Overview
Chokhatauri is a town (daba) and the administrative center of the Chokhatauri Municipality in the Guria region of western Georgia. The name “Chokhatauri” is believed to derive from an ancestral name, either Chakhatarashvili or Chkhatarashvili. The area is known for its agricultural traditions, including fruit growing, cereal farming, viticulture, and tea cultivation. A significant economic contributor is the “Nabeghlavi” Mineral Water Bottling Plant. The municipality also boasts natural resources like mineral paints, pyrite, building stones, and ceramic earth. Chokhatauri is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, a cultural center, an art gallery, a public theater, and numerous libraries. The region is also recognized for its mountain-climatic resorts, notably Bakhmaro and Nabeghlavi.
Geographical Location
Chokhatauri Municipality is situated in the Guria region of western Georgia, approximately 310 kilometers west of the nation’s capital, Tbilisi. It lies at an elevation of around 150 meters above sea level. The municipality is bordered by Samtredia and Vani municipalities to the north, Vani to the east, Khulo and Adigeni municipalities to the south, and Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti municipalities to the west.
A significant portion of Chokhatauri’s territory is mountainous, with about 60% covered by plateaus and mountains. The highest point in the municipality is Peak Mepistskaro, reaching an elevation of 2,850 meters above sea level. The main river flowing through the area is the Supsa River. Forests cover a large part of the region, featuring diverse flora such as beech, oak, chestnut, fir, plane trees, hornbeam, and alder. Higher elevations (above 1500-1600 meters) are characterized by spruce and fir forests. This diverse natural environment also supports a variety of fauna, including roe deer, chamois, wild boar, rabbits, wolves, bears, foxes, and badgers. The climate is generally subtropical, with a subtropical sea climate in the lowlands (up to 500-600 meters) and a humid climate in the mountainous areas. The average annual temperature in the lowlands is around , while in the high mountains, it ranges from . Snow can persist in the mountains for about 5-6 months.
History
Chokhatauri and its surrounding district have a rich history, evidenced by numerous historical monuments. Archaeological findings in the municipality, such as bronze hoes, shovels, and copper bowls from the Mesolithic period, confirm centuries-old agricultural activities. The area was part of historical Guria and, during the 17th-19th centuries, the village of Goraberezhouli served as a residence for the Eristavi (ducal) family of Guria, where a palace, fence, and garden were established by Mikheil Eristavi.
The district has also witnessed periods of conflict. Notably, during the Imereti uprising from April to August 1820, Chokhatauri was one of the battlegrounds between the Russian Empire’s armies and rebellious Gurians.
In a unique historical footnote, horse riders from Chokhatauri municipality reportedly joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s “Wild West Show” in England in 1892, performing internationally for over 30 years.
Significant historical and cultural sites in the Chokhatauri area include the early medieval fortress of Bukistsikhe, the Erketi Archangel Church (dating back to the 9th-13th centuries), and the Udabno Monastery complex, which includes a church carved into rock. The local lore museum in Chokhatauri houses archaeological material spanning from the 6th-5th centuries BC to the developed medieval period.
Population
As of the 2014 Georgian census, the town of Chokhatauri had a population of 1,815. The wider Chokhatauri Municipality had a population of 19,001 according to the same census. More recent estimates for the municipality (January 1, 2020) suggest a population of around 18,034.
Based on the 2014 census data for the municipality:
Politics
Historically, the governance of the Chokhatauri area, like other parts of Georgia, has evolved through various administrative and political systems. As a municipality within Georgia, Chokhatauri has a local self-government structure, including a Municipal Assembly (Sakrebulo), which is a representative body elected by the local population. This system provides for local decision-making on matters relevant to the municipality.
Administrative Divisions
Chokhatauri Municipality is an administrative-territorial unit within the Guria region of Georgia. The administrative center of the municipality is the town (daba) of Chokhatauri. Besides the town itself, the municipality comprises numerous villages. As of recent information, the municipality includes the town of Chokhatauri and 60 or 61 surrounding villages. These villages are typically grouped into territorial units or communities (themisebi in Georgian) for administrative purposes. Some of these administrative units/communities include Amagleba, Bukistsikhe, Gogolesubani, Goraberezhouli, Guturi, Dablatsikhe, Didi Vani, Erketi, Zomleti, Zemo Surebi, Zemokheti, Zoti, Kokhnari, Nabeghlavi, Jvartskhma, Khevi, and Khidistavi. The total area of the Chokhatauri municipality is approximately 820-825 square kilometers.
