A visit to Makhachkala, Dagestan capital, is an excellent starting point of a trip around Dagestan Republic. The city is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, at the bottom of Mt Tarkitau, 2166km to the southeast of Moscow.

The city was founded in 1844 as a Russian defense fortress that was called Andji-Kala (Flour Fortress) by the locals. In 1857 the settlement got the status of a city and the name of Petrovsk- Port. According to the legend, Peter the Great stayed here with his army during his Persian campaign in 1722. The city acquired the name of Petrovsk in memory of this event.

In 1921 the city became the capital of the Dagestan Republic and was renamed to Makhachkala after Magomed-Ali Dakhadaev (Makhacha), one of the active fighters for Soviet power in Dagetsan. 'Makhach' – is a short variant of his first name Magomed, and ‘kala’ means city or fortress.

Expositions of the State Museum of History and Architecture and the Fine Arts Museum of Makhachkala tell about the history, nature, economy and culture of the region from the earliest timed to present days.

At nowadays, Makhachkala is a popular seaside balneotherapeutic health resort.