Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Plateau and is the administrative center of Akhalkalaki Municipality. The city is located about 30 kilometres from the border with Turkey. The majority of the population in Akhalkalaki is Armenian.
The name Akhalkalaki, first was recorded in the 11th-century Georgian chronicle, means “a new town”, from Georgian [ɑxɑli], “new”, and [kʰɑlɑkʰi], “city” or “town”.
In the town you can find all needed facilities such as healthcare, educational and cultural centers. The climate of Akhalkalaki is moderately humid with relatively cold dry winters and long cool summers.
Today, agriculture is most developed in the municipality, the leading field is farming. There are also food and agricultural enterprises in Akhalkalaki. The railway line connecting the Turkish and Georgian railways runs through this territory.
While in the city, we recommend to spend some time exploring the markets, shops and typical architeture. Also, to visit ancient Akhalkalaki Castle ruins.
Ninotsminda is a town south of Samtskhe-Javakheti. It is an administrative center of Ninotsminda Municipality. Translation of the current official name means “Saint Nino” in English and it was given to the town in honor of the illuminator of Georgians St. Nino, in 1991. Before 1991, the town of Ninotsminda was called Bogdanovka – a name going back to the history of the Doukhobor settlement in the region in the 1840s.
This place and surrounding areas have a long history dating back to the Bronze Age. This is proved with the facts discovered here, mainly megalithic buildings and remains of the settled places. Here every stone, every bridge and every tree tells the long and interesting story of the past.
Ninotsminda Municipality is not famous only for its cultural heritage but for natural diversity. One of the diverse National Parks with unique birdwatching possibilities is situated here.
There is a mountain steppe climate in Ninotsminda. Winters are cold, light snowy, summers are long and cool.
Nearly 95% of the population is Armenian. The city is located about 50 kilometres from the border with Turkey and about 24 km. from the border of Armenia.
