State museum of Georgian folk Songs and Instruments
About This Museum
Tucked away on a quiet street in Old Tbilisi, this museum is a hidden gem for anyone curious about the soul of Georgia. I was immediately struck not by silence, but by the soft, haunting echo of a Chakrulo polyphonic recording drifting from a nearby room. It’s housed in a former caravanserai, and you can almost feel the centuries of stories held within its stone walls. This isn't a place where instruments are just displayed behind glass; it feels like they're waiting to be played, each one a testament to a living tradition.
Collection Highlights
The collection is incredible, from the elegant, bow-shaped panduri lutes to the massive, awe-inspiring gurian drums. Don't miss the exhibit on the chonguri, a four-stringed lute unique to Georgia, or the listening stations where you can hear field recordings of village songs that are decades old. The most moving part for me was seeing the actual instruments once played by some of the country's most revered folk musicians.
Visitor Information
It's small and intimate, so you can easily soak it all in within an hour. The staff are wonderfully passionate; our guide even demonstrated how to hold a panduri properly. It’s located just off Meidan Square, making it a perfect cultural pit-stop after exploring the sulfur baths.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is a classic example of Tbilisi's historic caravanserai architecture—a rustic, two-story stone structure built around a central courtyard that would have once hosted traveling merchants.
Contact & Location
Address: Brasserie Tartine, 6, სამღებროს ქუჩა, ბეთლემის კლდისუბანი, კალაუბანი, კრწანისის რაიონი, თბილისი, 0117, საქართველო
Phone: +995 32 245 77 21
