Overview
Kharagauli is a daba (small town) and the administrative center of Kharagauli Municipality, situated in the Imereti region of western Georgia. Historically significant as a point on routes connecting eastern and western Georgia, Kharagauli is renowned today primarily for its stunning natural surroundings and its role as a gateway to the vast Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, one of the largest national parks in Europe. The area boasts a rich history, with traces of human habitation dating back to the Stone Age. The municipality is characterized by its mountainous terrain, dense forests, and important cultural monuments.
Geographical Location
Kharagauli Municipality is located in the Imereti region, nestled within a mountainous landscape. The administrative center, Daba Kharagauli, is situated on both banks of the Chkherimela River, in a deep and narrow valley. The territory of the municipality includes parts of the Meskheti and Likhi Mountain Ranges and the Dzirula denudation plateau.
The municipality is bordered by Zestaponi and Baghdati municipalities to the west, Borjomi Municipality (Samtskhe-Javakheti region) to the south, Khashuri Municipality (Shida Kartli region) to the east, and Chiatura and Sachkhere municipalities to the north. A significant portion of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park lies within Kharagauli’s boundaries, offering diverse flora and fauna, including beech, hornbeam, chestnut, oak, and conifer forests, as well as subalpine meadows. The main river in the region is the Dzirula River, with the Chkherimela also being a significant waterway. Kharagauli experiences a humid subtropical climate in its lower valleys, with mild cold winters and relatively dry, hot summers. Higher elevations have colder winters and longer, warm summers.
History
The territory of present-day Kharagauli Municipality has been inhabited since the Stone Age, with evidence such as the Paleolithic settlement of Deviskhvreli cave on the right bank of the Chkherimela River. During the feudal period, this area was strategically important as it lay on the roads connecting western and eastern Georgia, forming part of the Aragveti Saeristavo (duchy). Archaeological finds, like the ancestral tomb discovered in the village of Bori dating between the 1st century BCE and 3rd century CE, indicate that the Kharagauli area was a densely populated highway. The name “Kharagauli” is believed to have originated from its role as a resting place for caravans on the Silk Road, where provisions (“khoragi” in Georgian) were collected.
Historical monuments such as Vakhani Fortress played a crucial role in the region. It was at Vakhani Fortress in 1804 that the Elaznauri agreement was signed, by which the Kingdom of Imereti became part of the Russian Empire.
The settlement of Kharagauli itself emerged in the 19th century, particularly in connection with the construction of the Poti-Tbilisi railway in the 1870s, which passed through the area and established several railway stations within the current municipality (Kharagauli, Moliti, Marelis, Tsipa). This railway significantly enhanced its role in the transportation system of Georgia.
During the Soviet era, Kharagauli was known as Ordzhonikidze, named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze, a prominent Bolshevik born in the nearby village of Ghoresha. It was referred to as the “Ordzhonikidze district” until Georgia regained its independence, after which the historical name Kharagauli was restored. Until 1917, the territory was part of the Shorapani Mazra (district) of the Kutaisi Governorate.
Population
According to the 2014 Georgian census, the population of Kharagauli Municipality was 19,473. The main town, Daba Kharagauli, had a population of 1,965 in the same census.
Politics (Historical Context)
Historically, the territory of Kharagauli was part of larger feudal entities like the Aragveti Saeristavo and later the Kingdom of Imereti. Its strategic location on key transit routes gave it importance, but its political administration was tied to these larger state formations. Following the Russian annexation in the early 19th century, it was integrated into the Russian Imperial administrative system, specifically within the Kutaisi Governorate.
During the Soviet period, as the Ordzhonikidze district, it had a typical Soviet administrative structure with local councils and party committees. With the restoration of Georgia’s independence, Kharagauli became a municipality with its own local self-government, including an elected Municipal Assembly (Sakrebulo) and a Mayor, responsible for local affairs.
Administrative Divisions
Kharagauli Municipality is an administrative-territorial unit within the Imereti region of Georgia. The administrative center of the municipality is the Daba (small town) of Kharagauli. The municipality is further divided into 12 administrative units (communities or თემი – temi). These units include Daba Kharagauli itself and numerous villages. Some of the listed administrative units are: Bazaleti, Boriti, Vardzia, Vakhani, Zvari, Kitskhi, Leghvani, Lashi, Moliti, Nadaburi, Sargveshi, Saghandzile, Partskhnali, Khidari, Tskalaporeti, Tsipi, Ghoresha, Khunevi, and Khevi.
