Bakuriani, the oldest ski resort in the Caucasus, traces its history back to the late XIX century.
It was during that time that members of the Russian Imperial family took an interest in the picturesque area near the famous Borjomi, initially due to the abundance of timber in the mountains.
As a result, a project was developed to connect Bakuriani with the then-terminal Borjomi branch of the Tiflis-Batumi railway line.
However, after the area surrounding Bakuriani was recognized as valuable for health treatments and tourism, the purpose of the planned railway changed.
Throughout 1896-1897, discussions took place regarding the width of the railway gauge and the route it should take.
In 1898 it was decided to lay a 900 millimeter’s gauge, and construction work began in the fall of that year.
The workforce t building the railway tracks was mainly made up of Turks and Armenians.
In the Tsagveri-Tsemi section of the railway, a bridge spanning the Tsemistskhali river, designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1902, stands to this day.
The railway line was officially opened for operation along its entire length on January 2, 1902.