ჩხარი - ქალაქური ტიპის ისტორიული დასახლების აღორძინება (ცენტრის ისტორიული იერის აღდგენა, მუზეუმის ახალი შენობის პროექტირება, კულტურის ცენტრის რეაბილიტაცია)

Abstract

Chkhari, which today forms part of the administrative unit of Terjola Municipality, has an exceptionally rich historical past.

According to archaeological evidence, the surroundings of Chkhari are represented by monuments from every archaeological period, beginning with the Stone Age sites of Sakajia and Sagvarjile.

According to Vakhushti Batonishvili: “At the foot of the mountain lies Chkhari. It was once a town, but was devastated by Levan Dadiani. Here there is now a borough.” Chkhari was restored again in the 1730s and for a long period retained the function of a town. In the nineteenth century it had a school, a court, a library, and a market renowned throughout Imereti.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a state theatre, hospital, and post office were established in Chkhari; telephone communication with Tbilisi was introduced; a 45-horsepower power station was built; the first film screening was held; a kindergarten, photo studio, wine factory, cash office, and bank were opened; a pedagogical school and radio centre were founded; motor transport on the Zestaponi-Chkhari route was introduced; and a local history museum was established in 1962.

Chkhari also hosted cognac, lemonade, tile, brick, and wall-tile factories, as well as a sewing workshop and domestic service facilities.

A large share of the population of Chkhari and neighbouring villages was employed in these enterprises, which helped address local socio-economic needs.

The urban life of Chkhari, including its socio-economic and cultural functioning, came to an end in 1950 by decision of the authorities. This resulted in the neglect of the interests of the population of the historically established villages located along the Silk Road corridor and, consequently, contributed to the depopulation of these settlements.

We consider the advancement of Chkhari’s cultural and educational function to be an essential component in restoring the socio-economic and cultural role of the Chkhari region. The area possesses diverse resources for this purpose, and these resources can also serve as a foundation for tourism development.

The principal components of this resource include the rehabilitation of Chkhari’s still-preserved urban-type districts and its local history museum; the rehabilitation of the cultural centre; the transformation of archaeological monuments, such as the Sakajia and Sagvarjile caves, into tourist attractions; the promotion of historical monuments, including the single-nave Basilica of the Saviour and the ruins of the fortress on Okoni Hill, the Church of St George with its bell tower and enclosure wall; and the presentation of the yew grove as a natural monument of tourist significance.