Leghvtakhevi Waterfall

Leghvtakhevi, the Fig Gorge, is the narrow ravine that cuts between Narikala and the hills of Sololaki and opens onto the bath district at Abanotubani. The name comes from leghvi, Georgian for fig, after the trees that once covered the valley. A paved path follows the stream up from the baths, past cliffs, a small bridge and benches, to a 22-metre waterfall at the head of the gorge. It is a short, easy walk and one of the few places in central Tbilisi where you hear water instead of traffic.

The walk takes about 10 minutes each way from the domes of Abanotubani. It is busiest in the late afternoon and evening, when people stop here after the baths. The same stream flows down from the Botanical Garden further up the valley. Visit after rain or in spring for the strongest flow; in late summer the falls can thin to a trickle. The rocks near the water are slippery, so stay on the path.

The gorge traditionally separated the bath district from the rest of the city and is often described as the birthplace of Tbilisi's sulphur waters. The waterfall has also been known as Tsavkisiskhevi, Sololakiskhevi and Dabakhana. The area was renovated in 2012, turning a neglected ravine into one of the Old Town's most popular short walks.