Why go
Ghliana Cave runs more than a kilometre through the limestone karst at Kumistavi in Tsqaltubo Municipality, Imereti, its passages dropping through vertical shafts of 35-40 meters. First systematically explored by Soviet speleologists in the 1980s, it remains a proving ground for serious cavers rather than casual visitors. The cave rewards technical expertise with rare formations: thundering underground waterfalls that carve new passages through absolute darkness, and vertical shafts that demand single-rope techniques. Its depth profile mirrors the karst geology that defines western Georgia's hidden hydrology. For those qualified to enter, Ghliana offers what few caves worldwide can—genuine exploration potential in a country where subterranean mapping continues to yield discoveries.