The Daryal Monastery of Archangels Michael and Gabriel is located in the narrowest part of the Daryal Gorge. A rock rises above it, where a fortress was built in ancient times, which in the 19th century Mikhail Lermontov called the Castle of Queen Tamara. Now the state border between Russia and Georgia is located here.
The Daryal Monastery is one of the youngest in the Georgian Church. Construction began in 2005, and the first services were held in 2011. The monastery is located a few meters from the Upper Lars border checkpoint. According to Georgian Patriarch Ilia II, the monastery on the border is a symbol of friendship between Georgia and Russia. The same symbol of friendship is the Friendship Arch on the Cross Pass, built in 1983.
The churches of the Daryal Monastery are built in the traditional Georgian architectural style. This is what the Sveti Tskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta looks like, and the Zion Cathedral in Tbilisi as well. The main cathedral of the Daryal Monastery was consecrated in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. A bell tower was built nearby.
The Daryal Monastery is located in the most beautiful place of the Daryal gorge. The mountains close over the Terek River. A canyon no more than 100 meters wide remains between them. The mountains rise above the river by about a thousand meters, and the Daryal gorge itself in this place is located at an altitude of about 1300 meters above sea level.
Nowadays, the highway is laid in tunnels, and in the 19th century it was a very difficult part of the way for travelers, as difficult as the Cross Pass. Here is the Devil`s Bridge over the Terek. The old bridge was often demolished by spring floods. In the 1820s, a solid cast-iron bridge was installed, which has survived to the present day.
Since the Daryal Monastery is located a few meters from the state border, there are no trails for trekking. However, when visiting it, try to go to the highest point to see the stunningly beautiful views of the monastery against the backdrop of monumental mountains, where snow lies most of the year. The village of Stepantsminda, where there are many hotels, is located 10 kilometers south of the Daryal Monastery.
