(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Irfan Bukhari | The Peninsula
Tskaltubo, Georgia: Tskaltubo, a scenic municipality in West Georgia, has numerous attractions for the local and foreign tourists alike but it is its thermal mineral water which pulls people suffering from various diseases from across the globe to the resort town located at the foot of Southern Caucasus.
Tskaltubo central park is the house of 19 balneotherapy centers while the park is surrounded by a number of spa resorts and hotels. These present day 'spa resorts were sanatoriums built during Soviet times when Georgia was part of it. Balneotherapy is the treatment of disease by bathing in mineral springs.
Salome Kutateladze, Director of Tskaltubo Tourism Center says that Tskaltubo is known for its mineral waters which are being employed for centuries for their healing properties. 'The second most wonderful attraction in Tskaltubo is Prometheus Cave, she said while talking to The Peninsula during a tour of Doha-based journalists to Georgia, facilitated by National Tourism Administration, Georgia and Embassy of Georgia in Qatar.
Apart from mineral water springs, undoubtedly Prometheus Cave is the most fascinating and thrilling visual experience for any tourist. Also known as Kumistavi Cave, it is 20 km away from Kutaisi city in Imereti region of Georgia.
The cave was discovered in 1984 and was almost immediately developed as a show cave. Kumistavi is the biggest cave in Georgia. The cave is 30 km long but its 1.4 km part having concrete pavements, stairs and special light effects is open for visitors. Inside, there are also underground lakes and rivers. 'Due to its peculiar climate conditions, the cave provides relief to patients of asthma and other respiratory ailments, a local guide told the group.
The cave is a unique experience that cannot be expressed in words. Tourists who visit the cave are held spellbound by extraordinarily beautiful views of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified waterfalls, underground rivers and lakes. Prometheus Cave has more than 16 halls and at one point its height reaches to 21 metres. The halls have been given different names as Argonauts, Colchis, Medea, Love while the underground river's name is Qumi.
Back to mineral waters and healing baths and massages, Tskaltubo became an important spa-resort during the Soviet times. Regarding the park, Salome said that it was spreading over an area of 78 square hectares with around 150,000 trees of various species.
'The park is situated in the area of mineral water springs, she said, adding that Tskaltubo mineral water could cure nervous diseases, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, metabolic disorders, rheumatism etc. To a question she said that despite the passage of time and advancement in medical sciences, people's interest in natural alternative treatment had not faded away.
Not only the people visit Tskaltubo for medical tourism but also healthy people take the mineral water baths to improve and maintain their health and wellness. Presently there are three springs and a balneology center 'Be Healthy in Tskaltubo and the most important spring is 'Spring 6 upon which construction was built in 1950 for Joseph Stalin. Springs and balneology center 'Be Healthy offer visitors high-level complex procedures like natural mineral water bath, underwater stretches, underwater massage, spa massage etc. and the costs of procedures are quite economical as well.
Salome Kutateladze, Director of Tskaltubo Tourism Center
Salome further said that during Soviet times as many as 9000 visitors would visit Tskaltubo for thermal-radon mineral water baths daily then after the disintegration of Soviet Union the visitors' flow declined. 'Now again after the renovation of sanatoriums and balneology center, the number of tourists and visitors is again on the constant rise. Last year (2017), around 200, 000 people visited these centers, she added.
The group of journalists also paid a visit to Local Study Museum of Tskaltubo which was founded in 1969 and maintains a precious record of thousands of antique items from archeology, ethnology, numismatics, art, manuscripts, epigraphs, photos etc.
Spring 6 of natural mineral water at Tskaltubo park is visited by people for thermal-baron mineral water baths for health and wellness.
Buildings in Tskaltubo are of classical style with Gothic and Roman features and its architecture is a synthesis of Stalinist period classical style and of Georgian ethnic decor that emphasises its unique appearance.
Thermal mineral water springs, Soviet era sanatoriums, Prometheus Cave, traditional yet scrumptious Georgian cuisine, tranquil forests and many more make Tskaltubo a never-to-skip tourist destination for all.
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