The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face.

The high artistic skill of David Gareja wall paintings made them an indispensable part of world treasure.

From the late 11th to the early 13th centuries, the economic and cultural development of David Gareja reached its highest phase, reflecting the general prosperity of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia.

It survived the Safavid attack of 1615, when the monks were massacred and the monastery's unique manuscripts and important works of Georgian art destroyed, to be resurrected under Onopre Machutadze, who was appointed Father Superior of David Gareja in 1690.

In 1987, a group of Georgian students led by the young writer Dato Turashvili[citation needed] launched a series of protests.

Although, the Soviet defense ministry officials finally agreed to move a military firing range from the monastery, the shelling was resumed in October 1988, giving rise to generalized public outrage.

After some 10,000 Georgians demonstrated in the streets of Tbilisi and a group of students launched a hunger strike at the monastery, the army base was finally removed.

In May 1997, hundreds of Georgian NGO activists set up their tents in the middle of the army's firing range and blocked the military maneuvers.

[1] In April 2007, Khalafov told a press conference in that it was "out of the question" for Georgia to "give up its claims to the borderlands" including David Gareja.

"[6] "The idea that this monastery was founded by the Caucasus Albanians is simply absurd," said Zaza Datunashvili, a monk from David Gareja.

"[5] A number of fresh rounds of "border delimitation" talks have been conducted between Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities (in Tbilisi and then in Baku).

There are 70 caves, 2 temples, one fortress, a sacred place, approximately 100 grave reminds kurgan, 23 water wells, 14 food stores, and about 30 shelters.

One of the highest altitudes in the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Keshikcidag was named "Ilham Aliyev peak" in honor of the President of Azerbaijan.

It was discovered that the Keshikchi gala in the area was originally built for defense purposes in the Middle Ages, where it was inhabited by the ancient Caucasian Albanian.