Title: City Bakhchysarai Status: The administrative center Bakhchysarai area. Location: Located in the foothills, on the slope of the Inner ridge of Crimean mountains, steppe areas in the valley flows Kacha - River Churuk-Su, 30 km south-west of the Crimean capital of Simferopol. Population: 27 thousand inhabitants Waterways: River Churuk-Su Founded: 1532 Historical note: The former capital of the Crimean Khanate, the residence of the khans from 16 to 18 cc. According to legend, founded by Khan Mengli Girei, 2 km from the former capital Salachik, completed construction of the palace at Sakhib Girei. The title translates as "palace surrounded by gardens. For two centuries was the center of political, spiritual and cultural life of the state of the Crimean Tatars. In 1736 was burnt down by the Russian army under the command of Minikh. During the Crimean War Bakhchysarai at the center of military events - not far from the city on the River Alma saw the first battle in which Russian troops under the command of Menshikov's defeat. Over the 19 - early 20 th centuries the city was a center of cultural and social life of the Crimean Tatars. Up until the deportation of Crimean Tatars 18 May 1944 Bakhchysarai was one of three (along with Karasubazar and Alushta) Crimean cities dominated by the Crimean Tatar population. Main attractions: Khan's Palace, Assumption monastery.