Discover Turkmenistan - the "mysterious" country of Central Asia.

Turkmenistan has a turbulent history. Many armies passed through it on their way to prosperity. Historically, in the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great conquered this territory when he and his formidable army marched into South Asia. This was also the time when the "Silk Road" was formed – the main trade route between Asia and the Mediterranean region of Europe. The historical relics remaining in Merv, Urgench, and Nisa bear witness to Turkmenistan's past prosperity.

The magnificent capital city of Ashgabat

Located on the edge of the Karakum Desert, Ashgabat is a modern city, radiating a strange, glamorous aura. The city boasts white marble buildings with gilded roofs and distinctive, unusual architecture, standing majestically along wide avenues. Surrounding these buildings are meticulously maintained gardens, fountains, and monuments illuminated at night.

The streets of Ashgabat, the capital city, are quite spacious and clean. Although the capital is built on the edge of the border in the arid Karakum Desert, with its harsh weather – cold in winter and very hot in summer – visitors will be surprised by the city's greenery. Rows of shady trees line the streets, accentuating a city built entirely of white marble. A tranquil atmosphere prevails alongside the modern facade of the numerous newly constructed buildings.

In 2013, Ashgabat entered the Guinness Book of Records for having the most marble buildings in the world. It is known that over 500 buildings in the city were constructed using 4.5 million cubic meters of marble imported from Italy. At night, the white buildings of Ashgabat glow brilliantly with colorful lights, making the entire avenue even more enchanting.

Silk Road Heritage

Turkmenistan boasts three World Heritage sites all situated along the ancient Silk Road: the Kunya archaeological complex in Urgench, the Parthian Nisa fortress located 18 km southwest of the capital Ashgabat, and the Merv archaeological site near the city of Mary, dating back thousands of years. Of these, Merv is considered a crucial oasis city on the Silk Road, connecting to Bukhara, the economic, political, and religious center of Uzbekistan at the time.

Merv, located about 40 km from Mary (the second largest city in Turkmenistan), is a UNESCO World Heritage site in need of preservation. The Erk-Kala area, the center of the ancient city of Merv, built around the 6th or 7th centuries, served as a gateway to ancient Persia for Emperor Khemanit. Covering an area of ​​approximately 20 hectares, it is surrounded by rough brick walls, the remnants of which still remain today.

Many ancient city ruins

Gyaur-Kala, known as the "Fortress of the Gentiles," was built by Emperor Antiochos Soter (280-261 BC) around the 4th century BC, with walls approximately 230 km long. It also houses ancient scriptures such as the Avesta-Gathas, written by the mysterious Persian religious leader Zarathustra, and some relics belonging to Zoroastrians (Zoroastranism, one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world).

The two buildings, Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala, also known as the "Castles of the Maidens," built between the 6th and 12th centuries, have quite unique earthen walls that have survived through the vicissitudes of history.

In addition, the Sultan Sandzhar Museum, dating back to the mid-12th century, was originally the tomb of the Seljuk Emperor, with its magnificent dome architecture, standing out in the oasis and visible to caravans traveling across the Karakum Desert.

Mary, or Margiana, was an ancient Islamic city. Its name derives from the Murghab River, a symbol of the origins of the agricultural nation that developed in the region approximately 4,000 years ago. Mary was once hailed as the "Pearl of the Orient," second only to Baghdad between the 8th and 13th centuries. However, the city was later devastated by the Mongol armies.

Today, Mary is a financial center for the cotton and gas industries, as well as an important transportation hub for Turkmenistan. A highlight of Mary is the Gurbanguly Hajji Mosque (also known as Mary Mosque), constructed between 2001 and 2009, with its striking white color, sky-blue dome, and four minarets rising proudly against the blue sky.

Traditional market

Like many places in Asia, markets are an important part of Turkmen culture. Gulistan Market is one of the largest and oldest markets in the country. Located in the heart of the city, Gulistan Market is an ideal place for visitors to chat with locals and sample the unique dishes of Turkmen cuisine.

Another market located on the outskirts of Asghabat, called Tolkuchka Bazaar, is a great destination for tourists to learn about the culture, products, and cuisine of this Central Asian region. At Tolkuchka Bazaar, visitors can buy items such as clothing, fur hats, carpets, scarves, or local souvenirs at reasonable prices. You can negotiate with the vendors to get the best possible price.

According to advice from tourists who have visited Tolkuchka Market, the best time to shop is from 9 am to 1 pm. The market closes quite early, at 2 pm every day.

With an area of ​​448,100 km², Turkmenistan is the 52nd largest country in the world. More than 80% of its territory is the Karakum Desert, with an arid climate and little rainfall. In summer, temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius.

Phuong Ngoc