Natural Monument
Ghliana Cave Natural Monument
Attraction: The cave was formed in Lower Cretaceous limestone and has two entrances. The first entrance, from which the main underground stream emerges, is 3.5–4 meters high and 7 meters wide. A left branch rises to the surface via steep steps 35–40 meters from the main entrance.
At a distance of 60 meters from this point, the cave floor is occupied by a 50-meter-long siphon lake, 3–4 meters wide, with a ceiling height of up to 2.5 meters. The first siphon is followed by a 200-meter-long water-filled passage without accessible banks, where the water depth ranges from 0.5 to 2 meters.
The water passage is followed by another siphon gallery, 30 meters long and 1–2 meters wide. It then continues into a 150-meter-long gallery, whose ceiling is covered with flowstone formations along almost its entire length. This water-filled gallery continues toward the end of the cave through several siphon passages. At the end, movement becomes extremely difficult due to the lowering of the ceiling over a 20–30-meter section.
The discharge of the underground stream in Ghliana Cave is 50–55 liters per second during periods of low water. After emerging from the cave, the stream joins the Kumistavi vauclusian springs. The dry passages of the cave are inhabited by a large colony of bats.
Location: Tskaltubo Municipality, village of Kumistavi, near Prometheus Cave, 142 meters above sea level.
Coordinates: N42 22.338 E42 35.842
Access: The nearest major settlement to the natural monument is the city of Tskaltubo. Tskaltubo is located 257 km from Tbilisi; travel time is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Tskaltubo – Village of Kumistavi – Ghliana Cave Natural Monument: 6 km; travel time approximately 10 minutes.
Accommodation: The most convenient options for overnight accommodation are in the cities of Tskaltubo or Kutaisi, where accommodation is available at a hotel.