1921, the Soviet regime confiscated all aristocratic mansions and turned them into sanatoria, frequented by the Communist party elite. Despite significant damage caused by a flood on April 18, 1968, Borjomi continued to grow throughout the Soviet era. The post-Soviet years of political and economic crisis hindered development of the area, but it remained a popular destination for internal tourism. In the 2000s, a growing government and private investment into tourism and municipal infrastructure helped Borjomi recover from a decade of decay. Borjomi, together with Bakuriani, was named by Georgia as an applicant city for the 2014 Winter Olympics on June 22, 2005, but it was eliminated as a candidate by the International Olympic Committee on June 22, 2006.

Resort

[edit] Borjomi Regional Museum Borjomi is a balneological and climatic resort. During the Soviet times it had the status of a union resort. According to the relief and microclimate peculiarities Borjomi has several districts, of which Likani, Papa and Plateau are particularly favorable for treatment. The main treatment of the resort is mineral water used for drinking and balneological procedures. Other treatment factors in Borjomi are climatotherapy, mud treatment and more. The best time for climatotherapy is June–October. Medical indications: chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and biliary tract, alteration of substances, some diseases of the cardiovascular system. The season lasts all year.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

[edit] The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park administration, with offices, small hotel and visitors communication center are located at 23 Meskheti st, in Borjomi. The total area occupies 85,083 ha, which is more than 1% of the territory of Georgia. Borjomi-Kharagauli Protected Areas includes 6 districts – Borjomi, Kharagauli, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Khashuri and Baghdati. There are administrative and visitors centers of the national park in Borjomi and Kharagauli. Borjomi Strict Nature Reserve, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Nedzvi Managed Reserve and Goderdzi Petrified Forest Natural Monument are the protected areas and managed by the park administration. Hiking, horse riding, biking, snow shoes, cultural and educational tours are also available in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park tourist route network. The network amounts to 400–2,642 meters. The routes are provided with tourist shelters, picnic spots and camping sites.

Railway services

[edit] Borjomi is home to a station on the Georgian Railway, as well as one terminal of its subsidiary, the Borjomi–Bakuriani railway. The Borjomi - Vale line has been defunct for decades, though the railway still remains in place. Borjomi Park serves as the last stop on the Khashuri - Vale spur and trains don't go further. Preceding station Georgian Railway Following station Borjomi Parkitowards Vale Khashuri – Vale Kvibisitowards Khashuri Currently Inactive, No Planned Reconstruction as of Yet Due to Lack of Funding Terminus Kukushka Dabatowards Bakuriani

Geography

[edit] Borjomi is situated in the Borjomi Gorge at the eastern edge of the National Park. Climate[edit] Climate data for Borjomi (elev. 794m ASL) (1991–2020) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 15.0(59.0) 20.4(68.7) 26.5(79.7) 34.0(93.2) 32.5(90.5) 35.5(95.9) 39.2(102.6) 39.5(103.1) 37.0(98.6) 28.7(83.7) 27.5(81.5) 20.0(68.0) 39.5(103.1) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.9(40.8) 7.0(44.6) 12.2(54.0) 17.3(63.1) 21.6(70.9) 25.8(78.4) 28.4(83.1) 29.5(85.1) 24.5(76.1) 19.0(66.2) 11.3(52.3) 6.2(43.2) 17.3(63.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.1(24.6) −3.6(25.5) −0.1(31.8) 4.0(39.2) 8.9(48.0) 12.8(55.0) 15.8(60.4) 15.4(59.7) 11.2(52.2) 6.4(43.5) 0.8(33.4) −2.9(26.8) 5.4(41.7) Record low °C (°F) −17.6(0.3) −17.6(0.3) −13.0(8.6) −11.1(12.0) 0.1(32.2) 4.1(39.4) 6.7(44.1) 7.5(45.5) 1.1(34.0) −4.1(24.6) −9.1(15.6) −16.8(1.8) −17.6(0.3) Average precipitation mm (inches) 37.2(1.46) 35.0(1.38) 49.3(1.94) 54.4(2.14) 91.7(3.61) 66.1(2.60) 46.0(1.81) 39.5(1.56) 51.0(2.01) 61.9(2.44) 57.5(2.26) 37.9(1.49) 627.5(24.70) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.9 7.1 9.8 9.8 13.3 10.1 6.8 6.5 7.1 8.5 8.4 7.3 102.6 Source: NOAA