After breakfast we left the Oasis Club and drove to the nearby David Gareja monastery complex. The complex is an area on the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan that consists of about 15 different monastery sites. The monasteries were originally built between the 6th and 10th centuries. Lavra is the only one presently inhabited. On the ridge above Lavra are the caves of the abandoned Udabno monastery. We visited both of Lavra and Udabno today. No tickets, no lines, no tour guides, just explore what you want to see.
Breakfast at the Oasis Club
Looking back at the town
View from the parking lot at the David Gareja monastery complex
Rock slope used to collect rain water
Groove cut into rock to collect water
Inscriptions on top of main entry gate
View of Lavra Monastery from outside the gate
Buildings inside the monastery compound
Cave rooms inside the monastery
View of part of the monastery compound
View of the Lavra Monastery as we hike up to the Udabno caves
Udabno caves just below the ridge
Azerbaijan desert
Cave rooms of Udabno monastery
Walking back down
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