Ashgabat(Turkm. Aşgabat) - the capital, the largest administrative, political, industrial, scientific and cultural center of the state. Ashgabat is a separate administrative-territorial unit of Turkmenistan - a city with the rights of a velayat (region).

On May 25, 2013, the city was included in the Guinness Book of Records for the fifth time as the most white marble city in the world (543 new buildings lined with white marble). Earlier, this edition included such sights of the Turkmen capital as the world's highest flagpole (133 meters), the largest fountain complex (27 synchronized fountains), the largest closed Ferris wheel, and the largest architectural image of a star - the eight-pointed star Oguz- Khan on the TV tower.

According to the official data of the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics, as of January 1, 2012, 12.7% of the population of Turkmenistan lived in Ashgabat. According to the 1995 census, the population of the city was 604.7 thousand people, and according to the official estimate for 2001 - 712 thousand people. As of July 1, 2002, the official population estimate was 743,000 people, in mid-2003 the population of Ashgabat was officially estimated at 790,000 people (13% of the country's population), and on November 18, 2005, it was officially announced that the 900,000th milestone was reached (13 .4% of the country's population).

historical names

Palace complex "Oguzhan" in Ashgabat.

The name of the city comes from the Persian words عشق (eshq"love and آباد (abad"populated place", "city").

Since the conquest of Turkmenistan by the Russian Empire, the city, officially transferred to Russia under the Akhal Treaty with Persia on September 21, 1881, was called Ashkhabad. This name was retained until 1919.

July 17, 1919 the city was renamed Poltoratsk in honor of the revolutionary figure and chairman of the Economic Council of the Turkestan Republic P. G. Poltoratsky.

After Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991, a number of settlements renamed in the country. In particular, the city of Ashgabat, according to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Turkmenistan No. 686-XII dated April 17, 1992, officially became known as Ashgabat, since it is this form that most of all corresponds to the original Turkmen name.

The official media in Russia use the name Ashgabat, which is recognized as official on the basis of the Decree of the Presidential Administration Russian Federation dated August 17, 1995 No. 1495 "On the spelling of the names of the states - the former republics of the USSR and their capitals."

Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue in Ashgabat

Currently, in the legislative acts of Turkmenistan (in their texts in Russian), in the official mass media of Turkmenistan, on the official websites of the capital of Turkmenistan, the city is called Ashgabat.

Opinions were published in the Turkmen press that the name of the city dates back to the dynasty of the Parthian kings Arshakids (Ashkanids), and the foundation of the city should be attributed to 3rd century BC e. However, in reality, the city itself was founded only in the 19th century as a fortress, and in the 3rd century BC. e. it was not he who arose, but Nisa, located 18 km from it, which was indeed the capital of the Parthian kingdom, but not the only one.

Geography

Ashgabat is located in the south of Turkmenistan, 25 kilometers north of the border with the Turan lowland.

The city is located in the Akhal-Teke oasis on the Kopetdag foothill plain. The Kopetdag Mountains approach the city from the south, and the Karakum desert from the north. Height above sea level is 214-240 meters.

In 1962, the Karakum Canal was brought to the city.

Timezone

Ashgabat is located in the time zone designated by the international standard as UTC+5. The offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is +5:00.

Climate

The climate of Ashgabat is subtropical inland, with mild, but for such a latitude, relatively cold winters and exceptionally hot summers. Ashgabat is one of the hottest cities in the world, temperatures above +45 °C are possible in summer. Precipitation is 199 mm per year, with almost no precipitation in summer. Winter is short, but with strong intrusions of arctic air from the north, frosts sometimes occur below -10 °C. Permanent snow cover is formed only in severe winters. In winter, the temperature is very variable.

• The average annual temperature is +17.1 C°.
• The average annual wind speed is 2.5 m/s.
• The average annual air humidity is 55%.

History

Ashgabat railway station (1901)

Brick street in Ashgabat (1913)

City Ashkhabad was founded in 1881 on the site of the Turkmen settlement-fortress of the same name as a border military fortification and the administrative center of the Transcaspian region of the Russian Empire, was controlled by the military administration. The city consisted of earthen houses surrounded by orchards. The streets were designed to be straight and for the most part with one-story buildings, since after several earthquakes it was decided not to build multi-story buildings if they were adobe. The population of the city in 1901 was 36.5 thousand people, of which 11.2 thousand were Persians, 10.7 thousand were Russians, 14.6 thousand were Armenians and other nationalities. The Turkmens lived outside the city in their camps.

From 1881 to 1918 the city was the administrative center of the Transcaspian region of the Russian Empire, from 1918 to 1925 - the administrative center of the Turkmen region of the Turkestan ASSR.

In February 1925, Ashgabat (at that time called Poltoratsk in honor of the Bolshevik Pavel Poltoratsky) received the official status of the capital Turkmen SSR.

On October 6, 1948, one of the most destructive earthquakes in history occurred in Ashgabat. The strength in the epicentral region was 9-10 points, the magnitude of the earthquake was M = 7.3. 90-98% of all buildings were destroyed. According to various estimates, from 1/2 to 2/3 of the city's population died (that is, from 60 to 110 thousand people, since information about the number of inhabitants is inaccurate). Currently, it is believed that the earthquake claimed the lives of 176 thousand people.

In 1962, the Karakum Canal was brought to Ashgabat, which made it possible to solve the problem of chronic water shortages in the city.

In July 2003, the names of all streets in Ashgabat were replaced by serial numbers, except for nine main highways, some of which were named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, his father, mother, and also the poet Makhtumkuli, revered in the country. The Central Palace Square is marked with the number 2000 (a figure, according to the state newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan, symbolizing a new era in the history of the Turkmen people, the beginning of the "golden age"). The remaining streets received larger or smaller four-digit numerical names.

On September 10-14, 2008, an armed uprising of militants took place in Ashgabat, which went down in history as the "Ashgabat rebellion". To suppress the rebels who settled in the Khitrovka district of the capital, the authorities used heavy armored vehicles. According to eyewitnesses, explosions and firefights from automatic weapons were heard in the north of the capital during the weekend. According to official information, the militants were linked to drug trafficking. However, according to some independent sources, the opponents of the military were radical oppositionists. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov admitted that intelligence officers were killed as a result of the fighting.

Administrative-territorial division

According to the information of Turkmenstat on the administrative-territorial division of Turkmenistan by regions, as of January 5, 2018, the city of Ashgabat was divided into four etraps:

• Berkararlyk (former Azatlyk, Soviet) - 7,500 ha;
• Kopetdag (former Proletarian) - 15,053 ha;
• Bagtyyarlyksky (formerly named after President Niyazov, Leninsky) - 25,846 hectares;
• Buzmeinsky - 43,361 hectares.

Population

According to the official data of the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics as of January 1, 2012, 12.7% of the population of Turkmenistan lived in Ashgabat. At the same time, estimates of the country's population are not officially published, the population census was conducted on December 15-26, 2012, preliminary results should have been published as early as July-August 2013, but the census results (as of January 2018) were never published. A new census of the population of Turkmenistan is scheduled for December 17-27, 2022.

According to the previous census of 1995, the population of the city was 604.7 thousand people, and according to the official estimate for 2001 - 712 thousand people. As of July 1, 2002, the official population estimate was 743,000 people, in mid-2003 the population of Ashgabat was officially estimated at 790,000 people (13% of the country's population), and on November 18, 2005, it was officially announced that the 900,000th milestone was reached (13 .4% of the country's population).

Cyclists and pedestrians

The urban layout is very friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. There are a large number of walking paths, while bicycle paths are just beginning to appear.

Libraries

• State Library of Turkmenistan - founded in 1895.
• Magtymguly Central Library.
• Turkmen State Children's Library named after B. Amanov - founded in 1935.
• Turkmen State Scientific Medical Library - founded in 1940.
• Central Scientific Library of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan - founded in 1941.

Education

Ashgabat is one of the most important educational centers of Turkmenistan; a significant number of educational facilities are concentrated in the city. As of the academic year 2013/14, 26.7 thousand students studied in 19 universities of the capital, 114.7 thousand students studied in 139 schools.

• Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli
• International Turkmen-Turkish University
• Turkmen State Medical University
• Turkmen Agricultural University named after S. A. Niyazov
• State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen Institute of National Economy
• Turkmen State Institute of Culture
• Turkmen State Institute of Transport and Communications
• National Institute of Sports and Tourism of Turkmenistan of the State Committee for Tourism and Sports of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen National Institute of World Languages ​​named after Azadi
• Institute international relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management
• Turkmen State Financial Institute
• Turkmen National Conservatory
• Military Academy of Turkmenistan named after. Saparmurad Turkmenbashi
• Military Institute. Saparmurad Turkmenbashi Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan
• Police Academy of Turkmenistan named after. Army General S. A. Niyazov
• Institute of Border Guards of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan
• Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering
• International University humanities and development
• International University of Oil and Gas

The science

In 1951, the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan was founded in Ashgabat. In 2014, a large Technology Center of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan was put into operation in the Bikrov region.

Sport

Both amateur and professional sports are highly developed in Ashgabat. The city has 5 stadiums with more than 1000 seats, sports halls, sports palaces, indoor facilities with artificial ice, and swimming pools. Among them: the Olympic Stadium, the Ashgabat Stadium, the National Olympic Ice Palace, the Winter Sports Complex, the Olympic Water Sports Complex, the Kopetdag Stadium.

On December 19, 2010, the city of Ashgabat was chosen as the venue for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, becoming the first city to receive the right to host these games. Since 2010, the Olympic Village, a multifunctional sports complex, which will include more than 30 facilities, including a Paralympic complex and a rehabilitation center, has been under construction in the south of Ashgabat.

Professional sports clubs based in the city:

• Football: FC "Altyn Asyr", FC "Ashgabat", FC MTTU, SC "Khazyna" - play in the Championship of Turkmenistan. The famous football club FC Kopetdag, founded in 1947, plays in the First League of Turkmenistan.
• Hockey: HC "Burgut" is one of the strongest clubs in Turkmenistan; HC Alp Arslan, youth HC Bagtyyarlyk, youth HC Galkan, HC Shir, HC Oguzhan also train in Ashgabat.

Ashgabat hosts the largest international equestrian center in Turkmenistan. It is located in the Ruhabat etrap of the city on Kopetdag Avenue next to the National Museum of Wildlife of Turkmenistan. The total area of ​​the complex is 90 hectares. The hippodrome allows for both horse racing and running.

healthcare

A modern paid national healthcare system has been created in Turkmenistan. The number of family doctors in 2013 amounted to 490 people, nurses - 3.8 thousand people. The number of hospital beds amounted to 3.6 thousand units. There are large medical institutions:

• The International Traumatology Center was built in 2011 and is the largest trauma center in the country.
• The Cancer Center is a clinical medical and preventive institution where care is provided to patients with benign and malignant neoplasms, established in 2009.
• Central Hospital named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi - designed for 120 patients, built in 2001 in the village of Bikrova.
• Dental center.
• Pharmaceutical enterprise for the production of infusion solutions.

Directorate of International Medical Centers

As part of national system health care in Ashgabat created a modern medical town - Directorate of International Medical Centers. It consists of:

• The International Center for the Treatment of Eye Diseases is one of the largest eye centers in the city, located in the south of the capital.
• International Medical Center
• International Center for Internal Medicine
• International Diagnostic Center
• International Center for Maternal and Child Health "Ene Myahri"
• International Head and Neck Center

Office of Centers for Infectious Diseases

On September 1, 2010, six new clinics were opened in the northern part of the Turkmen capital, united by the Office of the Centers for Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The complex includes:

• Central Dermatovenerological Hospital;
• Tuberculosis Treatment and Prevention Center;
• Treatment and Prevention Center for Infectious Diseases;
• Center for AIDS Prevention;
• Centralized laboratory;
• Blood center.

Culture and art

monuments

Monument to Alexander Pushkin

Theaters

• Main Drama Theater named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great
• Mollanepes Student Theater
• Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater
• Turkmen National Youth Theater named after Alp Arslan
• Turkmen State Puppet Theater
• State Russian Drama Theater named after A. S. Pushkin
• Turkmen State Circus

Cinemas

There are several cinemas in Ashgabat. In 2011, the first 3D cinema in Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, was built. The cinemas "Vatan" and "Turkmenistan" were reconstructed.

Museums

• The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan is the largest state museum established in the early 1990s. Branches:
  • Museum "Garashsyzlyk"
  • Museum "Galkynysh"
  • Museum "Bitaraplyk"
• Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan named after. Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great is an art museum founded in 1927. One of the largest in Central Asia.
• Turkmen Carpet Museum - founded in 1993. The museum contains several hundred of the best examples of carpets, the oldest of which dates back to the 17th century. There is also the world's second largest handmade carpet - "The Golden Age of the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi", whose area is almost 301 m², and weighs more than a ton.
• The National Museum of Wildlife of Turkmenistan is a state zoological park in the suburbs of Ashgabat. The newest in Turkmenistan. Opened in 2010. The total area of ​​the zoo is 40 hectares.

Parks and squares

The oldest park in the city is "Ashgabat", founded in 1887. In the very center of the city there is the "Inspiration" square - an art and park complex, which is a favorite vacation spot for citizens. The amusement park "World of fairy tales" is a local version of Disneyland. There are parks in the city: "Gunesh", "Independence", "Turkmen-Turkish friendship", squares: "10 years of independence of Turkmenistan", named after. Makhtumkuli, Arkadag Park, Zelili, Chyrchyk, Trade Union, Oath, Eastern Boulevard, VDNKh, March 8, Shayoly, Gyorogly, Dolphin, 15 years of independence”, “Rukhyet”.

Attractions

• Cultural and entertainment center "Alem"- a cultural and entertainment center located on the Archabil Highway, 95 meters high. The enclosed Ferris wheel installed inside the center is the largest in the world today.

Monument of Independence of Turkmenistan.

• Memorial Complex " Halk hakydasy» - a memorial complex in honor of honoring those who died in the Geoktepe battle, the war of 1941-1945, as well as commemorating the victims of the Ashgabat earthquake in 1948. The monument is located in the southwestern part of Ashgabat.
• Monument to the holy book "Rukhnama"- a giant monument in the form of Saparmurat Niyazov's book, erected in Independence Park.
• Hotel "Oguzkent" - a luxury hotel of the group of hotels " Sofitel».
• Near Ashgabat there is a historical and cultural reserve "Nisa" - settlements of the III century BC. e. - 3rd century AD e.
• The main flag of Turkmenistan is the fourth highest flagpole in the world.
• Fountain complex "Oguzhan and sons" at the entrance to the international airport of Ashgabat, included in the Guinness Book of Records as uniting the largest number of fountains in a public place. The architectural and sculptural ensemble, which was opened in June 2008, depicts the legendary ancestor of the Turkic peoples Oguz Khan and his six sons: Gun Khan (“Lord of the Sun”), Ai Khan (“Lord of the Moon”), Yildyz Khan ( "Lord of the Star"), Gek Khan ("Lord of the Sky"), Dag Khan ("Lord of the Mountains") and Dengiz Khan ("Lord of the Sea"). According to the Guinness Book of Records, this complex includes 27 synchronized, illuminated and fully programmable fountains with a total area of ​​​​about 15 hectares.
• Palace complex "Oguzhan"(Turkm. “Oguzhan” Köşgi) is the residence of the President of Turkmenistan. It was built in May 2011 instead of an old, small palace located nearby.

Mosques

• The Ertogrulgazy Mosque (turkm. Ertugrul Gazi metjidi) is a Turkish-style mosque built as a gift from the Turkish government.
• Mosque in the Kyoshi area
• Mosque in 8 microdistrict
• Iranian mosque

Churches

• Church of the Holy Right-Believing Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky- Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
• Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
• Prayer House of the Resurrection of Christ

Media

TV tower in Ashgabat.

On one of the ridges of the "Kopetdag" mountain system of Ashgabat, there is the Television and Radio Broadcasting Center "Turkmenistan", which is the tallest architectural structure in the city. The height of the TV tower is 211 meters. The eight-pointed star of Oguz Khan, which adorns it, is recognized as the world's largest architectural image of a star and is included in the Guinness Book of Records. Illuminated at night with a powerful backlight, the tower is visible from almost anywhere in the city. An observation deck is located on the 30th floor of the TV tower. The city broadcasts seven television channels. All Turkmen channels broadcast from Ashgabat. The city has its own TV channel - "Ashgabat". The following radio stations also broadcast in Ashgabat: the first channel of the Turkmen radio "Vatan" (its LW frequency of 279 kHz is also received in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the southern regions of Russia), the second channel of the Turkmen radio "Char tarapdan ”, the third channel of the Turkmen radio Miras, the fourth channel of the Turkmen radio Ovaz.

They all broadcast on VHF, LW, MW, FM bands (analog broadcasting) and digital DAB band (multiplexes 6B and 10B).

Famous people of Ashgabat

International relationships

twin cities

• , China

Partner cities

Diplomatic and consular missions

Embassy of Russia in Ashgabat.

Embassies of 30 internationally recognized states are located in Ashgabat. 28 out of 30 diplomatic missions are embassies, one is a nunciature and one is an economic cooperation office, as well as representations of fifteen international organizations

International organizations

Ashgabat has:

• Representative offices of the United Nations, UNICEF, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
• United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy
• OSCE Center
• European Union Contact Office
• Representation of the Agency under the Government of Turkey TIKA
• Representation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Representative office of the Asian Development Bank

Notes

1. Turkmen leader replaces two vice-premiers in 2016 | Chronicle of Turkmenistan
2. A capital looking to the future. // turkmenistan.gov.tm (November 09, 2013)
3. Two city etraps have been renamed in Ashgabat. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. // news.asgabat.net (May 31, 2013)
4. Postal codes (POÇTA INDEKSLERI). "Türkmenpoçta" Poçta aragatnaşygy döwlet kompaniýasynyň Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. // turkmenpost.gov.tm
5. White marble Ashgabat is in the Guinness Book of Records. // turkmenistan.gov.tm
6. Ashgabat entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most white marble city. // ria.ru (May 25, 2013)
7. Ashgabat is recognized as the most white marble city in the world // bbc.co.uk (May 25, 2013)
8. Prospects for Ashgabat: new urban environment and transport infrastructure. // turkmenistan.gov.tm (November 28, 2013)
9. State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics. Administrative-territorial division of Turkmenistan by regions as of January 1, 2014. stat.gov.tm. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014.
10. Book: "Ashgabat - in the Guinness Book of Records". Photo gallery. © Türkmen döwlet neşirýat gullugy, 2013. // ashgabat.gov.tm
11. State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics. Socio-economic situation of the city of Ashgabat and velayats in 2011. stat.gov.tm. Retrieved May 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013.
12. Turkmenistan. administrative units. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. // geohive.com
13. Over the year, the population of Turkmenistan increased by 5%. // turkmenistan.ru (July 30, 2002)
14. The 900,000th resident was born in the capital of Turkmenistan last night. // turkmenistan.ru (November 18, 2005)
15. Encyclopedia "Around the World". Ashgabat city. // vokrugsveta.ru (version 20:25, September 17, 2010)
16. Encyclopedia of the TSSR. Publishing house "The main edition of the Turkmen Soviet Encyclopedia", Ashgabat, 1984
17. Ashgabat // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
18. Decree of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation of August 17, 1995 No. 1495 "On the spelling of the names of the states - the former republics of the USSR and their capitals." // bestpravo.com
19. Ovez Gundogdiev. How old is Ashgabat? A well-known Turkmen scientist does not agree with the generally accepted opinion that the history of the city began in 1881. // turkmenistan.ru (November 11, 2004)
20. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books. Big encyclopedic dictionary. Agriculture. Karakum Canal named after V.I. Lenin. // cnshb.ru
21. V. G. Yan. "The blue distances of Asia: travel notes". // Lights on barrows: Tales, stories, M .: Soviet writer, 1985. - S. 597-677.
22. A. A. Nikonov - "Ashgabat earthquake: problems and solutions half a century after the disaster." Archived from the original on May 20, 2001. // scgis.ru
23. The President of Turkmenistan took part in the funeral ceremony on the occasion of national day commemorations. tdh.gov.tm. Turkmen State information Agency(October 6, 2009).
24. Turkmenbashi turned Ashgabat into a history textbook, kommersant.ru (March 20, 2001).
25. Turkmen violence "drug related", BBC News (14 September 2008).
26. President of Turkmenistan: Military killed in clashes, Gazeta.ru (September 16, 2008).
27. State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics. Stages of the 2012 population and housing census of Turkmenistan. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. //stat.gov.tm
28. Complete census of population and housing stock to be held in Turkmenistan in 2022
29. USA. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Factbook. Central Asia. Turkmenistan. // cia.gov (page last updated on May 30, 2014)
30. United States Census Bureau. International Data Base. Mid-year Population by Single Year Age Groups - Custom Region - Turkmenistan. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. // census.gov
31. In the capital of Turkmenistan, they were allowed to register non-residents. // lenta.ru (September 18, 2012)
32. according to TSB
33. "Modern Explanatory Dictionary". Publishing house "Great Soviet Encyclopedia", 1997
34. Cognitive magazine "School of Life". Author: Ivan Paziy. “What didn’t we know about the 1948 earthquake in Ashgabat?” // shkolazhizni.ru (October 5, 2008)
35. Two architectural landmarks of Ashgabat were awarded at the international competition. // turkmenistan.ru/ru (September 29, 2012)
36. Ashgabat is a white marble garden city and the capital of Neutral Turkmenistan. // fishki.net (May 26, 2011)
37. The future of the white marble capital. Before the eyes of contemporaries, Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is turning into a major urban center. // turkmenistan.gov.tm (December 5, 2012)
38. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. // ashgabathotels.ru
39. Ashgabat. Parks, squares and entertainment centers. ashgabat.gov.tm.
40. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in the opening of the largest shopping and entertainment center
41. Ashgabat Shopping Mall (2007) Archived October 5, 2013. // polimeks.com
42. The new birth of the mall
43. The new Altyn Asyr market will become a symbol of Turkmenistan's well-being. // turkmenistan.ru (February 12, 2011)
44. Khyakimlik officials went hunting. // chrono-tm.org (April 29, 2013)
45. "Made in Turkmenistan". // turkmenistan.ru (March 17, 2005)
46. TMCELL starts connecting subscribers to the LTE network // tmcell.tm (September 17, 2013)
47. Narrow-gauge railways of Akhal velayat and Ashgabat city
48. The President of Turkmenistan took part in the opening of three facilities dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the country's independence (October 18, 2006)
49. The metro in Turkmenistan will probably be built by St. Petersburg companies, : Komsomolskaya Pravda.
50. Information and analytical portal «PR.kg» / News / Central Asia / June 17 / St. Petersburg will help Ashgabat to build a metro
51. National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.: COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC:. Mikhail Pavlov called for strengthening cooperation between Minsk and Ashgabat (unavailable link)
52. The President of Turkmenistan inspected the construction of road transport and social facilities in Ashgabat
53. A monorail road is being built in the Olympic Village (March 12, 2014)
54. Ashgabat railway station to be reconstructed by 2009
55. Transport and communications (May 12, 2013).
56. Turkmenistan: golden age (September 4, 2014)
57. The largest airport in Central Asia will be built in Ashgabat. trend.az (January 30, 2013).
58. The passenger terminal of the new International Airport was opened in Ashgabat (March 27, 2014).
59. The small terminal will serve air passengers
60. The national airline of Turkmenistan will open a number of new flights
61. Berdimuhamedov orders all Turkmen to be put on bicycles
62. Turkmens will switch to bicycles on September 1.
63. Socio-economic situation of the city of Ashgabat and velayats in 2011. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013.
64. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in the opening of the Technology Center // turkmenistan.gov.tm (June 12, 2014)
65. In 2017, Turkmenistan will host the V Asian Indoor Games. // turkmenistan.ru (December 20, 2010)
66. "Heavenly" horses are our pride and glory. Festive celebrations at the International Equestrian Complex. // .turkmenistan.gov.tm (April 29, 2012)
67. Electronic newspaper "Turkmenistan: golden age". In the name of the health and well-being of the people of Turkmenistan. // turkmenistan.gov.tm (July 21, 2012)
68. Two new medical centers have been opened in Ashgabat. // turkmenistan.ru (October 24, 2001)
69. Electronic newspaper "Turkmenistan: golden age". Celebrations on the occasion of the opening and laying of the foundation of new healthcare facilities. // turkmenistan.gov.tm (July 19, 2013)
70. The first in the region Center for the Treatment of Eye Diseases was opened in Turkmenistan. // turkmenistan.ru (July 22, 2011)
71. Six new medical institutions opened in Ashgabat. // turkmenistan.ru (September 1, 2010)
72. Ashgabat residents got the opportunity to watch 3D movies
73. Museums
74. Turkmen Carpet Museum (unavailable link)
75. Ashgabat's oldest park to be reconstructed
76. The “Temple of Happiness” has opened in Turkmenistan - this is the name of the first Wedding Palace in the country
77. Park of culture and recreation "Arkadag" opened in the capital of Turkmenistan
78. The President of Turkmenistan took part in the opening of the memorial complex and the mourning events of the Day of Remembrance
79. Amangeldy Nurmuradov. The world record for fountains has been set in Turkmenistan. RIA Novosti (August 30, 2010). Retrieved August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011.
80. The new residence of the President of Turkmenistan was the Oguzhan Palace Complex. // turkmenistan.ru (May 19, 2011)
81. Parishes. List of parishes of the Patriarchal Deanery in Turkmenistan. // pravoslavie.tm
82. Turkmenistan again got into the Guinness Book of Records. // vesti.ru (October 31, 2011)
83. Turkmen megalomania again got into the Guinness Book of Records. // trud.ru (October 31, 2011)
84. The sixth channel will appear on Turkmen television. // turkmenistan.ru (February 21, 2011)
85. Official site. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Diplomatic missions of foreign states and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan. // mfa.gov.tm
86. UN News Centre. The Security Council discussed the activities of the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia. // un.org (July 15, 2011)
87. OSCE Center in Ashgabat // osce.org

Links

• Official site
• Information portal of the city of Ashgabat
• Askhabad // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Askhabad // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: in 66 volumes (65 volumes and 1 additional) / ch. ed. O. Yu. Schmidt. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1926-1947.
• - article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.
• "City of Serdar" - Around the World
• A. A. Nikonov "Ashgabat earthquake: problems and solutions half a century after the disaster." Vestnik OGGGGN RAS, No. 2(4), 1998 (special issue)
• Ashgabat, educational film
• Ashgabat city tourism
• Book: "Ashgabat - in the Guinness Book of Records". Photo gallery. © Türkmen döwlet neşirýat gullugy, 2013. // ashgabat.gov.tm

"The city of love, coolness and abundance" - this is the free interpretation of the word "Ashgabat". Indeed, against the backdrop of the sands approaching it and the bare foothills of the Kopetdag, Ashgabat, immersed in lush greenery, seems like a real paradise.

It is the capital of the Republic of Turkmenistan, its political, economic and cultural center. About 900,000 people live here, most of whom are Turkmens, as well as Russians, Armenians and Uzbeks. The city occupies a very favorable geographical position: it is located in the south of Turkmenistan and is content with mild winters and unusually hot summers. From east to west, it is bordered by luxurious orchards and vineyards, in the north it is approached by the sands of the Karakum desert, and in the south the Kopetdag mountain system rises. Another feature of the location of the capital is high seismic activity. Therefore, the territory of Ashgabat is characterized by weak earthquakes, which happen quite often.

Ashgabat was founded at the end of the 19th century, at a time when almost all of Central Asia was already part of Russia. It, like other cities of the Transcaspian region, does not have a long history. The capital was built for military purposes on the site of a Turkmen settlement in 1881. At that time, the tsarist troops took the Akhal-Teke oasis and needed border fortifications. Aul Ashgabat and attracted the military command with its convenient location. The city began to fill with army institutions, workshops, shops and soon became the administrative center of the Transcaspian region. The military administration was at the head of the administration of the future capital. In February 1925, Ashgabat (which at that time was called Poltoratsky) was given the official status of the capital of the Turkmen SSR. The city began to grow and develop rapidly, but in 1948 it was overtaken by the elements - an earthquake with a magnitude of ten points. The capital had to be rebuilt almost from scratch. With the new layout of the city, it was decided to keep the old layout of the streets, but to make them more straight, and the squares wider and more beautiful.

One of the unofficial names of Ashgabat is the “white marble capital”. The fact is that here, 543 buildings were erected, which are lined with white marble. The capital of Turkmenistan, like a bride in a wedding dress, enchants with its whiteness and magnificence. And in 2013, Ashgabat even got into the Guinness Book of Records as the most white marble city in the world, and this is already its fifth mention on its pages.

Wedding Palace Bagt Koshgi

It is known that the Eastern peoples are famous for their generous and luxurious celebrations with a large number of guests. A wedding is just one of those rich and large-scale events. The wedding palace of Bagt Koshgi fully corresponds to the traditional ideas of the Eastern people about the festival. The construction of this grandiose building began in 2009 and was completed in a short time. Two years later, the grand opening of the registry office took place, which was attended by the President of Turkmenistan himself. Bagt Koshgi, or the Palace of Happiness, quickly became one of the symbols of the Turkmen capital.

What does the building look like? This is an impressive eleven-story building. Each side of the Palace is made in the form of an eight-pointed star. Four entrances lead to the registry office, symbolizing the number of cardinal points. The building is crowned with a huge cube, inside of which there is a sphere with a diameter of 32 meters. This is a figurative image of our planet. On the figure itself is a drawing of a map of Turkmenistan. Both the appearance of Bagt Koshgi and the interior decoration of its premises are made in the Turkmen style. There are nine luxurious halls in the Palace: six of them are reserved for wedding ceremonies, and three for wedding celebrations.

Particularly striking is the beauty of the Shamchirag Golden Hall, which is located on the ninth floor of the registry office, in the very center of the "ball-planet". Its capacity is small compared to other halls - only 100 seats, but it is here that events marked as especially solemn are held. After the act of marriage, according to an established tradition, the newly-made spouses go to the park of the Palace of Happiness. There they plant a tree as a sign of the birth of a new family.

Carpet Museum

In the center of Ashgabat, on Hero Avenue, there is one of the main attractions of the city - the Carpet Museum. It is known that Turkmenistan has long been famous for its carpets. In order to revive, preserve and further develop the skillful traditions of carpet weaving, the President issued a decree in 1993 on the establishment of this museum in Ashgabat. Its exhibition halls contain unique and skillfully made carpet products of different styles and eras. Among the thousands of copies is the world's largest handmade carpet with an area of ​​286 m² (length - 12.9 m, width - 20.82 m), the record holder weighs 1,000 kg. There is also the smallest exhibit, made in the form of a housekeeper. There is also a whole workshop engaged in the restoration of antique carpets. Among the most original designs is a carpet-portrait of Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin. Walking through the halls, you admire the imagination and skill of Turkmen weavers.

Palace of Congresses and Arts "Rukhyet"

It will be interesting for tourists to visit the Rukhyet Palace - this is the congress building, which is located in the government part of Ashgabat. Cultural events are also periodically held here - performances by famous artists, concerts, creative evenings, awards. Despite the fact that the palace appeared at the end of the last century, even today it is in no way inferior to the best congress halls on the planet in terms of technical equipment.

Externally, "Rukhyet" is a grandiose building, made in oriental style. Therefore, it harmoniously looks against the background of the general architectural ensemble of the city. The interior decoration impresses with rich decorations and impeccable taste with which the interiors are furnished. Of course, the main palace of the city could not do without a luxurious carpet. The giant carpet "President" welcomes visitors in the main hall. The area of ​​the product is almost 300 m².

The image of this building can be seen not only on postcards, calendars, guides and various souvenirs - it is also depicted on the banknote of Turkmenistan with a face value of 10,000 manats.

Central Botanical Garden

It is also worth visiting the Central Botanical Garden of Ashgabat - this is the place where the most amazing and diverse flora from all geographical latitudes of the world is concentrated. It was founded on October 1, 1929, although the first floristic research on this territory began at the end of the 19th century. The collection contains a large collection of valuable plants. For example, conifers - Pitsunda pine, Crimean pine; a large collection of shrubs that are selected so that flowering is continuous.

Particular attention should be paid to the rose garden, which has over five hundred varieties of roses. The garden collection contains one hundred and twenty varieties of chrysanthemums. In addition, here you can admire many types of palm trees, see a collection of cacti and get acquainted with the rich vegetation of the countries. Central Asia. The Botanical Garden of Ashgabat pleases not only with its freshness, fragrant aromas, but also with pleasant coolness - this is an ideal shelter from the city heat.

Monument of Neutrality

The Monument of Neutrality (simply called “Treshka”) can rightfully be considered the brightest symbol of modern Turkmenistan. In December 1995, according to the resolution of the UN General Assembly, the Republic of Turkmenistan was officially recognized as the first country in the world with the status of "permanent Neutrality". In honor of this, Saparmurat Niyazov, who was then president, ordered a gigantic monument-arch to be erected in the center of Ashgabat. The monument has stood in the heart of the city for twelve years since 1998. Now the monument is located on the southern outskirts of the capital.

The height of the structure is 95 m. The structure rests on three pylons, which, as it were, form a stand for a boiler, a tagan. From the outside, the building is lined with white marble, and the pylons are decorated with bas-reliefs. Inside the Monument, tourists are greeted by the Museum of Neutrality of Turkmenistan, the exhibits of which tell about the internal and foreign policy republics.

Surprisingly, the Treshka is a moving object. It slowly rotates in the direction of the sun, making one revolution around its own axis per day. The core of the whole structure is a panoramic elevator. With it, you can climb to the observation platforms, which offer a beautiful view of the city.

Parthian fortresses of Nisa

fortresses ancient city Nisa is located 18 km west of the capital of Turkmenistan. The settlement here arose in the III century. BC e. For the next six centuries, the city was the primary support of the Arsacid dynasty and even served as the capital of Parthia. However, from the 16th century, it rapidly fell into decay and early XIX has already fallen into ruins. At the moment, the settlement of Old Nisa is the remains of the royal fortress-residence.

Among the ruins of buildings, two ensembles stand out - Central and Northern. In the first one there is a building with a "Round Hall", which is decorated with clay statues and columns. Also on the territory of the Central Ensemble are the ruins of the palace with the “Square Hall”, which is decorated with marble statues. The main attraction of the Northern Ensemble is the "Square House" - a vast building measuring 60 × 60 m, surrounded by a courtyard of columns. Next to the building are twelve rooms in which the most remarkable archaeological finds were made. Most of them belong to the items of royal life: parts of the throne, decorations from Ivory, marble statues, but most importantly - 2,700 clay tablets with records of the life of the Parthians.

The ruins of the Parthian state are located on a hill, which offers a view not only of the excavations, but also of the Kopetdag mountain itself. In 2007, the ruins of the Parthian fortress were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Leisure

In the evening, after walking tours, you can go to the Main Drama Theater of Turkmenistan, which is located in the heart of Ashgabat, on Makhtumkuli Avenue, one of the key highways of the capital. The repertoire is mostly based on the plays of classical and modern Turkmen playwrights, the performances are held in the national language.

If you have free time, you can visit the cultural and entertainment center "Alem", which is made in the form of a huge Turkmen brooch "gulyaka". At the top of the structure is a Ferris wheel with a diameter of 57 meters. The object was awarded the Guinness Book of Records as the largest closed Ferris wheel in the world. On the territory of the center you will find an amusement complex, the Space Museum, a small autodrome, many cafes and restaurants.

Ashgabat also has its own Disneyland - the amusement park "The World of Turkmenbashi's Tales", which is located in the very center of the city and is divided into five thematic sectors: "Mountain of Tales", "World of Adventures", "World of Turkmen Wonders", "World of Struggle" and "Paradise river". The park is equipped with many attractions and slot machines - there are entertainments for both children and adults.

How to get there

There is one airport in Ashgabat, which bears the name of Saparmurat Turkmenbashi. However, a direct flight from Moscow to the capital of Turkmenistan will not work. You will have to change in Istanbul, Baku or even Dubai, depending on which airline and flight you choose. Seven airlines fly from Moscow to Ashgabat, but Turkish Airlines flights are the best option. Planes take off from Vnukovo airport (less often from Sheremetyevo) and transfer in Istanbul, sometimes in Ankara. Another option is an air carrier that flies to the capital of Turkmenistan from Domodedovo Airport. The minimum travel time from Moscow to Ashgabat is eight hours, but if you take into account long transfers, the flight time can reach sixteen or even twenty hours. The most convenient way to get from Ashgabat Airport to the city center is by taxi.

local transport

The public transport of the capital is represented by buses, trolleybuses, taxis (route and regular), monorail, and the railway station of the same name is also located on the territory of Ashgabat.

The fare for public transport is 30 Turkmen tenge. The minibus will take you to the desired stop for 1 manat. The taxi driver will take from 2 to 20 manats, all depending on the results of the negotiations and the distance of the train: how far you have to go from the center.

Payment in public transport in Ashgabat is carried out as follows: money is thrown into a box standing near the driver. You can also buy travel tickets (valid for a month) at the post office.

The monorail, which consists of three cars, runs at eight stops, the total length of the network is 5.1 km.

Hotels

If you crave the ultimate in comfort, then the 5-star Nusay Hotel is the perfect choice. The rooms here are equipped with everything you need: shower, air conditioning, safe, mini-bar, telephone, hairdryer, TV, WiFi network. Also on the territory of the hotel there is a bar, spa, indoor pool, fashion shops, laundry. And if even on vacation you prefer an active holiday, you can use the services of a gym and, for a separate price, a tennis court. In the evening, a nightclub opens for all visitors.

For people arriving on a business trip, the Margush Hotel is suitable. The rooms, in addition to the usual amenities - satellite TV, desk, internet. The rooms are furnished simply, without frills.

Two and three star hotels provide a minimum level of service. It is better to check the availability of a bathroom in the room with the administration upon check-in. The number of additional services is also limited. But if you do not plan to spend a lot of time within the four walls, then these factors will not bother you much. You can use the services of the hotels "Ahal", "Independent", "Nebitchi", "Lachin".

Restaurants

Ashgabat cuisine is represented by a wide variety of dishes. Restaurants of national cuisine treat their visitors to the most delicious pilaf, which can be found here in more than thirty varieties. The restaurants MAEDEM, Asuda Nusay, Restoran Soltan specialize in preparing this dish.

Being in Ashgabat, one cannot help but taste the white fish of the Caspian Sea. Even real gourmets will appreciate it. Locals especially recommend the Asuda Nusay restaurant (Alisher Navoi Street), where stellate sturgeon and sturgeon are excellently prepared.

If you don’t have enough time for a full meal, you can treat yourself to the Ashgabat fast drink - it is represented by manti (dumplings with steamed minced lamb) and various “dense” flour products (pies with potatoes, onions, meat). Cafes with a similar menu are found almost everywhere. Among others, AYA is best known.

shopping

The color of Ashgabat is given by its noisy and colorful bazaars. So the best souvenirs and expensive products are worth looking for here.

The bazaar, nicknamed by the people as the "Market Market", is very famous. On Saturdays and Sundays, life here is just in full swing! Here you will find everything your heart desires: from decorative lampshades to a dressing gown. The market is located near the airport. It is best to come here in the morning, since by 14:00 the sellers begin to remove the goods.

Fruits and vegetables, various accessories, clothes and other stuff can be bought at the Gulistan Russian Bazaar, which is located in the very center of Ashgabat and is one of the largest bazaars in the city. On its territory there are many eateries where you can taste the traditional dishes of Turkmenistan.

The largest and most popular stores in Ashgabat are Yimpas shopping center, Berkarar shopping center, Paytagt shopping center. These are huge complex platforms, which present a variety of branded goods: from fashion clothes to perfumes. Prices in boutiques are also extremely different from each other.

Finally, the main “carpet” place in the capital of Turkmenistan is the store at the Carpet Museum. The choice here is extremely diverse: you can easily find a product to suit your heart and wallet. But it is worth considering that knotted carpets made of silk and wool will cost the most, cheaper (and no less attractive) felt mats "nightmare".

After five seasons of excavations at the site of Akdepe in 2010, they came to the conclusion that it had been inhabited since the 6th millennium BC. e., and continuously, before that it was believed that the settlement was abandoned by people at the turn of the II-I millennium BC. At Akdepe, ceramics of the Neolithic Jeytun culture (VI-V millennium BC) and all subsequent eras, including the XIII-XV centuries, during the rule of the Mongols, were found.

History of the city

Linguists derive the name of the city from two words in Persian: “eshg” (“ashg”) - “love” and “abad” - “populated, well-maintained”. Based on the meaning of these two words, Ashgabat is often called the “city of love”. The name Ashkabad was given to their aul, which stood not far from the present city, by the Turkmen-Tekins. There is another, very well-founded version of the origin of this name - on behalf of one of the kings of the Parthian dynasty of Arsacids (Arsacids), whose name was Ashk. 18 km from Ashgabat is the historical and archaeological complex of Nisa, consisting of the fortresses of Old Nisa and New Nisa. In the III century BC. e. New Nisa was the capital of Parthia, and Old Nisa was the residence of the king. During the heyday of the Parthian kingdom (3rd century), Old Nisa was called Mithridatkert, after the name of King Mithridates I. The ruins of Nisa are fragments of a palace column hall, sanctuaries and fortifications. Papyri in the Parthian language, many artifacts of a domestic nature, and painted clay statues were found here. Until 1881, Ashgabat belonged to Persia, but after Russia and Persia agreed that it would pass under the rule of Russia.
It was part of the "Great Game" - as it was called in the 19th century. the rivalry between the Russian and British empires for influence in this part of Central Asia, including Persia. Territorial expansion and espionage and diplomatic intrigues came from both sides. Ashgabat became a kind of bargaining chip in this game at that stage, which ended in 1907. A border military fortification called Askhabad was built here, which became the administrative center of the Transcaspian region.
Very soon the city began to grow rapidly. Which is not surprising: ancient caravan routes passed through it: to the south, through the gorges - to Persia, to the north to Khiva; east to Bukhara. And merchants and artisans immediately rushed to the city, as well as Persians, those who were persecuted in their native country for religious reasons. In 1885, a railway was built to Askhabad, a year later it reached Chardzhou, another 10 years later to Kushka, in 1899 - to. At the beginning of the XX century. about 37 thousand people already lived here: Persians, Russians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, in total representatives of 15 nationalities. Turkmens were the least - 2%. In December 1917, Soviet power was established in the city. In 1919, it was renamed Poltoratsk, in honor of the Bolshevik P.G. Poltoratsky, who was shot in 1918 by workers who rebelled against the Bolsheviks. In 1924, the city became the capital of the Turkmen SSR, and in 1927 it was returned to its original name with a slight amendment: Ashgabat became Ashgabat.
Despite its 130+ years, it is considered a young city. Alas, with a sad reason. In October 1948, a nine-magnitude earthquake occurred in Ashgabat, about 176 thousand people died, the city and surrounding villages lost 98% of their buildings. The restoration of Ashgabat began in 1949. In 1962, the Karakum Canal reached Ashgabat, thereby removing the acute problem of water supply. In 1986, Saparmurat Niyazov (1940-2006) was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Republic. In 1991, Ashgabat (Ashgabat - in Turkmen) becomes the capital of independent Turkmenistan, and Niyazov becomes president, Turkmenbashi ("father Turkmen"). He made Ashgabat the front showcase of his unlimited power, emphasizing this with monumental, pompous buildings and monuments. Even invited Western and Turkish architects adhered to this style, but in a professional sense they did their job well, and the city really acquired a majestic appearance.
For more than 10 years, the annual Universal International Exhibition "White City - Ashgabat" has been held here. Its goal is to attract foreign companies to cooperation in the field of construction and maintenance of urban infrastructure. It turns out And the main witness here is the city itself, as it looks today, admirable for its buildings, and the amount of greenery on the streets, and order. Over the past twenty years, the population of Ashgabat has at least doubled, and this is the highest rate of its kind in the post-Soviet space.
Portraits of Turkmenbashi in Ashgabat are gradually being replaced by images of horses of the famous Akhal-Teke breed, bred in Turkmenistan about 5,000 years ago. But not only. Portraits of the current president of the country, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (born in 1957, elected in 2007), however, are hung out no less than images of horses. In 2010, the monument "Arch of Neutrality" with a giant gilded statue of Turkmenbashi installed on a rotating base was removed from the central square of the city so that it would be illuminated by the rays of the sun from dawn to dusk. But in December 2011, this monument reappeared in the capital of Turkmenistan, however, now on the outskirts, in the southern part of Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue in the foothills of the Kopetdag, but there Turkmenbashi stands at an altitude of 95 m above sea level. This, of course, is a signal to society, and very clear: the “boss” will always be watching you. Is it not for this reason that travelers all as one note that the streets of Ashgabat are unusually sparsely populated for a southern city? Marble palaces, fountains seem to be not for its inhabitants. Moreover, the comparison is not with respect to European cities, but close Muslim Tashkent, not to mention Baku, where life is in full swing at any time of the day. Or is this how the complete, absolute loyalty to the government, instilled in the people during the years of the authoritarian regime, is manifested, when any opinion that differs from the official one could cost a broken fate? But this is not a “generic” feature of Ashgabat at all. Actor and poet Leonid Filatov (1946-2003) was very fond of this city, where he spent his childhood and early youth. Filatov remembered him as free, open, friendly, which the next generations of Ashgabat intellectuals could not say about him. After several stories related to the disappearance of their colleagues, relatives and friends who did not agree with the Niyazov regime, in the 1980s writers, artists, scientists, and journalists emigrated en masse to Russia and Western Europe. This year, the president of the country stated that dissident emigrants can visit Ashgabat, no one will put obstacles in their way. However, this statement is not credible for any of the emigrants, as they write about on their website “Gundogar”.
There is another reason for the quiet lifestyle of Ashgabat residents: the rest of the cities and towns of the country cannot be compared with the capital either in terms of amenities or in terms of the number of jobs, and the city residents, for the most part, are most afraid of losing what they have Such sentiments also have a positive effect - in Ashgabat it is extremely low level crime. But it is impossible not to notice - the residents of Ashgabat are also proud of the capital of their state, the most beautiful, as they sincerely believe, the city of the Earth. And they try to behave in such a way as not to drop his current reputation in any way. Here, unlike politics, they are willing to talk about a handsome city and are always ready to confirm their words with cordial hospitality. This age-old rule of life of the Turkmen people is not able to cancel any regimes.

general information

Based in 1881

Additional official status: velayat (region).
Administrative-territorial division: 5 etraps (districts).

Languages: Turkmen (official), Russian, Uzbek.
Ethnic composition: Turkmens - 77%, as well as Russians, Uzbeks, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Armenians, Persians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Tatars - more than 100 nationalities in total.

Religions: Islam, Orthodoxy and other confessions.

Currency unit: manat
River: a canal called the Ashgabat river in the city.

Major airport: international airport them. Saparmurat Turkmenbashi.

Numbers

Population: 909,900 (2009).
Population density: about 3033 people / km 2.

Height above sea level: 214-240 m.

Economy

Industry: mechanical engineering, metalworking, furniture, food; light industry: enterprises of spinning and weaving, silk-winding cycle, carpet production.

Important transport hub.

January average temperature:+3.5°С.

July average temperature:+31.3°С.

Average annual rainfall: 200-230 mm.

Average annual air humidity: 56% There is no precipitation in summer.

Attractions

■ Religious buildings: Ertugrul Gazi Mosque (gift from the Turkish government). "Turkmenbashi Rukhi" ("Spirit of Turkmenbashi"), in the village of Kipchak, in the homeland of S. Niyazov. 15 km from the city Orthodox churches of Alexander Nevsky and Nicholas the Wonderworker (XIX century, reconstruction of the XX century).
■ Buildings and constructions: the palace complex "Oguz Khan" - the residence of the President of Turkmenistan, the National Library, the building of the Mejlis, the complex of the Academy of Sciences, the Academic Drama Theater. Mollanepes, Bayram-Khan monument, Independence monument, Constitution monument, "Arch of Neutrality" monument with a statue of Turkmenbashi, Bakt Koshgi Wedding Palace, "Alem" cultural and entertainment center.
■ Museums: National Museum of History and Ethnography (rich archaeological collection). Carpet Museum, Museum of Fine Arts (works by Russian, Western European and Central Asian artists on the Turkmen theme), National Treasury (silver jewelry for women, as well as horses, copies of golden sculptures of Altyn-tepe).
■ First Park (founded in 1890), Alley of Inspiration - art and park complex.
■ 18 km from the city - Historical and cultural reserve "Nisa" - settlements of the III century. BC e. - III century. n. e. (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
■ Bazaar "Dzhygyllyk" ("Market Market").

Curious facts

■ At the end of the XIX century. there was a draft coat of arms of Ashgabat. the significance of the city was symbolized by the crown of the Russian Empire, a camel caravan and a train. But this project remained only on paper.
■ Ashgabat is a branch of the Karakum canal, through which water flows, but in Ashgabat it is called a river. The concrete channel of Ashgabat was filled in 2006. Its width is from 12 to 20 m, the depth is up to 3.5 m. It flows from east to west for 11 km. Openwork footbridges are thrown through every kilometer. The banks are framed by gray granite parapets, behind them are park areas with gazebos, fountains and children's playgrounds.
■ Saparmurat Niyazov believed that hospitals should be located only in Ashgabat, so that the sick, while undergoing treatment, at the same time admire the beautiful capital. The dictator's absurd decision was strictly implemented. Currently, the health care system in the country is still in the process of recovery.
■ All schoolgirls and students in Ashgabat wear uniforms, these are long blue or green dresses and harem pants. The dress code also includes a mandatory skullcap on the head. Hair must be braided. If a girl allows herself to wear a short haircut in everyday life, going to class, she is obliged to wear a skullcap, to which artificial pigtails are sewn.

Turkmenistan is one of the most closed republics former USSR. Turkmens, unlike their Central Asian neighbors, do not go to work in Russia, and getting here is not easy. Still, the country is a visa country. A sticker in your passport costs a minimum of $35. In general, many have heard about Turkmen gas, but few have managed to see how the wealth gained from the sale of hydrocarbons is disposed of in the former Soviet republic. And there is something to see. On the border of the Karakum desert, a futuristic white marble city with an oriental flavor has grown, without exaggeration, which is often associated with an oasis.

In our time, Turkmenistan lives in the era of power and happiness. In any case, it was proclaimed by the President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The reign of the first president was called the Golden Age.

Ashgabat is a young city and without a historical center. In addition, in the middle of the last century, then the capital Soviet republic almost all went underground as a result of a natural disaster. The city was rebuilt.

During the years of independence of Turkmenistan, no less grandiose construction was launched in Ashgabat. Unusual structures are everywhere. In the photo, the hotel "Yyldyz"

And this is our hotel "Ashgabat"

In front of the hotel is a gilded statue of the current president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The official name of the monument is “Arkadag binasy” (Arkadag Monument). Arkadag is translated from Turkmen as "patron", "support". The head of state is depicted in traditional Turkmen clothes on a prancing Akhal-Teke horse with a high right hand.

On a holiday (December 12, the Day of Neutrality was celebrated in Turkmenistan), there are practically no local residents on the streets, but there are many delegations from all over the world. Due to the arrival of politicians, the entire center was blocked

Palace of marriage or Happiness. The design is based on the eight-pointed star of Oguzhan (the progenitor of the Turkic tribes). The symbol is very popular in Ashgabat. Inside the globe of Turkmenistan

They are trying to turn the capital into a blooming garden, but, as we see, this is not easy - most often the seedlings do not take root

Amusement park. The Ferris wheel, they say, is the largest in the world - they even made it into the Guinness Book. But there are no people here.

For irrigation, a special irrigation system developed in Israel is used.

The lantern is decorated with Oguzhan stars

There is also an eight-pointed star on the Ferris wheel.

Sea buckthorn

Pushkin School. The only one in Turkmenistan where they teach according to the Russian program

Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan. The main industry is represented by mechanical engineering, metalworking, glass, light, and food industries. The city has well-developed folk crafts for the manufacture of carpets, ceramics, silver, wood, plaster.

In the middle of the last century, a major earthquake occurred in Ashgabat, as a result of which the city was almost completely destroyed, about 100 thousand citizens died. But the help of the fraternal republics of the USSR contributed to the rapid restoration of the city.

There are many attractions in the city and its surroundings that will be of interest to tourists.

What is the best way to get to Ashgabat

There is another way that combines several modes of transport. You fly to Baku from Moscow, then by taxi you get to the old seaport, where there is a ferry service to Krasnovodsk, and then to Ashgabat by bus.

If for some reason you need to travel by train, then again you need to get to Baku from the Paveletsky railway station of the capital, the rest of the journey will have to be repeated: taxi-ferry-bus to Ashgabat.

Of course, there may be daredevils who decide to go on a trip in their own car. But, firstly, it will turn out to be more expensive than a flight, of course, it will take much more time, in addition: the roads leave much to be desired, and are extremely unsafe.

And one more thing: to enter the territory of Turkmenistan, you need a passport with an entry visa.

Hotel prices and shopping

There are not too many places to stay in the city - there are only about a dozen hotels and inns, so we recommend that you take care of this in advance, the prices in rooms are from 3 to 5 thousand rubles.

The shopping center in Ashgabat is replete with goods of Turkmen manufacturers: jewelry, clothes, souvenirs, household appliances. But there are also many Chinese goods here.

Near the Ertogrul Gazi mosque there is a market with traditional Turkmen goods: carpets, national clothes, hats, souvenirs. However, keep in mind that prices here are higher than in the so-called Russian Bazaar.

In Turkmenistan you can buy:

• Gorgeous handmade wool carpet, the price depends on the size of the product;
• Cognac of local production from grapes grown in Turkmenistan;
• Taihashku is such a small skullcap embroidered by hand with silk, beads, etc.;
• Socks and woolen shoes, hand-knitted from camel hair, which, according to local beliefs, have healing properties;
• Bed linen, towels, pajamas, underwear - all of excellent quality from 100% cotton;
• National Turkmen jewelry made of metal with inserts of colored stones and bells.

Turkmen wines, cognacs, a lot of fruits and vegetables, household goods, food, clothes, and even black caviar will not leave you indifferent at the Tekinsky Bazaar. Prices for all goods and products are pleasing, but you can still reduce the cost by bargaining - this is accepted here.

What to see in Ashgabat

There are several architectural structures in the city that are popular with tourists: the Turkmenbashi Palace, the Rukhyet Palace, the Ashgabat Earthquake Memorial Complex, the Independence Monument, the National Museum, the Arch of Neutrality, mosques, fountains, stadiums, parks.

It is impossible to ignore the oriental bazaars, of which there are only 7 large ones in Ashgabat: Gulistan, Dzhennet, Tekinsky, Mir-bazaar, Dzhygyplyk, Lapezar, Gundogar, not to mention the numerous mini-bazaars found at every turn.

The National Carpet Museum contains several hundred of the best samples of folk art, there are carpets that are more than 400 hundred years old, as well as a huge carpet in terms of area and weight, which took second place in the world in these indicators, the famous "Golden Age of the Great Salarmurat Turkmenbashi".

In the vicinity of the city, there is the ancient settlement of Nisa, which dates back to the 10th century BC. It has two preserved fortresses, one of them was the royal residence, and the other was the capital of the Parthian state. The city fell into decay several times over the centuries and was reborn again. Here are the graves of the rulers of the Arsacids dynasty, a wine storage, royal treasuries, warehouses with provisions.

The mosque of Turkmenbashi Rukhy is located in the native village of Salarmurat Niyazov. The white marble building is a majestic architectural structure that cost the country's budget $100 million. Near the mosque there are 4 minarets 80 meters high. The building is of such size that about 10 thousand people can pray in it at the same time.

In the Karakum desert there is a gas crater, which tourists have dubbed as "The Door to the Underworld". Gas comes out directly from the ground, dividing on the surface into several torches up to 10-15 meters high. The gas coming out of the crater has been burning day and night for more than 40 years, since the 70s of the last century.

Nearby there are two craters in which liquid mud is bubbling on the surface. In one crater is a light gray color, and in the other a beautiful blue hue.

In the vicinity of the capital there is a popular mountain resort - the former residence of the royal family. Nearby is a cave with a huge lake, the water of which is saturated with minerals and has a temperature of 36 ° C all year round. Today this area is a national reserve, because in addition to the unique lake there is a colony of bats.

In addition, Ashgabat has an Orthodox Church, a circus, an Academic theatre, School of Music, Conservatory, National Library, puppet theater.

It is better to exchange Russian rubles for the local currency (manat) in banks, but you can change it at exchange offices, in hotels. It is recommended to have a lot of small dollar bills with you - they are sometimes convenient to pay for souvenirs, handicrafts in the markets.

There are few places in Turkmenistan where credit cards are accepted for payment - only in banks and large hotels.