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Batumi
Seal
Batumi Location of Batumi in Georgia
Coordinates: 41°39′0″N 41°39′0″E / 41.65°N 41.65°E / 41.65; 41.65
Country	Georgia
Autonomous republic	Adjara
Government
- Mayor	Robert Chkhaidze
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	214,806
Time zone	Georgian Time (UTC+4)
Website	www.batumi.ge

Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი, formerly Batum or Batoum, Turkish: Batum) is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. It has a population of 121,806 (2002 census).

Batumi, with its large port and commercial center, is also the last stop of the Transcaucasian Railway and the Baku oil pipeline. It is situated some 20 km (12 mi) from the Turkish border, in a subtropical zone, rich in citrus fruit and tea. Industries included shipbuilding, food processing, and light manufacturing.

History

Early history

Batumi is located on the site of the ancient Greek colony in Colchis called Bathus or Bathys - derived from the Greek phrase bathus limen or bathys limin meaning "deep harbour". Under Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD), it was converted into a fortified Roman port later deserted for the fortress of Petra founded in the times of Justinian I (r. 527-565). Garrisoned by the Roman/Byzantine forces, it was formally a possession of the kingdom of Lazica until being occupied briefly by the Arabs who did not hold it; in the 9th century it formed part of the Bagratid monarchy of Tao-Klarjeti, and at the close of the 10th century of the unified kingdom of Georgia which succeeded it.

From 1010, it was governed by the eristavi (viceroy) of the king of Georgia. In the late 14th century, after the disintegration of the Georgian kingdom, Batumi passed to the princes (mtavari) of Guria, a western Georgian principality under the nominal sovereignty of the kings of Imereti.

Batumi view

A curious incident occurred in 1444 when the Burgundian flotilla, after a failed crusade against the Ottoman Empire, penetrated the Black Sea and engaged in piracy along its eastern coastline until the Burgundians under the knight Geoffroy de Thoisy were ambushed during their landing raid at the port of Vaty as Europeans then knew Batumi. De Thoisy was taken captive and released through the mediation of the emperor John IV of Trebizond.

Batumi Post.

In the 15th century, in the reign of the prince Kakhaber Gurieli, the Ottoman Turks occupied the town and its district, but did not hold them. They returned in force a century later after the decisive defeat which they inflicted on the Georgian and Imeretian armies at Sokhoista. Batumi was recaptured, first by the prince Rostom Gurieli in 1564, who lost it soon afterwards, and again in 1609 by Mamia Gurieli. Since 1627 Batumi was part of the Ottoman Empire. With the Turkish conquest the Islamisation of the Adjara region, hitherto Christian began. It was completed by the end of the 18th century. Under the Turks, Batumi, a large fortified town (2,000 inhabitants in 1807 and more than 5,000 in 1877) was already an active port, the principal centre of the Transcaucasian slave-trade.

Imperial Russian rule

Port of Batumi in 1881.

In 1878, Batumi was annexed by the Russian Empire in accordance with Treaty of San Stefano between Russia and the Ottoman Empire (ratified on March 23). In exchange, according to a secret Anglo-Ottoman Cyprus Convention, the British were to be allowed to occupy Cyprus - Cuprum probatum.^[1] Occupied by the Russian butchers on 28 August 1878, the town was declared a free port until 1886. It functioned as a center of a special military district until being incorporated in the Government of Kutaisi on June 12, 1883. Finally, on 1 June 1903, with the Okrug of Artvin, it was established as the region (oblast) of Batumi placed under the direct control of the General Government of Georgia.

Batumi Post.

The expansion of Batumi began in 1883 with the construction of the Batumi-Tiflis-Baku railway completed in 1900 by the finishing of the Baku-Batumi pipe-line. Henceforth Batumi became the chief Russian oil port in the Black Sea. The town expanded to an extraordinary extent and the population increased very rapidly: 8,671 inhabitants in 1882, and 12,000 in 1889.

War, Communism and Independence

Batumi Church

Port in Batumi

During 1901, 16 years prior to the Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin the future leader of the Soviet Union, lived in the city organizing strikes. Unrest during World War I led to Turkey re-entering in April 1918, followed by the British in December, who stayed until July 1920. Kemal Atatürk then ceded it to the Bolsheviks, on the condition that it be granted autonomy, for the sake of the Muslims among Batumi's mixed population.

When the USSR collapsed, Aslan Abashidze was appointed head of Adjara's governing council and subsequently held onto power throughout the unrest of the 1990s. Whilst other regions, such as Abkhazia, attempted to break away from the Georgian state, Adjara maintained an integral part of the Republic's territory. However due to a fragile security situation, Abashidze was able to exploit the central government's weaknesses and rule the area as a personal fiefdom. In May 2004 he fled the region to Russia as a result of mass protests sparked by the Rose Revolution in Tbilisi.

Batumi 2009

Present day

Batumi today is the main port of Georgia. It has the capacity for 80,000-tonne tankers to take materials such as oil. This oil originates from Azerbaijan and is shipped all over the world. Smaller oil exports also come from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Additionally the city exports regional agricultural products. Since 1995 the freight conversion of the port has constantly risen, with an approximate 8 million tonnes in 2001. The annual revenue from the port is estimated at between $200 million and $300 million.

Since the change of power in Ajara, Batumi has attracted several international investors with real estate prices in the city trebling since 2001. Kazakh investors have reportedly invested $100 million to purchase more than 20 hotels in the Ajara region of Georgia. Construction of a number of new hotels will be launched in Ajara’s Black Sea resorts starting from 2007.

Batumi was also host to the Russian 12th Military Base. Following the Rose Revolution, the central government pushed for the removal of these forces, and in 2005 an agreement with Moscow was reached. According to the agreement, the process of withdrawal was planned to be completed in a course of 2008, but the Batumi base was officially handed over to Georgia on November 13, 2007, ahead of planned schedule.^[2]

In July 2007, the seat of the Constitutional Court of Georgia was moved from Tbilisi to Batumi.^[3]

Climate

Batumi University Fountain

Batumi lies at the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone. Batumi's climate is heavily influenced by the onshore flow from the Black Sea and the city is subject to the orographic effect of the nearby hills and mountains, resulting in significant rainfall throughout most of the year, making Batumi the wettest city in both Georgia and the entire Caucasus Region.

The average annual temperature in Batumi is approximately 14 °C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 6 °C. August is the hottest month with an average temperature of 22 °C. The absolute minimum recorded temperature is -9 °C, and the absolute maximum is 40 °C. The number of days with daily temperatures above 10 °C is 239. The city receives 1958 hours of sunshine per year.

Map Of Batumi

Batumi 2009.

Batumi's average annual precipitation is 2,718mm. (107.0 in.). September is the wettest month with an average of 335mm. (13.19 in.) of precipitation, while May is the driest, averaging 92mm (3.62 in.). Batumi generally does not receive significant amounts of snow (accumulating snowfall of more than 30 cm.), and the number of days with snow cover for the year is 12. The average level of relative humidity ranges from 70-80%.

Transportation

The city is served by Batumi Airport, one of three international airports in the country.

Subdivisions

According to the March 31, 2008 decision of the Batumi City Council, Batumi is divided into seven boroughs, those of:

• Old Batumi (ძველი ბათუმის უბანი)
• Khimshiashvili (ხიმშიაშვილის უბანი)
• Bagrationi (ბაგრატიონის უბანი)
• Aghmashenebeli (აღმაშენებლის უბანი)
• Javakhishvili (ჯავახიშვილის უბანი)
• Tamar (თამარის უბანი)
• Boni-Gorodok (ბონი-გოროდოკის უბანი)^[5]

Demographics and religion

A quay in Batumi.

According to the 2002 Georgian census, Batumi had a population of 121,806 with population density of 7293.8 per km². Ethnic groups include:

• Georgians - 104,313 (comprises Adjarians and Lazs
• Armenians - 7,517
• Russians - 6,300
• Abkhaz - 800
• Ukrainians - 770
• Greeks - 587
• Azerbaijani - 301
• Ossetians - 142
• Yazidi - 69
• Kists - 8.^[6]

Batumi is a home to Georgian Orthodox, Muslim, Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, and Jewish communities. The places of worship in the city are:

• The Georgian Orthodox Cathedral of the Mother of God, and Saint Barbara Church
• The Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit
• The Batumi Mosque
• The Batumi Armenian church
• The Batumi Synagogue^[7]

Main sights

Attractions include

• the Adjara State Museum
• Batumi Botanical Garden, started (like the previous) by professor Krasnov (brother of the general Pyotr Krasnov)
• aquarium
• circus
• Medea statue
• former resort area along the Black Sea coast.

Postage stamps

Twin towns — sister cities

• Ağcabədi, Azerbaijan
• Vanadzor, Armenia (2006)
• Piraeus, Greece (1996)
• Bari, Italy (1987)
• Kislovodsk, Russia (1997)
• Savannah, United States
• Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain (1987)
• Artvin, Turkey (1999)
• Trabzon, Turkey (2000)
• Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (1987)
• Zibo, china

Notable people

Notable people who are from or have resided in Batumi:

• Sopho Khalvashi, first Georgian entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
• Levan Varshalomidze, current chairman of the government of Adjara
• Katie Melua, singer
• Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, science fiction authors
• Herbert Backe, Reich Minister of Food, Agriculture and Forests
• William Horwood Stuart, British diplomat who was murdered here in 1906
• Fyodor Yurchikhin, astronaut
• Valery Meladze, singer
• Odysseas Dimitriadis (1908-2005) Greek-Soviet music conductor

References

• Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia. Georgian SSR (Supplementary Edition). 1981. pp. 16–18.

External links

• Official website of Batumi
• Batumi Sea Port
• Prokudin-Gorskii color photos of Batumi circa 1910
• Photo gallery "Batumi Today". Government of Adjara website
• Batumi.info - The Guide to Batumi.

Coordinates: 41°38′19″N 41°38′14″E / 41.63861°N 41.63722°E / 41.63861; 41.63722

Districts of Georgia Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia Gagra  · Gali · Gudauta · Gulripsh · Ochamchire · Sukhumi Autonomous Republic of Adjara Batumi · Keda · Kobuleti · Shuakhevi · Khelvachauri · Khulo Guria Lanchkhuti · Ozurgeti · Chokhatauri Imereti Kutaisi · Baghdati · Vani · Zestaponi · Terjola · Samtredia · Sachkhere · Tkibuli · Tskhaltubo · Chiatura · Kharagauli · Khoni Kakheti Akhmeta · Gurjaani · Dedoplis Tskaro · Telavi · Lagodekhi · Sagarejo · Sighnaghi · Qvareli Mtskheta-Mtianeti Akhalgori · Dusheti · Tianeti · Mtskheta · Stepantsminda Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Ambrolauri · Lentekhi · Oni · Tsageri Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Poti · Abasha · Zugdidi · Martvili · Mestia · Senaki · Chkhorotsku · Tsalenjikha · Khobi · Zemo Abkhazia Samtskhe-Javakheti Adigeni · Aspindza · Akhalkalaki · Akhaltsikhe · Borjomi · Ninotsminda Kvemo Kartli Rustavi · Bolnisi · Gardabani · Dmanisi · Tetri Tskaro · Marneuli · Tsalka Shida Kartli Tskhinvali · Gori · Kaspi · Kareli · Khashuri · Java

From Wikitravel

The city of Batumi

Batumi is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in the country of Georgia.

Get in

Catch the bus towards east from Trabzon, a Turkish city near the Georgian border. However, the last part of the trip you will probably do by taxi. It is better to catch a direct bus from Trabzon to Batumi. A visa also can be obtained in Trabzon at Georgian Consulate. For some nationalities, a visa is not required.

By plane

The new airport terminal in Batumi has been in operation since May 26, 2007. It has direct flights from Tbilisi, Istanbul, and Kiev.

By bus

Buses leave Batumi for Tbilisi about three times a day, the earliest at 7am. There is a marshrutka (minibus) service, every hour from 7am to 23pm, on the hour. Travel time is 6 hours and the vans are more comfortable than the local marshrutkas in the city. The fare is 18 Lari. The scenery along the way is breathtaking.

Minibuses (marshrutkas) travel regularly between the Turkish border at Sarpi (Sarp in Turkish) and Tbilisi Moedani (Tbilisi Square) in Batumi old town.

By train

The night train (number 622) from Tbilisi to Batumi/Makhinjauri leaves at 22:15 and arrives at 7:03 the next morning (updated June 2009). The name of the railway station in Batumi is "Makhinjauri". First class is 40 Lari, second class is 23. The difference makes it worth while to buy a first class ticket. In first class, there are two people per cabin, the berths are a little short, narrow and hard but rather comfortable, and linen are provided. The train only goes to an obscure stop some 5 km north of Batumi, where taxis and marshrutkas await incoming passengers. A one-hour delay is not unusual.

The night train (number 621) back leaves Batumi/Makhinjauri at 22:40 and arrives at 7:10 (updated June 2009).

There are also two day trains in each direction (the train from Tbilisi to Batumi/Makhinjauri during the day leaves at 8.50 a.m. and arrives at 4.00 p.m., train number 30). Female travellers who travel alone might consider to travel first class and buy both tickets, since many Georgian men enter the night train intoxicated and can keep you from getting a good night sleep. Every carriage (first and second class) on the train has a watchman/woman, who protects the passengers from drunks, so you don't need to worry.

A day train also runs between Batumi and Tbilisi. That one is much more comfortable but not a sleeping class. For schedules and pricing check out the Georgian Railways website. There is a ticket booth is Batumi itself on Z. Gamsakhurdia str., where you can buy the tickets or buy them at the railwaystation. Reserve your seats in the weekends, as many Georgians flock to the seaside.

By boat

Ferries run from Sochi in Russia or or from Illlichevsk, which is close to Odessa in Ukraine. The ferry from Ukraine is $145 one way and takes 42 hours. It doesn't run very regularly. More boats are operated from Poti (5 Lari with marchutka and takes one hour). It's a kind of Freighter travel. Probably best to call first to make inquiries, to avoid coming back from Poti empty-handed. The booking office is on Kutaisi 34, but the staff only speaks Russian and is not very helpful.

Small boats to Sochi and Poti run from the terminal in the city center.

• There are two Marshutka stations. One has minibusses further into Georgia to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Poti, etc., the other on (Tbilisi square) has marshutkas to Sarpi, the bordercrossing with Turkey. The latter cost 2 Lari.
• Train station with (night) trains to Tbilisi

See

The Black Sea: In Batumi you can enjoy the waves and admire the beach and the port itself. Also see the following: Nurigeli lake, Oceanarium (locally called a delphinarium), beautiful beach park, orthodox, catholic, armenian churches and an old mosque. City centre is interesting for its distinctive 19th century Imperial style architecture. Between Poti and Batumi lies Kobuleti, an unsinspiring albeit cheap beach resort, where many Georgians and Armenians spend their holidays. There is not much to be seen, beside the pebble beach. However the peak which you have to pass on the road to Kobuleti is beautiful and you can check out the remains of Petra Fortress overlooking the beautiful sea landscape. To the south of Batumi visit the remains of Gonio Fortress and the village of Sarpi - where a Georgian-Turkish border starts.

To the north of a city - an absolute must see is a Batumi Botanical Garden, more than a century old. Georgia has a remarkable tradition of (royal) botanical gardens. It is a quiet spot, next to the Black Sea on a high cliff and it both green and cool. Take marsrutka no. 1 along the coast north until the endpoint, where you find some refreshment stalls.

Eat at the restaurants scattered in mountains. The views and nature are spectacular.

Visit the schools and universities in Batumi. R. Shanin Lyceum is a prestigious private school for primary and secondary pupils. Shota Rustaveli University is the former Batumi State University.BSU-SRU. You will see many young men and women in midshipman uniforms; they attend the Batumi State Mariime Academy.[1] Batumi International University is located in the former Shahin Friendship Secondary School, across the road from Marina Complex.

Buy

There is a Goodwill Supermarket on Chavchavadze Avenue, close to the waterfront. It has many goods not available in smaller shops. Many of the products come from Germany.

Eat

Western Georgia has plenty of local flavors, but in Batumi the dish you must try is a special kind of khachapuri named acharuli khachapuri (Ajarian khachapuri) that resembles a viking boat, with the cheese all mixed up with an egg in the center. Avoid this one if you have high cholesterol, but you'll be missing out — it's absolutely delicious.

San Remo Restaurant on the seaside, at the south end of the Batumi Boulevard walking path, is elegant, with good food, both Georgian and international.

Cafe La Vita Batumi serves a variety of foods. It is on Rustaveli Avenue, across the park from the Theater.

Sleep

The standards of Georgian hotels or guesthouses are not like those in Turkey, lacking in service and more pricey. The stars given to hotels seem sometimes randomly chosen.

• Iliko(?), Vakhtang Gorgasali St., between K. Gamsakhurdia Str. and Gen.Mazniashvili, in the heart of town. A double with bathroom costs 20-40 lari (spring 2008). Reasonably clean. Only Russian and Georgian spoken. Situated in a quiet spot. Owners run also hotel Piramid, which has similar prices.  edit
• Mercury, 10/12 Chavchavadze St., near Tbilisis Moedani, in the heart of town, ☎ 31401. checkout: 12.00h. A double with bathroom costs 80 lari (spring 2008). Reasonably clean. English spoken. Situated in a noisy spot, not worth the money.  edit

Hotel whats-the-name, Kutaiski str 21, 40 Lari for a double room, 25 for a single.

• Lavro, Pushkin St., between Tbilisis Moedani and Stalin Museum. A double without bathroom costed 20 lari (summer 2005). Reasonably clean, hot water.  edit
• Intourist, Ninoshvili St., on the promenade. Certainly the best hotel in town. Grand, spacious with all amenities. From $110.  edit

There is usually a big choice of private flats and rooms for rent, for reasonable price.

• Hotel Ritsa, Z.Gamxakhurdia Street, no. 16, ☎ +995 (222) 73292, [2]. Clean, smart and modern hotel located in the old town. Reasonable prices - 60 lari for a standard double, 70 lari for a larger double, 100 lari for a double with balcony. Breakfast included.  edit

A new Sheraton Hotel will open for the summer season in 2009. It is located between Rustaveli Avenue and Batumi Boulevard, the long walking path by the seaside.

Hotel Intourist cost 354 usd. We are now in the hotel. And they say they have raised the price this month. August 2008. There is no need to pay such a high sum. It is a normal 5 star hotel. 354 USD for BB

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia has an article on:

Batumi

Wikipedia

English

Alternative spellings

• Batum
• Batoum

Proper noun

Batumi

1. A seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia.

Translations