Tikmataji Pass
Tikmataji Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.171m (7,122ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli subdivisions of southern Georgia.
The pass, also known as Tikmatashi pass, lies in the Javakheti Plateau. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Heavy snowfalls can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway also goes via this pass. The road to the summit, in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range, is asphalted. It’s one of the highest paved roads of the country. The road encompasses miles of stunning views through twisty hair pin corners, high elevations and steep grades. The pass links the towns of Tsalka, in Kvemo Kartli region and Ninotsminda, in the district of Samtskhe-Javakheti.
The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! The place is very lonely - road, grasslands, lake, mountains, huge space, so be sure to visit this place. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! The pass is located near the volcanic Paravani lake, the largest lake in the country, at 2.073m above the sea level. A few years ago a 4,000-year-old burial mound was found in the lake. Despite the small depth of the lake (about 3 meters), the water is pretty muddy, so it is difficult to dig at the bottom.
Pic: Anna Szymanska