Pasanauri is the largest town in the surrounding area, 90 km from Tbilisi. It was a recreational hub in Soviet times where visitors came for its clean air. Nowadays the town does not offer many tourist attractions apart from eating stops. It is a popular place for skiers on their way back from Gudauri, hungry after a day on the slopes. Khinkali is Pasanauri’s specialty and this steaming dish of spicy dumplings is believed to have originated in this part of Georgia .
Over the past 15 years, Pasanauri started to gain prominence because of its convenient location at the confluence of the Black and White Aragvi rivers. This is one of the most popular spots for rafters, who follow the river for about 20 km all the way down to Zhinvali Water Reservoir.
