turkmenistan
Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan and the biggest city of
Turkmenistan. The population of Turkmenistan is estimated to be
about 1 million as for 2009. Built only in 1881 and completely
destroyed by a terrible earthquake in 1948, the city now is one
of the most beautiful cities of Central Asia. The city was
called in different ways in different times. For instance, it
was called as “Poltoratsk” between 1919–1927 and Ashhabad later
on but locals used to call as Ashgabat. After independence the
city resumed its original name Ashgabat which means the city of
love. The word Ashgabat consists of two independent words Ashg
and Abad. The first meaning love and the second word a place
inhabited by people. There are many places to visit in Ashgabat
while you are in Turkmenistan.
Sights of Ashgabat
Carpet Museum
Carpet Museum is one of the centerpieces of Ashgabat. Carpet
Museum is the only facility of its kind in the world. Here you
can find hundreds of the best examples of rugs of all time, the
oldest of which belongs to the XVII century. And here is the
biggest carpet in the world, area of which is about 400 square
meters and weight - more than one ton. Here you can find other
decorative items made of wool and compiled from different areas
of Turkmenistan. We do recommend visiting this museum
during your tour to Central Asia.
Sunday Bazaar
Sunday Bazaar is another
sightseeing spot in Ashgabat which is must visit place in
Ashgabat. East is east, so no surprise that the main center of
attraction for tourists is the huge Sunday market "Tolkuchka",
which is famous for a variety of their products and bright
Turkmen traditions. It stretches for several miles along the
desert outskirts of the city, the bazaar is attracting attention
in the first place for the possibility of buying the traditional
Turkmen carpets, which are dumped here for sale across the
country. This is the biggest market in Turkmenistan and you can
buy here almost everything: food, clothes, jewelry, sheep,
camels, modern cars and many more.
If you want to visit
Sunday Bazaar while your tour to Turkmenistan, please, make sure
that it is open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The best
day to visit Sunday Bazaar in Ashgabat is indisputably Sunday.
Nissa
Nissa is a unique monument of the Parthian country
which existed from the III century BC till the III century. The
ruins of the ancient city of Nissa are situated on the outskirts
of the village of Bagir, 18 km far from Ashgabat. The historic
complex includes two monuments - Old and New Nissa.
In antiquity old Nissa was
called as Mitridarkert, for tourists it is of particular
interest. Here are the palaces and temples, where were held
celebrations in honor of deified representatives of the dynasty
of Arsakid. Nissa is a rectangular fortress with 43 rectangular
towers for additional strength. There was a bastion with area of
14 hectares and walls of the fortress were 9 meters in
height. The northern and southern architectural complexes were
located inside the Nissa. Northern part of the complex no longer
exists. In the northern part of inner Nissa there were a
treasury and wine warehouses.
Southern part of inner Nissa preserved till present and
it is of special interest to tourists and archaeologists. The
large tower structure delights with its laid adobe brickwork.
The tower is the only two story building, which towered over the
neighborhood. The ruins of the huge columns and walls of
southern complex are 2-3 m in height and the famous "Round Hall"
with diameter of 17m, both of which are the second preserved
construction.
Curtius
Rufus ancient historian writes that in 329 BC Alexander the
Great of Macedon stopped in Nissa along with his army. He
ordered to collect all his things and things of his army, which
covered them and made it impossible to move forward. He raised
the first torch to his things and all burned.
In Central Asia there is no analogue of Old Nissa as the
architecture of this city is unique. It was built by architects
and builders who learned the style of western masters, because
there are harmoniously blended architectural traditions of
ancient Greece, Rome and the East.
New Nissa
is a settlement that housed the local aristocrats. The city was
surrounded by many acres of flowering gardens. After the fall of
the dynasty Arshakids, life here went on for many centuries, in
contrast to the Old Nissa. But there was a time when the city
was deserted for more than two centuries when it was destroyed
by the Sassanids. In the second half of V century Sassanian king
Firuz praised convenient location of Nissa and decided to
rebuild the city. Later Nissa was a part of the Arab Caliphate
in 651. In 1220 the Mongols attacked Nissa and destroyed it, as
well as other large cities of Central Asia.
Hippodrome
Turkmenistan is the
homeland of the world famous Akhal-Teke horses and horse
riding is very popular. Since ancient times, popularity of horse
racing in Turkmenistan is rising and interest in it is
increasing day bay day.
The Horse
Breeding Complex and Hippodrome of Ashgabat has been
constructed for the continuation of generation of the world
famous Akhal-Teke Turkmen breed and to raise healthy, better
trained horses.
Hippodrome of
Ashgabat is designed to shelter 300 horses and there are two
built in ring shaped race tracks for Turkmen breed. In
addition, for better monitoring of races in the hippodrome
grandstand was built supposed for 5,000 spectators. The
hippodrome of Ashgabat is equipped with a hospital for horses,
the laboratory where horses can undergo surgery or DNA testing
for purebred analysis, horse training pool, quarantine building,
doping control building and saddling section.
Horse
racings in The Hippodrome of Ashgabat are held two terms a year
and it is in spring and autumn. In case you would like to attend
Akhal Teke horse racing in during your tour to Turkmenistan,
please, note that usually horse racing is organized on Sundays.
Spring term is closed on last Sunday of April and it is
considered as a holiday of Turkmen Racer. The Grand Prix of
spring term will be played on the last Sunday of April.
Monument of Independence
The design of the
Monument of Independence was inspired by traditional Turkmen
tents and the traditional headgear worn by Turkmen girls.
Elements of the Monument of Independence commemorate the
independence date of Turkmenistan, 27 October 1991. These
elements include a 91-meter reinforced concrete tower with a
27-meter high golden gilt steel construction on top of the
tower, along with an observation terrace with a diameter of 10
meters. Within the Monument of Independence, there are
exhibition halls where important works of art representing
Turkmenistan history are displayed. The Monument of Independence
sits on a total area of 84.500 m2, surrounded by green
landscaping that encompasses a cascaded pool and the statues of
27 historical heroes of the Turkmens that guided Turkmenistan
history.
Ertugrul Gazi
The Mosque Ertugrul Gazi is the gift to fraternal people of
Turkmenistan from Turkey. Ertugrul Gazi Mosque is similar to the
Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The construction is distinguished by
its originality. Doors decorated with 6 faces ornaments
are masterpiece of modern wood carving. No nail is used and they
are created by professional masters of Turkey. Gilded words of
the Koran were written by hand. In the mosque, which is
considered the home of God, the first floor is for
male audience, and the second for women. In the hall of
Ertugral Gaiz Mosque 5000 people can pray at the same time. The
mosque has four minarets, each of
which height 62.22meters. While constructing the domes and roofs
of the mosque 160 tons of lead was used.
National Museum of Turkmenistan
The
National Museum of Turkmenistn is located in the south of the
country’s capital, on Archabil street. National Museum was built
after independence of Turkmenistan and under the initiative of
first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Turkmenbashi.
On 5th January of 1998 Saparmurat Turkmenbashi signed a
resolution enabling to quit the activity of National Museum of
History & Ethnography of Turkmenistan and Turkmen State Museum
of Fine Arts. At the same resolution it was ordered to build a
National Museum of Turkmenistan in order to create a better
condition for preserving archaeological, architectural, cultural
and other historical items.
National Museum of
Turkmenistan is rich in historical and archaeological finds
indicating the antiquity of the history of Turkmenistan. The
museum consists of several halls - historical, natural, artistic
and etc. It provides valuable exhibits belonging to era of the
Parthian, Margiana, Jeytun cultures of the Bronze Age, the era
of Seljuk, Khorezm, the Middle Ages. Furthermore it provides
art exhibits such as sculpture, painting, jewelry, stuffed
animals, models and one of the largest meteorites fell to
Earth in the 20th century. Total number of exhibits of National
Museum of Turkmenistan is more than 2,500 exhibits.
Spiritual Mosques of Turkmenbashi
The mosque was built in
2004 by the initiative of Saparmurat Turkmenbashy. Spiritual
Mosque is used as a mosque and mausoleum of the family of
Saparmurat Turkmenbashi.
As it is common in
Ashgabat this construction was also built of white marble and
the inscriptions are gilding. In the mosque simultaneously
7000 males and 3000 females can pray.
On the portal of
entrance to the mosque you can see
inscription: "Sacred Mosque of Turkmenbashi. Quran - God's book.
Ruhnama - the holy book". This mosque is unusual in
a way that its walls are decorated with not only the quotations
of the Quran, but also patriotic instruction of the book of the
Turkmen president "Rukhnama", as well as with quotations from
his poetry collection "God bless you my people."
The construction of
Spirutal Mosque of Turkmenbashi cost more than $ 115 million.
The Monument of Neutrality
The Monument of
Neutrality is biggest landmark in Ashgabat and it can be seen
from any point of Ashgabat. The Monument of Neutrality
commemorates the country's official position of neutrality.
The Monument of
Neutrality was built in 1998 on three pedestals, standing 75
meters tall. It encompasses a restaurant and observation
terraces. The first floor of the monument is accessible via
elevators that ascend diagonally from two pedestals and a
panoramic elevator is used to access the second floor. A gold
gilded bronze statue of the Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, has been
placed on the top of the monument. The statue itself completes
one 3600 rotation in a 24-hour period and can be
observed from essentially every location in the city. As an
annex to this building, an earthquake museum has been built in
the memory of those who died in 1948 during the Ashgabat
Earthquake. A 38-ton symbolic bronze statue is also placed on
top of the museum building.
In January of 2010
present President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanbuli Berdimuhammedov,
signed a resolution to demolish gilded statue on the top of the
Monument of Neutrality and move the monument to Southern part of
Ashgabat.
