Overview
Khoni is a town and the administrative center of Khoni Municipality in the Imereti region of western Georgia. Known for its historical significance as a trading locale and an ecclesiastical center since the Middle Ages, Khoni has a rich cultural heritage. The town and its surrounding municipality are also noted for their agricultural traditions, particularly tea production, and are home to impressive natural monuments, including parts of the Okatse Canyon.
Geographical Location
Khoni is situated in the northwestern part of the Imereti region, on the Imereti Plains. It lies on the left bank of the Tskhenistsqali River, a major tributary of the Rioni River. The town is located at an altitude of approximately 114 meters above sea level.
Geographically, Khoni Municipality is a continuation of the Kolkheti Valley, with its northern part being mountainous, forming the southern slopes of the Egrisi mountain range. The Tskhenistsqali River divides this mountainous zone. The municipality is bordered by Martvili Municipality to the west, Abasha Municipality to the southwest, Samtredia Municipality to the south, Tskaltubo Municipality to the east, and Tsageri Municipality to the northeast. The relief of the municipality is varied, encompassing lowland plains, foothills, and mountainous zones, with elevations ranging from around 62 meters to over 2,400 meters at its highest peak (Lekhi peak). A significant portion of its territory is covered by forests. Khoni enjoys a humid subtropical climate.
History
The territory of Khoni has been inhabited since ancient times and was part of the historical Kingdom of Colchis. Archaeological findings in the area include Late Bronze Age hill settlements (“Gorikebi”) and various bronze artifacts. Gold coins from ancient times, including a stater of King Ake (3rd century BCE) and numerous “Colchian white” coins, as well as Byzantine and Turkish coins, have also been discovered here, attesting to its long history as a place of settlement and trade. The origin and development of Khoni as a settlement are linked to the trade and caravan routes that passed through the area. A significant historical remnant is the abutment of the “Bumbua Bridge” on the Tskhenistsqali River, believed to have been crossed by the Roman commander Pompey in 65 BCE, who reportedly built a lifting bridge there.
During the early centuries of Christianity, churches were built in Khoni and surrounding villages. The town itself is believed to have been founded between the 6th and 9th centuries. The still-functioning St. George’s Cathedral in downtown Khoni dates back to the 11th-13th centuries and highlights Khoni’s historical importance as an ecclesiastical center. In the Middle Ages, the territory was largely royal property.
During the Russian conquest of the Kingdom of Imereti and subsequent Russian rule, the territory of Khoni was part of the Vake Mazra (district), with Daba Khoni serving as its center. From 1846, this territory was merged with the Kutaisi Governorate. Khoni experienced significant development in the 19th century, becoming an important trade and industrial center in Imereti, second only to Kutaisi in the 1870s. An important development was the construction of an irrigation channel from the Tskhenistsqali River to the Khoni-Jikhaishi area in 1892, initiated by Niko Nikoladze and others, which irrigated a large expanse of land.
Khoni was granted official town status in 1921. During the Soviet era, in 1936, the town was renamed Tsulukidze after the Georgian Marxist revolutionary Alexander Tsulukidze. The historical name Khoni was restored in 1991 after Georgia regained its independence. The Khoni Historical Museum, opened in 1950, showcases artifacts from the region’s rich past, including items from the feudal period and exhibits on the local silk and tobacco industries.
Population
As of January 1, 2024, the population of the town of Khoni was estimated at 7,756. According to the 2014 Georgian census, the population of Khoni Municipality was 23,570. A 2020 estimate for the municipality indicated a population of around 21,436.
Politics (Historical Context)
Historically, Khoni was a significant trading post and an important diocesan center of the Georgian Orthodox Church, indicating its role in the regional power structures of the Kingdom of Imereti. Under Russian Imperial rule, it became an administrative center of a “Mazra” within the Kutaisi Governorate, solidifying its local administrative importance. During the Soviet period, as Tsulukidze, it continued to function as a district center with the typical Soviet administrative apparatus. In independent Georgia, Khoni is the center of Khoni Municipality, operating under a system of local self-government with an elected Municipal Assembly (Sakrebulo) and a Mayor.
Administrative Divisions
Khoni Municipality is an administrative-territorial unit within the Imereti region of Georgia. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Khoni. The municipality is further divided into 12 administrative units (communities or თემი – temi). These administrative units include the town of Khoni and surrounding villages and communities such as:
Other notable villages mentioned in various contexts include Gelaveri, Khidi, Patara Jikhaishi, Ghvedi, Kukhi, and Akhalsheni. The municipality is known for natural attractions like the Okatse Canyon (near Zeda Gordi) and several caves.
