| Bachčysaraj (RU) Бахчисарай | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Russia(de facto) | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Crimea | |
| Altitude | 300 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 26.482 (2013 estimate) | |
| Prefix tel | 380-6554 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 98400-98408 | |
| Time zone | 3 | |
Position
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Bachčysaraj is a city of Crimea. It was once the capital of the Crimean Tatar Khanate, from which it is undergoing a constant cultural revival as the Tatars were allowed to return from Uzbekistan in the early 1990s.
To know
Most of the visitors come from Russia or Turkey. As is the norm in Crimea, very or little English is spoken. Basic knowledge of Crimean Tatar, Russian, Ukrainian or Turkish will be useful.
Geographical notes
The city is located within a valley surrounded by hills that have influenced urban development in length.
Background
The history of the city is closely linked to that of Crimean Khanate. The Khanate emerged from the Golden Horde (one of the fragments into which Genghis Khan's empire fragmented), gaining its independence in the 15th century. Its first capital was in Staryi Krym and its first governor was a descendant of Genghis Khan. Shortly thereafter, the capital of the Khanate moved to Bachčysaraj and the city became a center of the political and cultural life of the Crimean Tatars. After the death of the first Khan, the region became an Ottoman protectorate and thus shared the fortunes of the empire. The declining Ottomans lost Crimea in 1774 when it became independent, but it was then annexed by Russia in 1783 and the city lost its administrative significance. In 1944, it also lost its Crimean Tatar population in Sürgün's brutal mass deportation of Crimean Tatars to Uzbekistan.
Crimean Tatars were allowed to return to Crimea in the 1990s and the city is still adapting to its recent cultural history. The Khan's palace, several mosques and the surrounding city are gradually being restored after a long neglect.
How to orient yourself
Bachčysaraj: full screen map.The city develops along the main road axis Lenina St. All the monuments are located along it. While the sites of Chufut Kale and the monastery are at the end of the same.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is that of Simferopol.
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On the train
- 1 Railway station (Vokzal). The train station is close to the central market, from where local buses will take you to the Old Town (Старый Город) and the New Town (Новый город).
The station is also served by local trains between Simferopol (40 min) e Sevastopol.
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By bus
- 2 Bus station (The site can be reached with the mashrutka 2.). Links with Simferopol, Sevastopol (40 min, 92 rub) e Yalta (2.5 hours).
By taxi
From the airport of Simferopol you can hire a taxi for around 1300 rub (19 €).
How to get around
From the train station, it is about 30 minutes on foot to the palace of the Khans.
By public transport
Maskhrutka number 2 starts at the train station, continues to the bus station before doubling up and going to the palace and the old town. It takes 10 minutes from the station to the palace of the Khans.
By taxi
Taxis also wait at both bus and train stations.
If you want to get somewhere a little further and don't like hiking and no buses seem to serve the route try to approach a local with a car down the main square, for a price (usually around 6 - 10 USD ) will take you up to 30 minutes by car.
What see
- 1 [link not working]Palace of the Khans (In Crimeian Tatar: Han Saray, in Russian: Dvar-yets, in Ukrainian: Palats), Ulitsa Lenina (In the center of the old town. Mashrutka 2 runs from the train and bus stations).
300 rub. 
9:00-17:30. In summer it is possible to hire a guide in almost any language. Points of interest include the inner palace, the Khan's cemetery, the Falcon tower, the Crimean Tatar museum and a small art gallery. Behind the palace is a World War II military cemetery. The entrance to the park and the mosque is free, for a fee for the interior of the palace and the exhibitions. 
300 rub. 
9:00-17:30. In summer it is possible to hire a guide in almost any language. Points of interest include the inner palace, the Khan's cemetery, the Falcon tower, the Crimean Tatar museum and a small art gallery. Behind the palace is a World War II military cemetery. The entrance to the park and the mosque is free, for a fee for the interior of the palace and the exhibitions.
- 2 Great Khan Mosque. The palace mosque, in Ottoman style.
- 2 Great Khan Mosque. The palace mosque, in Ottoman style.
- 3 Bachčysaraj rock monastery (Follow the signs for Ulitsa Lenina for about 3 km from the palace or take bus 2 to the end.). Founded around the 8th century, this Orthodox monastery is old and beautiful. There is also a holy spring where drinking water flows. Inside the monastery it is forbidden to take pictures and it is necessary to dress appropriately for the place.
- 4 Chufut-Kale (Follow the path to the Uspensky Rock Monastery and continue). A city on a cliff last inhabited by Karaite Jews, there are 1000 year old Jewish and Muslim cemeteries in the area. For the visit, which lasts a few hours, it is advisable to wear suitable clothing with trekking shoes.
- 5 Tahtali-Jami Mosque, Lenina St. The Ottoman-style mosque from 1707.
- 6 Orta Cami Mosque, Lenina St. It is the oldest mosque in the Crimea from 1674.
- 7 Madrasa Zincirli. Madrasa from 1500.
Events and parties
What to do
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- 1 Crimea miniature park and zoo. 600 rub (Sep 2017). 9:00-23:00. Park with the main monuments of Crimea in miniature with descriptions spoken in English, Russian and Turkish. There is also a section for children with cartoon characters.
Shopping
Cheap jackets are sold at small, locally run shops across from all of the city's tourist attractions. While in front of the Khan's palace you can buy wonderful goods, including samsa, baklava and chibureky.
- 1 Usta (in Crimean Tatar means "master"), vul Rechnaya 125 (Next to the palace of the Khans). 10:00-17:00. Sells things made by Crimean Tatar craftsmen. Several masters work in the workshop. Of particular interest is the master of silver who often has television crews interviewing him.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Moderate prices
Less upscale Tatar restaurants are close to the train station. They offer excellent Lagman and Chebureky. There are also Sharma in this area.
Average prices
- 1 Meykhane (Мейхане), Lenina St. (On the main road, about 1 km from the palace, 50 meters to the right of the Ismail Gasprinsky monument - towards the small river that runs through the city). 10:00-23:00. Excellent value for money Tatar / Uzbek restaurant. Shashlyk, salad, tea and lepyoshka. Lovely outdoor setting with central Asian takhtas to sit on. No English is spoken. Plov, manty, lagman, sarma, shashlyk, samsa, shurpa, cheburek bachhlava tatar, chak-chak are all available.
- 2 [link not working]Kafe "Alie" (Кафе Алие), Lenina St. (Near the Pushkin monument.), ☎ 7 978 717-54-61. 8:00-21:00. They have a full menu of Tatar / Asian cuisine including Lagman, Manty, Cheburek, Shashlyk, Dolma, Sarma and Plov, a variety of salads, beer, wine, juices, Turkish coffee, tea and American drinks. (If they have run out of a particular drink, it is perfectly normal to cross the street and buy at the "Fontan" store and bring something back.) They have outdoor seating and Wi-Fi.
- 3 [link not working]Pushkin (Пушкинъ), Lenina St, 106 (Near the Palace), ☎ 7 978 834-98-64. Considered to be the most beautiful restaurant in Bakhchisaray. They have an international menu. Desserts are a particular highlight, especially the apple pie.
High prices
- 4 Karavan, Basenka St, 43 (Halfway between the palace of the Khans and the Uspensky monastery), ☎ 7 978 813-13-55. 10 USD. 9:00-21:00. A superb Tatar restaurant. Expensive for the area and they don't serve any alcohol but the food is excellent. As an added bonus, one of the waiters speaks excellent English, so not only can you ask for food and know what you're eating ahead of time, but he'll also tell you some history of the region while you're at the table.
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- 8 Mangup. Fortress of the third century.
- 9 Bashtanovka (Russian: Баштановка, Ukrainian: Баштанівка) (From Bakhchisaray drive for 10 km by road towards the village of Bashtanovka.). Suitable place to spend time and cool off in the lake above the village.
- 10 Vysoke (In Ukrainian: Високе). Village in the mountains of Crimea
- 11 Sonyachnosillya (In Ukrainian: Сонячносілля). It is almost entirely populated by extremely old people who keep their cows. There is a small shop where you can buy some food. From here continue along the road until you reach Aromat
- 12 Aromat (In Ukrainian: Аромат). It is a city on the road from Bakhchisaray to the Bolshoi and Yalta canyon. It has a pretty decent hospital and restrooms that you can use. From here you can continue hiking, take a car to Bolshoi Canyon or take a minibus to Bakhchisaray or Yalta.
- Eski-Kermen. Rock site
Useful information
Bachčysaraj is the only city in the Crimea where the most spoken language is not the Russian, in fact, according to a national census ofUkraine, in the city 42% speak Ukrainian, 30% speak Russian and the remaining 28% speak "Crimean Tatar".
However, 98% of the population knows Russian.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Bachčysaraj
Commons contains images or other files on Bachčysaraj
