[6] In the 12th–13th centuries, important trade and military-strategic roads connected Shida Kartli with Javakheti, Trialeti and the Middle East.

The monastery was constructed for several purposes, at the time when the construction started, many army outposts were needed for the Arab invasion of Georgia so the building not only served the purpose of being a Georgian Christian Orthodox monastery for monks to pray in but also a military outpost to defend against the invaders.

The monastery's high altitude and watchtower were also used to observe the nearby area and valley.

The Rkoni fortress was also built Nearby at the entrance of the valley also for the purpose of defending against invaders.

Rkoni monastery was also a good strategic location that was used for trading because it connected Shida Kartli to Javakheti, Trialeti and to Armenia and then the Middle East.

The physical features of Rkoni made it hard for enemies to go through as it was covered with dense forests, hills, extremely rough terrain and a very narrow valley, Rkoni was built generally in a very isolated area.

[5] The bridge was named after Tamar of Georgia because she was believed to have owned a summer residence in that area.

On the south side of the door, which was painted in the late 10th century, there is also a depiction of a secular figure.

The chapel's façade are made of cut stone and embellished with carvings and beautiful arches.

Some raiders found the Rkoni monastery while raiding the area and destroyed it in the year 1400.

[2] The monastery was rebuilt around the same time when the Mongol invasion was quickly halted because of Timur's death in 1405.

The two-story bell tower, which was built in the 16th and 17th centuries, is situated northwest of the main church.

On the grounds of the monastery complex at Rkoni, there is a structure called "Tamar Bridge" that spans the Tedzami River.

The bridge's imposts are made of stone with lime mortar and rest on a foundation of natural rock.

The monastery was used for its isolated location which helped the rebels of the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and the Socialist Revolutionaries produce weapons to aid the 1905 revolution without the Okhrana discovering the operation.

The complex's refectory, which is situated in the northwest of the area and was constructed out of stone fragments, is today severely damaged.