Ashgabat

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Ashgabat (Turkmen phrasebook|Turkmen: Aşgabat, also Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, etc.) is the capital of Turkmenistan, neighbored by Ahal Province.

Aškabat Nijazov (6) - Street scene from Ashgabat Ylham Alley Ashgabat 12 - Ylham Alley Ashgabat Plein van de Vrijheid (3405962325) - Beautiful view of Ashgabat city

Aškabat po mestu (7) - Street view ofAshgabat , Turkmenistan

About Ashgabat

Ashgabat's historical appellation is The City of Love but nowadays its modern nickname, The City of White Marble will seem vastly more appropriate. Turkmenbashi the prior president of Turkmenistan, transformed the city from a relatively drab Soviet capital to a city of pure white marble buildings, many containing some rather overbearing symbolism (the Ministry of World Affairs building is a perfect illustration). Short of Pyongyang, Ashgabat is probably the best example of what happens when a city gets redesigned according to the vision of exactly one man and most visitors will find themselves at first awestruck and then severely confused given the sheer similarity of most of the buildings.

{{Climate | units Metric | janhigh 7 | febhigh 10 | marhigh 15 | aprhigh 24 | mayhigh 30 | junhigh 36 | julhigh 38 | aughigh 37 | sephigh 32 | octhigh 23 | novhigh 17 | dechigh 10 | janlow -1 | feblow 0 | marlow 5 | aprlow 11 | maylow 16 | junlow 21 | jullow 23 | auglow 21 | seplow 10 | octlow 7 | novlow 5 | declow 3 | janprecip = | febprecip = | marprecip = | aprprecip = | mayprecip = | junprecip = | julprecip = | augprecip = | sepprecip = | octprecip = | novprecip = | decprecip = | jansun 4 | febsun 4 | marsun 5 | aprsun 7 | maysun 9 | junsun 11 | julsun 11 | augsun 11 | sepsun 10 | octsun 7 | novsun 5 | decsun 3 | janh2o = | febh2o = | marh2o = | aprh2o = | mayh2o = | junh2o = | julh2o = | augh2o = | seph2o = | octh2o = | novh2o = | dech2o = | description Ashgabat has a typical continental climate. Summers are extremely hot and winters are rather cold.

Travel to Ashgabat

Fly to Ashgabat

By rail

Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan Zeleznice) runs trains to Ashgabat from Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabad via Mary.

Trains leave Turkmenbashi every second day at 19:30 and arrive in Ashgabat at 05:20 next morning or daily at 16:05, arriving in Ashgabat at 05:50 next morning.

Trains leave Turkmenabad at 18:00 and Mary at 00:25 daily and arrive in Ashgabat at 08:20 next morning, Another train leaves Turkmenabad at 21:55 and Mary at 02:50 every second day, arriving in Ashgabat at 09:35 next morning. There is a day train leaving Turkmenabad at 04:20 and Mary at 10:23, arriving in Ashgabat at 18:35.

By car

Distances to Ashgabat: Almaty in Kazakhstan 2120 km, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan 1870 km, Tashkent in Uzbekistan 1290 km, Samarkand in Uzbekistan 1000 km, Shakrisyabz in Uzbekistan 1100 km, Turkmenabad 590 km, Mary 350 km, Mashhad in Iran 270 km, Dashoguz 650 km.

Transportation in Ashgabat

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"Taxi", by which everyone means hitchhiking is probably the best way to get around Ashgabat. Simply hold out your arm at a downward angle with two fingers extended and a vehicle (usually a Lada) will stop. Say where you are going. If they nod, get in, otherwise they will go on and you have to wait for the next car. Expect payment to be about US$2 per person. Hitchhiking is an entirely safe mode of transport in Turkmenistan—everyone uses it.

There are also official taxis which can be easily found in front of the arrivals hall of the airport and close to the train station. They are safer but more expensive.

Ashgabat has a very extensive and convenient bus system. The main public transport hub is Teke Bazaar. From that place any location within the city or in its environs can be easily reached. In the modern part of the city there are air-conditioned bus stops with detailed maps of routes of every bus line departing from a stop. The cost of a single ride is 0.50 manat. The price should be paid by every passenger to the basket located close to driver's seat while getting off the bus. Alternatively a multi-ride should be presented to the driver.

What to See

Museums

  • National Museum | Archabil sayoli 30 37.885231,58.348994 in front of the Kopet Dag ☎ +993 12 454954 Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 US$10, camerra US$1 Hall 1 is dedicated to post-independence Turkmenistan, Hall 2 (upstairs) has a focus on ancient history with exhibits from Bronze Age sites and artefacts from Margiana. Halls 3 shows artefacts found at the Parthian site of Nisa. In Hall 4 a model of the medieval Merv, dioramas from Konye Urgench and Anau and the beautiful Merv vase are exhibited. Hall 5 and 6 display collections of weapons, musical instruments, silver jewellery and female dress. In Hall 7 (downstairs) a 20 m x 13 m carpet is exhibited.
  • Museum of Fine Arts 37.9353,58.3747 west of the Palace of Justice ☎ +993 12 351566 Opening Hours: W-M 09:00-18:00 US$10 Turkmen Museum of Fine Arts The Central Hall has a large picture of President Niyazov Abundance of the Harvest. In the Independence Hall the heroic figures of the nation (Oguz Han, Togrul Beg, Alp Arslan and the poet Seydi) are shown. The museum also contains a reconstruction of the dragen freeze of the mosque of Arnau and exhibitions of Turkmen paintings before and after 1950. The first floor is devoted to Russian paintings from the 19th century and to European paintings, including minor works by Tiepolo and Poussin.
  • Turkmen Carpet Museum 5 Georogly köcesi 37.9406,58.3779 ☎ +993 12 398879 Opening 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00 12,000 manat Turkmen Carpet Museum - The museum houses antique carpets of the 18th and 19th centuries and modern carpets from all parts of the nation. There is a nearly 200 m² carpet which was intended as curtain of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, but proved too heavy. The pride of the museum is the largest hand-woven carpet in the world, as certified by the Guinness Book of Records. It covers 300 m² and was woven by 40 carpet makers on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence.
  • Museum of Turkmen National Values | 37.881232,58.382318 inside the Independence Monument ☎ +993 12 451954 Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30 US$10, 25,000 manat for photographs In the first floor and the Museum houses displays of silver jewellery for women and horses and replicas of the golden bull- and wolf-head sculptures from Altyn Depe.

Monuments

  • Turkmenistan Independence Monument 37.881217,58.381444 take bus 16 or 34 from the town center Independence Monument, Ashgabat The most important monument of Ashgabat in located in the southern part of Turkmenistan Independence Park, which covers an area 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometers wide. The area around the Independence Monument contains monuments of famous people of Turkmen history: the founder of the Seljuk dynasty Seljuk Beg and the founder of the Turkmen people Oguz Han and the Turkmen poet Magtymguly and the Seljuk leader Sultan Sanjar and the Turkmen warrior Georogly and the Seljuk rulers Alp Arslan and Malik Shah and the 18th-century leader of the Ahal Tekkes Keymir Kor and the poets Zelilli and Sydi and the leader of the White Sheep confederation Uzyn Hasan and the father of the founder of the Islamic Ottoman Empire Ertogul Gazy and the Turkmen commander and poet Bairam Han and the poets Molianepes and Mataji and the Turkmen leader Gara Yusup and the Seljuk ruler Togrul Beg and the spiritual leader Gorkut Ata and the poet Kemine.
  • Ashgabat Flagpole 37.886999,58.350478 in front of the National Museum Ashgabat Flagpole - Ashgabat-Flagpole-2015 The former tallest freestanding flagpole in the world.

Other sites

  • Tolkuchka Bazaar | 38.000052,58.395077 8 kilometers north of Ashgabad, past the airport - Opening Hours: Saturday Sunday 08:00-14:00 One of Central Asia's most colourful bazaars,
  • Turkmenbashi Cableway | Kopet Dag 37.833988,58.310074 south of the National Museum - Opening Hours: 09:00-22:00 1000 manat Cable car, opened in 2006, climbing up to 1290 meters, offering stunning views over the city with the desert in the background
  • Jeitun archaeological site 38.103267,58.207401 about 30 kilometers north of Ashgabat on a sand dune in the Kara Kum Desert - Jeitun - Jeitun is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Turkmenistan. The settlement dates back to the 7th century BC and is considered as the first proof of agriculture in Central Asia. The excavations at Jeitun show that the Neolithic revolution in Central Asia took place almost simultaneously with similar developments in Western Asia. Jeitun was excavated from 1957 onwards by the Russian archaeologist V.M.vMasson. Jeitun covers an area of about 5,000 m². It consists of free-standing houses of an uniform ground plan. The houses were rectangular and had a large fireplace on one side, a niche facing it and adjacent yard areas. The floors were covered with lime plaster. The buildings were made of cylindrical clay blocks about 70 cm long and 20 cm thick. The clay was mixed with finely chopped straw. The settlement consisted of 30 to 35 single room houses. Each house is considered as home for 5 to 6 people. 160-200 people could live here at the same time. They formed a tribal settlement and their economy seems to have been communal, not individual. The people of the Jeitun culture were growing barley and two sorts of wheat, which were harvested with wooden or bone knives or sickles with stone blades. At Jeitun blades were found in every house. It can be assumed that almost the entire population participated in farming. The settlement of Jeitun was built of houses of one room only with an area of 15-30 m². Each house had only one fireplace, it was designed for a single family and not for collective meals. The same layout designed for a nuclear family has been found in other settlements of Western Asia as well. The fact that the Neolithic settlements consisted of about 30 houses one room reveals the tendency of the nuclear families to form larger units because of the economic necessity that arose from partial use of irrigation. The society of Jeitun was thus formed of nuclear families living in kinship settlements that formed small tribes.

Muslim Travel Tips

Theatres

  • Mollanepes Drama Theatre | Magtymguly sayoli 79 - ☎ +993 12 357463 Opening Hours: W-Sa 19:00 US$0.25
  • Magtymguly Theatre | Shevchenko köcesi - ☎ +993 12 350564 Opening Hours: Friday to Sunday 19:00 Turkmen musical performances
  • Pushkin Russian Theatre | Magtymguly sayoli 142 - ☎ +993 12 3654193 Opening Hours: Saturday Sunday 19:00 US$0.25

What to buy in Ashgabat

The Yimpas Shopping Center GPS 37.914724,58.380915, Turkmenbashi sayoli 75, 09:00 to 23:00, is the largest modern Shopping Centre (it is pronounced "Yimpash" and should be known by anyone who stops to give you a lift) and has a western-like supermarket where you can buy all necessary stuff like food, drink, soap, toothbrush and cosmetics. Probably the only one in the whole city. The shopping center has a nice food court in the second floor where you can get all kinds of Halal Kebab for reasonable prices. You can also rent swimmingpool tables, play table tennis or go bowling there, or use the internet café.

  • Tolkuchka Bazaar: 8 km north of Ashgabad, past the airport, Saturday Sunday 08:00 to 14:00, also Thursday morning at a smaller scale. Buy a telpek (sheepskin) for US$10-15, a khalat (red and yellow striped robe for men) for US$15 or a typical red carpet for US$150-250. Be aware that you also need an export certificate, which you can get at the 'expert commission' behind the Carpet Museum, Görogly köcesi 5.
  • Carpet Shop, Görogly köcesi 5, east of the Carpet Museum, run by the government.
  • Gulistan market - Russian bazaar | ul. M. Kosaev - opposite Grand Turkmen Hotel - Opening Hours: 09:00 20:00 Central universal market: fruit, vegetables, handcrafts, clothing.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Ashgabat

  • Asuda Nusay | Alishera Navoi Köcesi 54a - ☎ +993 12 352288 Speciality: sturgeon from the Caspian Sea.
  • Altyn Jam | Magtymgily sayoli 101 - ☎ +993 12 396850 European dishes and sweets.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Ashgabat

Ashgabat - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Ashgabat, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Ashgabat. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Ashgabat and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Ashgabat. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Ashgabat. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Ashgabat: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Ashgabat.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Ashgabat: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Ashgabat, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Ashgabat.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Ashgabat, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Ashgabat, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Ashgabat and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Ashgabat, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Ashgabat, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Ashgabat without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Ashgabat is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Ashgabat.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Ashgabat is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Ashgabat, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Ashgabat Media: info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Ashgabat

Ramadan 2025 in Ashgabat

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

  • Hotel Nissa Atabaeva Street, 18B 37.929396,58.386336 ☎ +993 12 22-10-25 +993 12 22-10-23 Apparently owned by family of Saparmurat Niyazov, thit is a four-star hotel with air conditioning, swimming pool, swimmingpool bar, private secluded sauna, Turkish sauna, gym, jacuzzi. Thit is about the "best" quality hotel you'll find in Ashgabat (think somewhat run-down and a bit overpriced for its features), about a 10-minutes walk from the war memorial and book shop. The restaurant has nice Italian food. Expect to come across lots of foreign workers and women of dubious persuasion at the hotel café. Some English is, however, spoken.
  • Hotel President, Новоарчабильское шоссе 54, ☎ +993 (12) 400000, Fax 993 (12) 40 00 41 and 993 (12) 40 02 22, E-Mail:
  • Hotel Grand Turkmen (Гостиница "Грант Туркмен Отель"), ul. Georogly 7 (ул. Героглы, 7), 744000 Ашхабад, ☎ +993 12 51-05-55; Fax +993 12 511251, E-mail:
  • Hotel Ak Altyn, Magtumguly ave 141/1, ☎ +993 12 36 37 00 and +993 12 363701, Fax +993 12 363543 and +993 12 36 34 94, E-Mail: US$75 per day, Visa accepted (MasterCard is not). Contains offices of the British Embassy and American Information Centre, so it's a good place to stay if you find yourself needing assistance. Supposed to have Wi-Fi but is so slow it's effectively useless, internet available in telecom building less than a block away though.
  • Hotel Azatlyk ☎ +993 12 48 87 00 +993 12 48 81 55
  • Hotel Ahal ☎ +993 12 48 87 37 +993 12 48 01 92
  • Hotel Nebitchi ☎ +993 12 489360 +993 12 489312
  • Dovranov Homestay | Garaja Burunov (old: Krupskaya), or 1997 st. No: 36 - Close to '1st Children Hopital' ☎ +993 12 92-71-78 Homestay where you'll stay with the big family. US$10 for Bed & Breakfast + dinner. Daughter Jennet speaks English.

Cope in Ashgabat

Internet Cafe's in Ashgabat

Internet cafes are available at some locations around town. Price is 6 TMT per hour.

  • Yimpas Shopping Center
  • Great Turkman Hotel
  • Russian Market
  • Sofitel, aka Oguz Kent, Features free WiFi in lobby and café. (Ssd: Wireless; username: white; password: city)

Airlines

  • Aeroflot | Turkmenistan Söwda merkazi, Magtymguly sayoli 73 - ☎ +993 12 398792
  • Armavia | Turkmenbasi sayoli 15 - ☎ +993 12 390548
  • British Airways | - Grand Turkmen Hotel, Görogly köcesi 71 - ☎ +993 12 510799
  • Iranian Airlines | Magtymguly sayoli 71 - ☎ +993 12 510641
  • Lufthansa | - Main concourse, Saparmurat Turkmenbash Airport ☎ +993 12 510684, +993 12 510331
  • Pakistan InternationalAirlines | Magtymguly sayoli 71 - ☎ +993 12 511838
  • Turkish Airlines | Magtymguly sayoli 73 - ☎ +993 12 5161666, +993 12 512219
  • Turkmenistan Airlines - Magtymguly sayoli 82 - ☎ +993 12 352643, +993 12 394271
  • Uzbekistan Havo Yullari/Uzbekistan Airways - Main Concourse, Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Airport - ☎ +993 12 378203
  • Belavia - st. 2028 (Govshudova) 50/2, 4 th Floor - ☎ +993 12 92 64 09

Emergencies

Dial 01 for the fire brigade, 02 for police, 03 for ambulance. Be aware that the operators will speak Turkmen and Russian only.

Embassies and consulates

  • Afghanistan | Garashsyzlyk köcesi, Berzengi - ☎ +993 12 480757 +993 12 480726 Opening 09:00-17:00
  • Armenia | Ingenernaya köcesi 37 - ☎ +993 12 354418, +993 12 395542 +993 12 395538 Opening 10:00-12:00
  • Azerbaijan - azsefir@ 2062 köcesi 44 - ☎ +993 12 364608 +993 12 3646510 Opening 09:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
  • Belarus | Maxim Gorki köcesi 81 - ☎ +993 12 331183 +993 12 331185 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 15:00-18:00
  • China | Kuvvat Hotel, Berzengi - ☎ +993 12 488105 +993 12 481813 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 15:00-18:00
  • France | Ak ALtyn Hotel, third floor - ☎ +993 12 363550, +993 12 363468 +993 12 363546 Opening 09:00-13:00, 15:00-17:00

{{flag|Georgia

  • Georgia - Azadi köcesi 139a 37.946775,58.356332 ☎ +993 12 933929 +993 12 933914 Opening 09:00-18:00
  • Germany | or Al Alty Hotel, first floor, Magtumguly Avenue - ☎ +993 12 363515, +993 12 363517 +993 12 363522 Opening 09:00-12:00
  • India - Emeryal Business Center, 1 Yunus Emre köcesi, mir 2/1 - ☎ +993 12 456153 +993 12 456156
  • Iran | Tehran köcesi 3 - ☎ +993 12 350236 +993 12 350565 Opening 08:30-12:00
  • Japan | Paytagi Offic Building, Parahat District - ☎ +993 12 477081 +993 12 477083
  • Kazakhstan | Garaszylik sayoli 11-13, International Ustay Compound, Berzengi - ☎ +993 12 480468 +993 12 480468 Opening Hours: Tuesday Thursday Friday 09:00-12:00, 17:00-18:00
  • Kyrgyzstan | Görogly köcesi 14 - ☎ +993 12 392064 Opening 10:00-12:00, 16:00-18:00
  • Netherlands | Tehran köcesi 17 - ☎ +993 12 346700 +993 12 344252 Opening 09:00-18:00
  • Pakistan | Garashszlyk köcesi 4/1 - ☎ +993 12 482128, +993 12 482129 +993 12 482130 Opening 09:00-12:00
  • Poland | Azadi köcesi 14 - ☎ +993 12 274035 +993 12 274035
  • Romania | K.Burunov köcesi 43A - ☎ +993 12 347655 +993 12 347620
  • Russia | Emb_@ Turkmenbashi sayoli 11 - ☎ +993 12 335957, +993 12 391505 +993 12 398466
  • Saudi Arabia | Emperyal Business Center, Yunus Emre köcesi 1 - ☎ +993 12 454963 +993 12 454970
  • Tajikistan - Gorgoly köcesi 14 - ☎ +993 12 480163 +993 12 481877 Opening 09:00-13:00, 15:00-17:00
  • Türkiye | Shevchenko köcesi 9 - ☎ +993 12 354118 +993 12 391914
  • Ukraine | Azadi köcesi 49 - ☎ +993 12 391874 +993 12 391028
  • United Kingdom Ak Altyn Hotel third floor - ☎ +993 12 363462, +993 12 363463, +993 12 363464 Opening 09:00-17:00
  • United States ☎ +993 12 94 00 45 +993 12 94 26 14
  • Uzbekistan | Turkmenbashy sayoli 124 - ☎ +993 12 342419 +993 12 342337 Opening Hours: Monday Wednesday to Friday 10:00-13:00

Medical services

  • Central Hospital, Emre köcesi 1, phone +993 12 450303 or 450331. Foreign Muslims have to pay for their medical treatment.
  • International Medical Center, Berzegi, phone +993 12 519006 or 519008.
  • Lechebnii Hospital, Shevchenko sayoli, phone +993 12 390877.
  • Dr. Arslan Nepesow, Turkembashi köcesi 124, phone +993 12 425250

Registration

  • OVIR (State Service for the Registration of Foreign Citizens), 2011 köcesi 57, phone +993 12 391337, 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. All persons entering Turkmenistan on a tourist or business visa have to register within three working days. You need three passport photos and your entry card. In most cases the tour operator that invited you will organise this for you. Persons holding transit visa are not required to register.

Where to travel next from Ashgabat

Nearby

  • Nissa, 15 km west of Ashgabat, settlement dating back to the 2nd cent BC
  • Geok Depe, 50 km west of Ashgabat, site of the final battle between troops of Turkmen and tsarist troops in 1881/84, Saparmurat Hags Mosque, erected by President Turkmenbashi
  • Bakharden, 100 km West of Ashgabat, near the Kopet Dag mountains, cave with the Köw Ata Lake with hot thermal water, however, smelling of sulphur, a favorite place for excursion for people of Ashgabat at weekends.
  • Nokhur, 150 kilometers from Ashgabar in South Western Turkmenistan in the valleys of the Kopet Dag mountains. The people of Nokhur claim to be direct descendants of Macedonian warriors of Alexander the Great's times,
  • Anau, 15 km south east of Ashgabat
  • Altyn Depe is a settlement of the Eneolithic and Bronze Ages. It has been extensively excavated during the Soviet period. The settlement has specialised potter's quarters, evidence of a differentiation of the living quarters according to the wealth of their inhabitants and a monumental cult complex. During excavations a small golden head of a wolf and a bull were found. According to the Russian archaeologist V.M. Masson and the cult complex was dedicated to the Moon Good as in Mesopotamia. The site was abandoned in the middle of the second millennium BC.

Farther afield

Fly to Ashgabat

Turkmenistan Airlines offers domestic flights to Dashogus (6 flights per day), Mary (3 flights per day), Turkmenabat (5 flights per day) and Turkmenbashi (3 flights per day), as of 2009.

By rail

Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan Zeleznice) (phone 255545, fax 473858) runs trains from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabat via Mary.

Train 24 to Turkmenbashi leaves Ashgabat every second day at 20:40 and arrives at Turkmenbashi at 06:55 next morning. Train 606 leaves Ashgabat daily at 20:10, arriving in Turkmenbashi at 09:15 next morning.

Trains to Turkmenabat and Mary leave Ashabat at 07:40 daily, arriving at Mary at 17:00 and at Turkmenabat at 23:00. Train 195 leaves Ashabat daily at 17:20 and arrives at Turkmenabat at 07:35 next morning. Train 21 leaves Ashabat every second day at 22:10 and arrives at Mary at 05:25 and at Turkmenabat at 09:40 next morning.

By 4WD

Ashgabat is probably the best place to hire someone to take you to Darvaza. The trip requires going off-road and is probably best not left to you average Lada.


{{isPartOf|Ahal Province

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