Tourist Abkhazia: New Athos cave is a place that everyone should visit!

New Athos is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Abkhazia. He became widely known thanks to a large monastery, attracting a huge number of pilgrims and tourists. However, half a century ago, it was here that the whole of Abkhazia is proud of and opened and landscaped. The New Athos cave has become as popular with tourists as it is known to the whole world, like Ritsa Lake or the above-mentioned monastery in Novy Afon.

The Legend of the "Bottomless Pit"

Local residents during walks in the outskirts of their native city long ago noticed a large well on one of the slopes of the Iberian mountain. The failure of the people began to be called "The bottomless pit," and the most incredible legends began to form about its origin. This place literally attracted the inhabitants of New Athos. And not only the mystics sought by people who were carried away by the "bottomless pit." At that time, small caves were already discovered, the natural entrances to which looked similar. But this well seemed too dark and bottomless. And yet the idea of unraveling the riddle of failure did not give rest to the local resident Givi Smyr. In 1961, he assembled an expedition consisting of Arsen Okrodzhanashvili, Zurab Tintilozov and Boris Gergedava. The speleological detachment began to descend, and below the ground its participants saw something striking. From time immemorial Abkhazia is famous for various miracles. New Athos cave - one of them, it strikes its size and variety of beauty.

History of accomplishment of tourist object

During the first study of the "Bottomless Pit" it was possible to establish only that the cave is of incredible size. Many speleologists have explored the system of underground halls and galleries in the following years. Gradually, a map was compiled, and in 1965 the first documentary film was filmed. Filmed footage showing subterranean beauty was not ignored. And it was decided that the New Athos cave (Abkhazia) should become a full-fledged tourist object. The problem was that the natural entrance was a well that emerged into the ceiling of one of the halls. It was decided to make a new artificial entrance. In 1975, all the work was completed, and the first tourists were able to descend under the ground on a special train.

Cave metro

The underground railway was opened on July 4, 1975. The total length of the line is 1291 meters, it consists of three passenger stations. For tourists, the journey starts from the platform "Entrance Gates", the inspection of underground beauties begins from the "Hall of Abkhazia", and ends at "Anakopia Hall". The railway is a narrow single-track. As a transport, a unique passenger electric train "Tourist" is used, consisting of a head, motor and four trailer cars. This underground metro is proud of Abkhazia. New Athos cave has become a popular attraction because of the organization of comfortable descent for tourists. The underground railway and the passenger train itself are made according to unique projects. Not so long ago the train was reconstructed, and today tourists can enjoy maximum comfort during the descent.

New Athos cave in Abkhazia: photos and halls today

Visiting the sights begins with the usual looking administrative building. Its hall is richly decorated with mosaic and chasing. Here you can buy tickets for excursions and souvenirs for memory. After that, having swept on an electric train, tourists together with the guide fall into an amazing underground realm. The New Athos cave (Abkhazia) today consists of 6 rooms open for tourist inspection, and 3 more, which are not yet guided. Various studies are carried out in the closed part of the cave. Underground halls are pleased with the variety, they can see natural formations of various shapes and sizes. The walls of the cave and the most interesting objects are highlighted by multi-colored searchlights, which makes them look even more attractive and mysterious.

Work schedule and cost of visiting

If the place of your summer holiday is Abkhazia, the Novy Afon cave becomes a must for visiting the landmark. Excursions are spent all-the-year-round, the ticket cost makes about 500 rubles. Children under 8 years old can visit the cave free of charge accompanied by their parents. The ticket price includes descent and lifting on an electric train, excursion service, photo and video shooting for their equipment are paid separately. On the tour it is worthwhile to take with you warm things, + 11 ... - 14 degrees - the standard temperature, to which the New Athos cave (Abkhazia) is warming up. The operating time of this tourist attraction depends on the season. In the tourist season tickets are sold from 10.00 to 17.00 (the duration of the excursion is 1.5 hours), in winter the cave works several days a week (usually on Wednesday and weekends), as well as on big holidays.

Reviews of tourists

A unique place - New Athos cave in Abkhazia. Photos of underground halls can be seen in any tourist avenue. This landmark is also known to the whole world as an object for scientific research. Tourists, who visited the excursion in the cave, get incredible impressions. Many of them say that the underground halls look so incredible that it is impossible to believe that we have a miraculous attraction before us. New Athos cave (Abkhazia) reviews are extremely positive. Quality tourist service, comfortable descent to the ground and incredible beauty of the facility itself will not leave anyone indifferent.