Perched on the right bank of the Rioni River, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Bagrati Cathedral, lies one of Kutaisi’s greenest treasures — the Botanical Garden. Its main entrance opens from Leselidze Street, welcoming visitors into a living tapestry of global flora. The origins of the garden trace back to the 19th century, and over the decades, its territory has grown considerably. Today, it stands as the second-largest botanical garden in all of Georgia. Home to nearly 700 species of trees, shrubs, and plants collected from around the world — many of which are listed in the Red Book of endangered species — the garden is not just a sanctuary of nature, but also a place of wonder and quiet reflection.
Yet, amid the rare botanical specimens, the true heart of the garden is not a plant, but rather a tree that cradles the divine — a 400-year-old oak tree with a chapel carved into its trunk. This living sanctuary has become the garden’s most visited attraction. The hollow at the tree’s core formed naturally in the mid-20th century. For years, park workers worried that the old oak was dying. But each spring, defying expectation, the ancient tree would bud and bloom anew. Inspired by this miracle of resilience, the garden’s director envisioned something extraordinary: a chapel nestled inside the tree. Local residents brought icons to furnish the space, transforming the hollow into a place of prayer. Today, the Botanical Garden and its sacred oak attract hundreds of visitors each day — both locals and tourists — who come not just to admire its beauty, but to feel its quiet reverence.
The city of Kutaisi, set in the fertile Imereti region, boasts an abundance of greenery, nurtured by a temperate and inviting climate. Though the garden in its current form was officially inaugurated in 1969, its roots run much deeper. The present-day Botanical Garden is the heir of a 19th-century green space that once occupied the same land.
The primary mission behind the creation of the garden was to collect and cultivate plant species not native to Georgia. Over the years, some of the most renowned agronomists — from Georgia and abroad — contributed to its growth. Among them, the Scottish horticulturist Jacob Marr left an indelible mark. Under his guidance, the Botanical Garden was brought to life. He organized the shipment of its first exotic plants — including tea, cotton, and citrus trees. At his request, seeds of the indigofera plant, known for its blue dye, were brought from Crimea. Marr introduced exotic tree species like magnolias and cork oaks and ensured that the garden kept pace with modern horticultural practices by importing tools and methods from Europe. A passionate mentor, he also trained young agronomists on-site. Jacob Marr spent the better part of his life in Georgia, earning deep respect for his invaluable contribution to the country’s botanical legacy.
Throughout its long history, the garden’s mission has remained constant: the protection and preservation of rare plant life. Today, its flora comprises over 200 genera from 80 botanical families. Of these, 73 families belong to the kingdom of flowering plants.
In the past decade, the Botanical Garden has undergone a remarkable transformation. Substantial funding has allowed for new landscaping features — charming artificial ponds, gentle fountains, cozy benches, and shaded gazebos — all interconnected by newly paved stone paths. A modern amphitheater was also constructed on the premises, where local performance groups frequently entertain guests and evening film screenings bring a touch of culture under the open sky.
The garden’s most cherished marvel, however, is a rare oak of the Quercus hartwissiana species — a tree officially listed in the Red Book due to its endangered status. This ancient guardian, now more than 400 years old, became a spiritual beacon when a chapel was built inside its trunk in January 2014. The hollow within the tree had appeared naturally in the previous century, and for many years, caretakers feared that the venerable oak was nearing its end. Yet spring after spring, it continued to sprout green leaves and yield acorns — a living testament to endurance.
Standing tall at 45 meters, with a trunk diameter of about two meters, the tree’s interior is spacious enough to accommodate up to three people. The walls of the chapel are adorned with sacred icons, all gifted by local residents. Before transforming the tree into a chapel, the Botanical Garden administration sought and received the blessing of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The idea was born from the imagination of Amiran Khvadagiani, the garden’s director. Remarkably, the tree’s inner structure required almost no alteration. Experts carefully cleaned the bark and treated it with antiseptic solution to preserve its health. Khvadagiani’s goal was to create something truly unique within the garden’s grounds. Chapels inside trees are rare, but not unheard of. France is home to a famous oak-chapel in Normandy — believed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. In Greece, a chapel rests within a centuries-old plane tree in the village of Plataniontissa, about 190 kilometers from Athens. But Georgia had never seen anything like it — until now.