Chiatura (42.290510, 43.281071), as previously mentioned, is one of the districts in the Imereti region. This picturesque area is located right in the heart of Georgia, north of the Transcaucasian Highway, nestled in the foothills.
If you are traveling from Tbilisi, after passing the village of Agara, you will encounter a fork at a railway crossing, where the road leading to Chiatura branches off. On the map, this route is marked as the Gomi-Sachkhere-Chiatura-Zestafoni highway.
Before reaching Chiatura, you can make a detour to visit the Dzudzuana Cave. A slight turn north off the highway will lead you there.
After exploring the Dzudzuana Cave, your next stop should be the Mgvimebi Monastery. This serene site is conveniently located near the entrance to the city of Chiatura.
As you exit Chiatura, approximately 10 kilometers down the road, you will see a turnoff for the Katskhi Pillar (42.287607, 43.215693). The distance from the highway to the pillar is just about a kilometer.
A bit further along, around 100 meters from the highway in the village of Katskhi, you will find the Church of the Nativity of Christ, another treasure worth visiting.
Continuing on, you can enjoy the scenic views of rural life in the Imereti region for roughly 40 kilometers until you reach Zestafoni.
Travelers making their way from west to east—such as those journeying from Batumi or Kutaisi to Chiatura—can follow a similar route, albeit in reverse order. If you find yourself on the way from Tbilisi and decide to visit Chiatura while on the Rikoti Pass of the Transcaucasian Highway, there’s no need to be disheartened or turn back. The road continues through Zestafoni, where, just after crossing the bridge, you will find the route to Chiatura begins.