Shamakhi City

Shamakhi is a city in and the capital of the Shamakhi Rayon of Azerbaijan. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city’s estimated population as of 2010 was 31,704. In its history eleven major earthquakes have rocked Shamakhi, but through multiple reconstructions it maintained its role as the economic and administrative capital of Shirvan and one of the key towns on the Silk Road. The only building to have survived eight of the eleven earthquakes is the landmark Juma Mosque of Shamakhi, built in the 10th century. Shamakhi was an important town during the Middle Ages and served as a capital of the Shirvanshah realm from the 8th to 15th centuries. Shamakhi had 20,008 inhabitants (10,450 males and 9,558 females), of which 3% were Russians, 18% were Armenians, and 79% “Azerbaijani Tatars”. With regard to religion, 79% of the population was Muslim, of which 22% was Sunni and the rest Shiite;) and “Pravosla.

The majority of the population is Azerbaijanis, while Russians, Lezgins and Tats constitute other minorities. They speak Azerbaijani language, Russian language, Lezgin language and Tati language respectively. Juma Mosque of Shamakhi is the biggest religious premise in the city. Through its history the mosque was demolished and destroyed few times, but each time it was rebuilt, most recently in 2009. The notable businesses headquartered in Shamakhi include automobile factory AzSamand. In the 19th century, the town was famous due Shamakhi dancers, the principal dancers of the entertainment groups, similarly to tawaifs. The city is home to Shirvan Domes, a 15th-century mausoleum and graveyard located at the foot of Gulistan Fortress. The music scene in Shamakhi can be traced back to ancient times and villages of Baku, generally revered as the fountainhead of mugham in the Azerbaijan.

Research by: Ulduz Tourism