Tbilisi from Above: Mtatsminda Park to Mother Georgia

We started our day by taking the funicular up to Mtatsminda Park, perched high above Tbilisi. While most of the rides were closed (perhaps they only operate on weekends or during summer), the panoramic views of the city spread out below us were spectacular.

From Mtatsminda, we decided to follow the Mtatsminda-Narikala Tourist Path toward the Mother of Georgia statue. This walking trail offers some of the best vantage points of Tbilisi, though the municipality seems to have neglected it. At certain points, we had to navigate around pools of stagnant water that flowed across the path, bringing with them a rather unpleasant smell. Despite these minor inconveniences, the walk was enjoyable, and the changing perspectives of the city made it worthwhile.

After following the ridge, we eventually reached the iconic Kartlis Deda, or Mother of Georgia statue. Standing 20 meters tall, this aluminum figure was installed in 1958 to commemorate Tbilisi's 1500th anniversary. The statue, created by prominent sculptor Elguja Amashukeli, embodies Georgian national character with symbolic elements - a bowl of wine in her left hand to welcome friends and a sword in her right to defend against enemies.

Interestingly, the current statue isn't the original - the first version was wooden, later covered with aluminum in 1963, and finally replaced entirely in 1997.

We took a break near the statue, enjoying some ice cream while taking in the magnificent views. From here, we could also see the imposing Narikala Fortress. Though we didn't explore inside the fortress, its ancient walls climbing along the ridge created an impressive backdrop to our visit.

This hilltop journey from Mtatsminda Park to Mother Georgia offers a perfect half-day activity for visitors to Tbilisi. It combines exercise, culture, and unbeatable city views.