The locals of this very remote and isolated mountain village are unrelated to the majority of Azerbaijanis who are Turkic. Once a major centre of Zoroastrianism in the Caucasus, the locals converted to Islam in the 12th century and are now pious Muslims, although both the village and the surrounding countryside are very rich in Zoroastrian sites.It is the highest populated location in Azerbaijan, reaching an elevation of 2,500 m above sea level.
Houses in the village are constructed of stone, with traditional flat earth-and-timber roofs which form terraces reached by wooden ladders from below or from the connecting streets above. Xinaliq village is famous for its unique language, which is native to no other location.
The population figures cited by officials and other individuals suggest that the current Khinalug population of Azerbaijan is probably between 2,000 and 3,000. Everyone currently living in Xinaliq village is ethnically Khinalug, except for a few women.
The people of Xinaliq village are Sunni Muslim. The residents said that Islam plays an important role in the life of the village. For Khinalug, the most important purposes were family life, communication within the village, and gaining prestige among others in the village. A secondary purpose for Khinalug, especially among women, was religious activity.
