The village of Tala is formally recognized as a distinct riverside suburb of Zagatala. Over time, it has expanded in size to surpass the city itself, now comprising two separate villages—Upper (Yukhary) and Lower (Ashagi) Tala—with a combined population of nearly 15,000 residents. At the boundary between these two villages stands a military obelisk, commemorating the events of World War II and honoring the sacrifices made during that tumultuous time.
One of the most notable landmarks in Tala is the largest mosque in the South Caucasus, built in 1910 by the local Sheikh Ahmed Efendi Talaly. The mosque was funded by Hajji Taghiyev, a wealthy oil magnate from Baku.
The mosque serves as the spiritual heart of the region, catering to a community that includes the city of Zagatala itself, which has a population of around 20,000. When combined with the surrounding suburbs, the total population of the area reaches an impressive 50,000.
