Katskhi pillar Religious Site

Admission: Entrance to the pillar area is free; access to the summit cell may be subject to seasonal or ecclesiastical restrictions.

Katskhi pillar is a natural limestone monolith in Imereti, western Georgia, rising roughly 40 metres above the local landscape with a small chapel and hermitage on its summit. The site is notable for its imposing vertical form and the tiny religious enclosure atop the pillar.

The summit once served as a hermitage and a site of ascetic practice, and the small chapel and associated ruins attest to its medieval religious use. The pillar has drawn attention for its unusual combination of natural geology and built religious architecture.

The summit chapel and hermit’s cell were restored and re-sanctified in the late 20th century, and the pillar is now visited for its cultural and geological uniqueness. Public access is limited and controlled for conservation and safety.

Located in the Imereti region of western Georgia, the pillar sits near the village of Katskhi within a rural limestone landscape and is visible from surrounding valleys.

• Height and summit structure: The freestanding limestone pillar rises roughly 40 metres above the surrounding plain and has a small religious structure on top.
• Access restrictions: Access to the top is tightly controlled and climbing is permitted only under regulated conditions to protect the site and for safety reasons.

What to See#

• Summit chapel: A small medieval chapel and hermit’s cell sit on the summit of the pillar, reachable only by a narrow ascent and restored in the late 20th century.

The Katskhi pillar is near the village of Katskhi in the Chiatura/Kharagauli area of Imereti. It is reachable by road from Kutaisi (about 1-1.5 hours depending on route); local roads may be rough and a short walk or scramble is required from the nearest parking.

• Wear good footwear- the approach to the base is rocky and a short scramble is sometimes required.
• Hire a local guide or contact nearby monasteries if interested in the small historical church on the summit-access is restricted at times.
• Visit on a clear day for views of the surrounding valleys and to see the engineering that allowed a hermitage to survive on a narrow summit.