Kldekari Fortress

Kldekari is a fortress situated on a rocky peak in the Trialeti Range, overlooking the territories of Tsalka and Manglisi. It was built at this location to control the trade routes that passed through this mountainous region.

The Baghvashi dynasty built this fortress in the ninth century as their primary stronghold and seat of power in Georgia. It was positioned at this strategic location to maintain control over the key passages through the region.

The fortress takes its name from two Georgian words: 'klde' meaning rock and 'kari' meaning door, reflecting how it sits at a natural mountain passage. This name perfectly captures how the structure functions within the landscape.

The ruins can be reached from the town of Manglisi by following hiking trails that wind through the Trialeti mountain landscape. The terrain is rocky and demanding, so proper gear and adequate time are needed for the journey.

Two entrances are carved directly into the mountain rock, demonstrating the advanced building techniques used during construction. These carved doorways allowed defenders to control access to the fortress while taking advantage of natural barriers.