Bakhchysarai Raion Bağçasaray rayonı
Raion
Baydarsky Reserve, Bakhchysarai District
Flag Seal
Raion location within Crimea
Coordinates: 44°45′N 33°54′E / 44.750°N 33.900°E / 44.750; 33.900
Country	Ukraine (occupied by Russia)
Republic	Crimea
Admin. center	Bakhchysarai
Subdivisions	List 1 town 3 urban-type settlements 82 rural localities
Area
• Total	1,589 km2 (614 sq mi)
Population  (2014)
• Total	90,911
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code	+380-6554

Bakhchysarai Raion (Russian: Бахчисарайский район; Ukrainian: Бахчисарайський район; Crimean Tatar: Bağçasaray rayonı) is one of the 25 regions of Crimea, currently subject to a territorial dispute between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Population: 90,911 (2014 Census).^[1]

The Bakhchysarai Raion is situated in the southwestern part of the peninsula. Two thirds of the raion's area is mountainous, while the northwestern part of the region is occupied by the coastal plain.

Places of interest

The raion contains a great number of historical landmarks of the ancient history and the Middle Ages history of Crimea, among which are so called cave cities Chufut-Kale, Mangup, and others. The administrative centre of the raion, Bakhchysarai, in the past was a capital of the Crimean Khanate. In addition, the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory is located in the town of Nauchniy.

A few other important attractions located within the raion:

• Bakhchisaray Palace
• The "cave city" of Çufut Qale
• The "cave city" of Eski Kermen
• Mangup
• The "cave city" of Tepe-Kermen
• Uspensky Cave Monastery^[2]

2020 Ukrainian Administrative Reform

In July 2020, Ukraine conducted an administrative reform throughout its de jure territory. This included Crimea, which was at the time occupied by Russia, and is still ongoing as of October 2023. Crimea was reorganized from 14 raions and 11 municipalities into 10 raions, with municipalities abolished altogether. The territory of Bakhchysarai Raion was expanded to include parts of Sevastopol, but has not yet been implemented due to the ongoing Russian occupation.^[3]

Footnotes and references