TURKMENISTAN REPUBLIC

Capital: Ashgabat
The biggest city: Ashgabat
Official languages: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek
Form of government: Presidential Republic, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Date of Independence: 27 Octover 1991 (from USSR)
Area: 488 100 sq. km
Water table %: 4,9
Population: 5 110 000 (2009)
Currency: Turkmen New Manat (TMT)
Internet: .tm
Country code: +993
Time zone: GMT +5

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan remains by far the most unexplored country along the Silk Road. In the rainbow of colours that characterizes this vast strip of land stretching between
China and Persia, Turkmen culture has preserved many nomadic and Shaman traditions. Linking Afghan, Persian and the sophisticated settled cultures of the Central
Asian Khanates, many items and periods associated with Silk Road cultures have emerged from the largely nomadic Turcoman societies. This is evident in
Turkmenistan's fascinating handicrafts, as well as its strong attraction towards mysticism and local customs and beliefs associated with other Silk Road cultures.
It's really impossible to list all possible excursion routes across Turkmenistan. Its territory is abundant in rare ancient monuments which have survived from ancient times.
The legendary Nissa - the residence of Parthian kings, the medieval city of Enev are among them. If you travel deeper inland you'll have a chance to see the remains of
the ancient city of Merv.
Besides numerous antiquities Turkmenistan has a variety of unique natural landmarks: underground lakes, high mountain tops, deep crevices, paradise-like places high
in the mountains are similar to none.
Only in such wonderful country as Turkmenistan you will have a chance to taste original Turkmen delicacies from fresh mutton cooked on saxaul fire wood, to see the
world-known Akhaltekin racers, the legendary handcrafted Turkmen carpets, to become an eyewitness of national rituals!
*Photo from Compass CAEG

ASHGABAT THE CAPITAL CITY

Ashgabat is located in a picturesque valley at the foothills of Kopet Dagh. It emerged in 1881 first as military fortress not far from a village bearing the same name. In
1885 a railway was built that reached the area. As a result, it turned into a small town.
The Arch of Neutrality. This monument has become an urban symbol which serves as a powerful reference point in the city. The inspiration for the Arch ofNeutrality
was the traditional Turkmen trivet - a stable tripod, used for holding a boiler, under which a fire is kind-led. In the project the trivet was transformed into three widely
curved pylons connected by disks and rings of different diameters and thickness. These are the viewing sites, located on different levels, where a perfect panorama of
Ashgabat opens up.
National Museum of History and Ethnography. The museum has s rich collection of ancient artifacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here.
It has 9 halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The museum reveals the variety of Turkmenistan's landscape: its flora and fauna, fossils and rare geological
finds. The Hall of Independence, illustrating the modern development of the country, along with a range of costly presents given to Saparmurad Turkmenbashi, and
donated by him to the museum.
Carpet Museum. This museum has a large, impressive collection of antique carpets, carpet articles/ chuvals, khurjuns, torba etc./ and also two first biggest carpets,
made in Turkmenistan/ 18m by 11,5 m/total area 192 square m. and 20 m by 13 m/266 square m. The first biggest carpet weighs a little bit less than one tone and the
second biggest carpet weighs one tone. The art of carpet making goes back into antiquity. It has not been established yet what came first - painted ceramics or carpets.

During archeological excavations at Namazga-Depe/ 3d millenium BC/ painted ceramics was found. Some designs of this ceramics are very similar to the carpet
symbols.
The Bakharden Underground lake Kow Ata is an unusual natural site in the biggest cave of the Kopetdag mountains, located about 107 km south-west of Ashgabat.
The Turkmen name Kov-Ata means "father of caves". At a first glance, this underground area looks like a magnificent auditorium : the overall length of the cave is 230
m, its height goes up to 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. Daylight only enters the "ante chamber" of the cave.
Darvaza Oasis. The settlement is located in the Central part of the Kara-Kum desert/ 260 km from Ashgabat to the north west. On the way to Darvaza one can admire
the Kara-Kum desert, its moving sands, the saksayl trees and kandym. The population of Darvaza is 350 inhabitants. Most of them are Turkmens. Ho-wever there are 3
Russian families. The word Darvaza is of the Turkmen origin. It is translated "Gates". At the Darvaza settlement people still live in Yurt. Yurt/ AK Oy is a traditional
Turkmen dwelling.
The Karakum Desert occupies the area of about 35 million ha, or more than 80% of the whole territory of Turkmenistan. According to its geological and natural
conditions, the Karakum can be divided into three large parts: Northern or Zaunguz, Central or Lowland, and South-Eastern Karakum.
Meane Baba Mausoleum & Shrine. The Mausoleum of Abu Said Makneyi is situated in a small village in Kahka. It was built during the reign of Turkmen-Seljuks in the
11-th century. This mausoleum was constructed over the grave of famous followers of sufizm and the great philosophers in Eastern literature Abu Said Makneyi who
lived during the period of 968- 1049. The approximate time of the construction is estimated to be the middle of 11-th century. It has the double dome that is the main
characteristic features of time. In the 15-th century the building was partly renovated, but its constructive bases were not damaged. The inner part of the mausoleum is
decorated with inscriptions and the portal is laced with mosaics. The mosaics differ in motley colors like puce, white, green and others.

Photos from Ayan travel archive

MARY REGION

The Badkhyz nature reserve, and the Badkhyz region proper, include ecosystems of hilly plateaus at the piedmont of the Paropamiz, the northernmost range of the
Hindukush. The territory of the nature reserve supports 40 species of mammals, 250 species of birds, 34 species of reptiles. Among them are the Central Asian gazelle,
Turkmen mountain sheep, onager, striped hyena, caracal, leopard, short-toed eagle, golden eagle, and others.
The vegetation in Badkhyz includes 1,050 varieties of vascular plants (442 genera and 76 families) of which more than 75 species and subspecies are endemic. The
nature reserve incorporates 3 protected areas (all established in 1956): 1) Chemenibit (floodplain-river, the summer drinking place for onagers); 2) Kyzyldjar (piedmont,
the drinking place for mammals and birds); 3) Pulikhatum (piedmont, the drinking place for mammals and birds). The water level has varied over the centuries:
sometimes rising and sometimes falling. One of the results of this is that archaeologists have found the remains of a number of sunken settlements under the waters of
the lake.
Gonur Depe. The ancient country of ancient Margush or Margiana and medieval Merv are essentially one and the same country through different chronological eras.
Scientists assume that the first worldwide religion Zoroastrianism is connected with the country of Margush. Archeologist discovered four monumental fire temples
there. Perhaps suffering indignity as the prophet of a new religion, Zoroaster strolled along the dusty roads of Margush. Perhaps there he began his religious mission,
and there the ideas included in the holy Avesta were bom and first became well known.
Mary Museum. There are two major public museums in Turkmenistan, namely in Ashgabat and Mary. The Mary museum was initially opened in 1984 in a large brick

building constructed in 1908 and said originally to belong to a Russian brick factory owner. The upper floor boasts an extensive permanent display of Turkmen
ethnography with additional sections on the Baluch and early Russian involvement in this region. Future galleries will focus on flora and fauna, and the impact of wars
on local history.
Merv. Due to its size and historical value, the Ancient Merv is the one of the most important sites. It is situated in the lower reaches of the Murgab river. The historians
of the past rewarded the Ancient Merv with magnificent epithets like "The Stronghold of the World", "The Dome of Islam", and The Spirits of Kings". Its upsurge took
place in XI-XII centuries, at the time of the Great Seldjuks. The Seldjuk's Empire stretched from the Lower Amu-Darya to the Mediterranean Sea. The oldest levels of
civilization in Merv belong to Erk Kala fortress 6th c. BC, the time when this oasis was included into the Persian Akhamenid state. The town occupied an area of about
20 square hectares and it was surrounded by strong walls made of brick. The height of the fortress was 25 m.
Large and Small Kiz-Kala (VI-VIIc.c. AD) is located to the west from Gaur-Kala. Large Kiz-Kala presents 42X37,2 m rectangular in plan. In the basis of architectural plan
composition of this keshk there is a square inner yard (or possibly hall) surrounded by rooms situated in two levels. All its facades are shaped with semi-circle tower
gofferings. This style was widely spread in architecture of Pre-Arabian times. That is the way of forming facades of near by Small Kiz-Kala.
Serags oasis, situated between Nishapur and Merv was one of the important points on the way of the Great Silk Route. The significance of Serahs increased after the
Arabs' invasion. It was in those days that the direction of one of the main routes of the Great Silk Road has been changed; now it led from the central areas of Iran to
Nishapur and from there, across Serahs, to Merv and further to the east.
Tagtabazaar - Yekedeshik Cave Town. Yekedeshik - is a State historical and architectural reserve, located 225 kilometers from Bairam-Ali in the district of Tagta-Bazar.
Tahta-Bazar -is a district where once passed great caravan routes from Iran, Khorasan. Yekedeshik -is a unique and spectacular cave that doesn't have any analogues
anywhere else. There are more reasons to regard the cave erections of Tagtabazar as a Buddhist complex, a great number of which remained in the neighboring
Afganistan.

* Photos from Ayan travel archive

LEBAP REGION

The Daya-Khatyn Caravanserai was built in the second half of the Xth century.The architecture of this building, thanks to the style and construction details, represents an
extraordinary example of the architectural art belonging to the Norten School of Khorasan of the Golden Age. Among settlements from Amul to Khoresm there are the
ruins of the rabat with its caravan-serai Daya-khatyn which is situated 170 km to the north of Charjou. In X c settlement Dargan was the significant feudal town
destroyed by the army of Chengiz-khan.
Kerki Astanbaba. The Mausoleum of Astan-Baba is unique structure in its type, built in the area of the Medieval Zemm, north-west from Kerki. It has been rebuilt
many times in the course of the centures. Kerki is an administrative centre forming part of Lebap velayat. It's a town with a population of 20.000. The city differs from
others with its' XIX c architecture. Kerki is rich in archaeological monuments. The Astana-baba cult has formed several centuries ago and not at all on the empty place.
The name points out pre-Islam, pagan origin, then transforming in the image of a Moslem saint. Now, both a settlement and a unique 4-dome in shape architectural
ensemble bears this name.
Koytendag Nature Reserve (Dinosaur Plateau) is situated on the west slope of the Koytendag Mountains, representing spur of Gissars range of great mountain system
Pamiro-Alay. The territory of the Reserve is 27,139 ha. The main aim of the Reserve creation is the protection of the unique nature of the Koytendag mountain range,
and its bordering territories and the development of the sensible ecosystems and in particular the protection of Capra falconeri(a very rare species of wild goat included
into the Red Data Book of CITES). The reserve is located on the bounder of Uzbekistan and covering the extreme south - eastern portion of our country. The main
areas are the Koytendag - Tau mountain ridge, a grandiose canyon "Umbar Dere" with striking 28m waterfall, the world - wide famous plateau of Dinosaurs (with 438
footprints), a unique sulfur - hydrogen spring "Kainar Baba", canyon "Kyrk gyz", carst caves.

DASHOGUZ REGION

Kunya Urgench. Being a major cultural and shopping center during the Middle Ages it gave shelter to Ibn-Sino , Beruni and other well - known thinkers of that time. In
1221 the city regarded as "the heart of Islam" rebelled against Genghis Khan and was destroyed by Mongols. Kunya-Urgench was quickly restored its power after that
defeat but in 1388 the army of Tamerlane, who saw the city as a competitor to Samarkand, destroyed it again. After that Kunya-Urgench got in oblivion until 1831
when people came there to build Khan- Yab canal. This is the reason why many great monuments of Kunya-Urgench have survived in poor condition; but some of
them are practically intact and draw close attention of specialists and tourists.
No one knows when Kunya-Urgench was founded. Traces of an ancient settlement were discovered recently on the territory of present Kunya-Urgench. During the
excavation of a barrow, called Kyrkmolla, contours of a powerful antique fortress were found, based on earlier cultural ground with ceramics of 6th - 7th c AD.
In 712, Khorezm was overthrown by the Arabs, and Kunya-Urgench took its Arabic name Dgurdganiya (or Gurgandg). The city developed, thanks to its advance
position on the trade routes from the south to the north and from the west to the Volga River, and to the east in Mongolia and China.
Ancient Kunya-Urgench was considered one of the major cities of the East. The scientists who studied the topography of Gurgench/Urgench considered that the
territory was as large as 1000 hectares in the X-XIV c.c. AD. This site is presently protected by the Government. It occupies 640 hectares. Legend tells that the town
Kunya-Urgench was destroyed and re-built seven times.
In 1388 the town was destroyed by Temur Link, and lost a status of a city. In 1646, when the Amu-Darya river changed its course, life stopped here. After the
construction of the canal Khanyap by the Khans of Khiva, the town was re-born.
*Photos from Ayan travel archive

ATTRACTIONS

*Photos from Ayan travel archive

USEFUL INFORMATION
HOW TO GET TO TURKMENISTAN
Getting to the airport is easy and accessible from various parts of the city. For
those who would like to use the public transportation. Options would be to take
the Bus #1 from Chehova street or Bus #18 from Andalyb Street. Taking taxi to
the airport is more reliable and will cost approximately 30.000 manats during
the day-time and about 60.000 manats during the night time.
Taxi
Taxi service is relatively not expensive. To hail a taxi, raise your hand and one of
the cars will stop. There are two kinds of taxi services: government owned taxi
service (yellow cabs with taxi signs) and private taxis (not all cars have taxi
signs).
Air
Local flights are reasonable and have a good safety record on their frequently
scheduled flights between Ashgabat and Turkmenistans regional centers.
International carriers flying to Ashgabat, including Lufthansa and Turkish
Airlines, usually arrive in Ashgabat late at night. Lufthansa stops over in Baku
(Azerbaijan). Turkmenistan Airlines fly to Abu-Dhabi, Amritsar, Bangkok,
Birmingham, Deli, London, Beijing, Istanbul and Frankfurt. Further, there are also
flights to CIS countries, including Almaty, Kiev, Moscow and Minks.
Rail
There are daily departures to Turkmenabat, Mary and Turkmenbashy and
Dashoguz. There are no international trains between Turkmenistan and other
countries.

WHEN TO GO
The climate is mostly arid subtropical desert, with little rainfall. Winters are mild
and dry, with most precipitation falling between January and May. The area of
the country with the heaviest precipitation is the Kopet Dag Range.
Temperatures in Ashgabat are between 46C (114F) in summer and -5C
(23F) in winter, and temperatures in the desert in summer can reach 50C
(122F) during the day and -10 to -15C (14 to 15F) during the winter.
The best time to visit is in the summer or in February and March.
CURRENCY

National currency of Turkmenistan is Turkmen manat. It came into monetary

circulation on the 1st November, 1993. One manat is equal to 100 tenge. All
the old notes and coins had the image of Saparmurat Niyazov, the former
president of the republic on the front side. However, in 2009, there was held
denomination of the national currency, as a result of wich, today is issued
banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 manat.
The manat has a large disparity between its official and black market rates, with
the latter being roughly 21% greater than the official. This results in few
institutions outside Turkmen Governmental control supporting the official rate.
A few multinational companies have continued to adhere to the official rate such as British Airways - but generally only for purchases by Turkmen passport
holders in the country itself.

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