Borjomi is the most famous balneological resort in Georgia. Borjomi mineral water is very popular in all countries of the former Soviet Union and is sold in dozens of countries around the world. Borjomi Resort is located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, 160 kilometers east of Tbilisi.
Borjomi Resort is located in a narrow mountain gorge of the Borjomula River, 1 kilometer from the place where it flows into the Kura River. In the Central Park there are Source of Borjomi mineral water, the famous sodium bicarbonate water, which has medicinal properties. In addition, 3 kilometers from the pump room, in the upper reaches of the gorge, there are natural Sulfur Baths. Water saturated with hydrogen sulfide has a therapeutic effect on the whole body.
History of the Borjomi resort
Borjomi mineral springs are "hidden" in a narrow gorge of a mountain river. Ancient stone baths found in this gorge indicate that the healing properties of Borjomi water were known thousands of years ago. However, if the Sulfur Baths of Abanotubani in Tbilisi or the Radon Springs of Tskaltubo were plotted on ancient maps, then there were no Borjomi springs there, so they were forgotten in the Middle Ages.
The second discovery of Borjomi Mineral Water Springs occurred in 1829. Soldiers of the Kherson Grenadier regiment found a source of mineral water in the forest. Their colonel Pavel Popov suffered from a stomach ailment and after taking this water felt a significant relief. A few years later, the source became widely known.
In 1841, the Russian governor in the Caucasus brought his sick daughter here. Taking Borjomi water also brought her considerable relief. His daughter`s name was Ekaterina, so he called the source from which she drank water Ekaterininsky. He named the neighboring spring after himself: Evgenievsky spring. In 1850, construction of a park began around the spring in Borjomi, and in 1890, the first plant for bottling Borjomi mineral water was built here.
Borjomi Mineral water
Borjomi mineral water is quite unique. It has a volcanic origin and forms its composition at a depth of about 8-10 thousand meters. Water comes to the surface of the earth by gravity. It is pushed out of the ground by natural carbon dioxide. It is impossible to extract water using pumps, as Borjomi water loses its properties.
There are two natural Borjomi water sources in the Borjomi Gorge. In the Central Park, there is a beautiful pump pavilion where you can taste the warm water of Borjomi. It retains its medicinal properties for 1 day. On April 9th Street, near the Crown Plaza Borjomi Hotel, there is a spring with cold water. It retains its properties for 2-3 months.
However, you should remember that the water in these springs is therapeutic. It is usually drunk in courses, as prescribed by doctors. The water coming out naturally from the sources, in addition to its bicarbonate composition has a noticeable taste of hydrogen sulfide and iron. If you leave this water in the bottle for more than a day, then a "rusty" iron precipitate forms at the bottom of the bottle.
Borjomi mineral water, which is bottled, is extracted from 9 other wells. The water on the spill line flows by gravity. After that, it is processed: the iron precipitate and the taste of hydrogen sulfide are removed. The water is additionally saturated with carbon dioxide. After carrying out all the necessary treatment procedures, Borjomi water becomes a table water, not therapeutic, but its composition and natural mineralization still retain their unique taste.
Attractions of Borjomi resort
The attractions of the Borjomi resort are located in a mountain gorge. It is so narrow that the houses are located in one line along the riverbed of Borjomula. A significant part of the city of Borjomi is located on the banks of the Kura River.
The main attraction of Borjomi is the Central Park. In some places, its width between the rocks is only 200-300 meters. Near the entrance to the park there is a Pump pavilion with therapeutic Borjomi Mineral water, as well as the Lower station of the Cable Car. You can use it for climbing the Borjomi Mountain Plateau. 3 kilometers from the entrance to the Park are the famous Sulfur Pools. They are pools with sulfuric water in the open air. Taking baths with sulfuric water has a therapeutic effect on the body.
Downstream of the Kura River there is a large park and the Romanov Palace. This palace is also called the Likiani Palace. It was built in 1892 for Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich Romanov, the uncle of Russian Tsar Nicholas II. All members of the royal family, including Tsar Nicholas II, came to visit the Grand Duke in Borjomi.
