Affordable travel destinations within Georgia, for students

For people who go to Tbilisi for their education, the one thing they should not miss out on is seeing the country. Georgia is one of the most beautiful countries on this planet. The landscape has gorgeous mountains, pristine blue rivers, spectacular scenery and some of the most friendliest people in Eurasia.

So where should one begin?

The best time to see the countryside is during early spring and fall. The colors of the trees and flowers are just out of this world. Plus, no matter where you go there are many small markets which sell delicious fruits and local Georgian foods; you can always negotiate the prices and you will never go hungry. The other thing to note is that transportation in Georgia is relatively cheap- in fact cheaper than most places in Europe. Trains run to most other cities and are recommended if you plan to go far. Buses also connect to most cities and towns, but they can be packed, especially if you travel during summer.

In Georgian countryside, the majority of people you will meet are down to earth, helpful and will go out of their way to help you out.

One feature that you will see almost everywhere in Georgia are churches -something with Gothic architecture and others very small and simple.  If you are into hiking then you need to see the Gergeti Trinity Church located next to Mt Kazbegi. If you do not have a car, it is a 3-hour hike. And if you love beaches, then go visit the Black Sea Coast and Batumi. While the beach lacks sand,  it more than makes up for that with the exotic mountainous landscape, where you can ski and then come down for a swim 2 hours later.

One of the most affordable destinations in Georgia include Mtskheta which is the oldest city in Georgia. It is located just 14 miles north of Tbilisi and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage list because of its buildings and greenery. Another city worth visiting is Kutaisi, which was once the capital of Georgia. Most government offices are located here. The landmarks of the city are the ruined Bagrati Cathedral built by Bagrat ll in the 11th century and the Gelati monastery Further north, there is Svaneti which has probably some of the best landscapes in Eurasia. It is also become part of the UNESCO world heritage list.

Ushguli is a small community located NW of Tbilisi and is the highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. The area is snow covered at least 6-7 months a year. The place is most famous for its Svaneti defense towers.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park  is located in the lesser Caucasus just SW of Tbilisi. It is the largest national park and probably the most picturesque with his historical monuments, ecological zones and rich flora and fauna.

Turtle Lake is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi and named after the turtles that reside in the area. This is the place to come to in the summer as it is a place to party, tan and relax.

Georgia is a very affordable place to travel around. There are ample hotels to suit all types of budgets. Food is available at low price in most markets and transportation is relatively cheap.

Read: Is Georgia Safe For Indian Students? and Recreational Activities for Students.
For more information contact: DTMU India

Indian students' life in Georgia

Once a student from India arrives in Tbilisi, Georgia, what is the life like? Well, life in Georgia is not all that different from what you would live in India. Of course, there is less congestion and the environment is quite different. The first thing that you should know is that most of the universities don’t have  hostel facilities so all students live off campus. There is plenty of affordable housing within walking distance of most universities and colleges. In fact, the local Georgians have flats, bed and breakfast and condos for rent all the time. There are also many other Indian students who are looking for room mates.  Further, next to these universities there are plenty of cafeterias and grocery shops. All over the city there are large shopping malls which carry almost every item that you can possibly want.

In your apartment, the rooms are much larger than what you used to in India. Most rooms come furnished with the basic amenities, include shower and toilet facilities, laundry and also have heating. If you want TV and internet, you may have to pay extra. But most landlords also offer these services at a small fee. The tap water is clean and can be consumed without worry.

Almost all college campuses have a large library which is open till late. There are sporting facilities, cafeterias and recreational facilities available at no extra cost. Almost every weekend, you can rest assured there will be a dance, disco or some type of social gathering on the campus. Many Indian students plan their own gathering and bring their own specialty dish which everyone shares.

Over the weekend, most students take time out from their studies and venture out. Tbilisi is a beautiful history city with lots of culture. Transportation is very cheap and the city is served by an excellent transit system. Even traveling to nearby towns is very cheap.

Tbilisi does have an active night life but it is more laid back. There are night clubs and bars all over the city but most students prefer to visit friends or family instead. For a student, a night out on the town is not expensive and one can have a good dinner at a fancy restaurant at a low price.

For shopping, you can buy almost anything here but the prices tend to be a little bit more than what you can get in India. So if you do not need anything special, then you are better off buying the item back home.

Even though Georgian is the official language, both Russian and English is also spoken. In fact most roadway signs are both in English and Russian. If you need any medications, there are pharmacies open all over the place. Unlike the rigid rules you have in the USA, most pharmacies will give you your medications, even if you do not have a prescription.

Finally, the one thing you will note the moment you arrive at the airport is the friendliness of the people. Georgians by nature are warm and hospitable people. Most are proud of their country and will go out of their way to make sure that you have a good time.  Of course, in return, you also need to be pleasant, nice and warm.