The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, like most of its "fellow" in Central Asian capitals, has its history from a modest settlement of the Tekintsy tribe .This Turkic-speaking people once chose a small piece of land in the foothills of the Kopetdag mountain range at the intersection of caravan roads and gave a new place the poetic name of Esh-abad, which literally means "populated by lovers" .At the end of the 19th century, troops of the Russian Empire arrived in Eshghabad and established a military garrison, then laid a railway, and by the beginning of the 20th century an inconspicuous settlement turned into a quite modern 30,000 city .Today, Ashgabat is an amazingly beautiful white city, in which perfectly complement each other's eastern authentic flavor and European spirit: here you can still spend whole day in the narrow junctions of noisy bazaars, and then relax in the lounge bar overlooking the Presidential Palace .

How to get to Ashgabat

From Moscow to Ashgabat it is possible to arrive by flights of the "Airlines of Turkmenistan", departing from the capital of our country on all days of the week, except Sunday. Another air carrier, S7, flies to the capital of Turkmenistan from Moscow's Domodedovo twice a week - on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

From the airport of Turkmenistan named after the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi to the city center it is convenient to get there by taxi or "private trader" - the trip will cost about 10 USD, the exact price should be specified when landing.

Transport in the city

As for Ashgabat, it is most convenient to travel by taxi, because they are extremely cheap and almost every car, both with "checkers" and without them, is ready to take you to any distance you want. For a short trip within the city, ask 0, 15-0, 30 USD, from end to end you can drive for half a dollar. The tariff must be negotiated before landing in the car.

In the city you can also ride trolleybuses and buses - rather for the sake of exotics, than for the good of the cause. Travel to them is even cheaper than in a taxi, but the speed is much slower.

Cuisine and restaurants in Ashgabat

Ashkhabad fast-paced - manti (dumplings with mutton forcemeat steamed) and a variety of "dense" pies with meat, onions and potatoes. In restaurants of national cuisine, you can eat plov - they have more than 30 varieties here, as well as try a variety of exotic meat: camel, mountain goat and other wild artiodactyls. Exceptions are pork (according to the norms of religion) and horse meat, banned in food by law.

Another gastronomic "chip" of Turkmenistan is the white fish of the Caspian Sea. Especially delicious sturgeon and stellate sturgeon are cooked in "Asuda Nusai", which is on Alisher Navoi Street. In addition, in Ashgabad, the mass of establishments of friendly cuisines - mainly Central Asian, Iranian and Middle Eastern. It is worth looking into the Lebanese Dip Club at Shavermu, the Turkish Erzurum on the national pizza "pide" and the Asian "Minar."

In drinking establishments, we definitely recommend trying hard-brewed green tea with sweets, dried fruits and nuts.

Shopping and shopping

For inexpensive souvenirs and expensive works of applied art, go to the bazaar with the simple and clear name "flea marketer" boiling with life on Saturdays and Sundays near the airport (worth taking a taxi) .Here you can buy everything you want - from sheep's skins and skullcaps to a colorful robe and intricate carpet .The toddler turns off activities around two in the afternoon, so it's recommended to go there in the morning, at eight o'clock .In the Russian market, Gulistan, you can buy fruits and vegetables, clothes, interior items and other ordinary market stuff .

The main "carpet" place of Ashgabat is a shop at the Museum of Carpets. The cost of products - from 10 USD for a modest felt lining up to 500 USD for an impeccably woven beautiful carpet. Printing products - books, albums, postcards, etc., can be found in the bookstore of the Ministry of Culture and "Miras" (in the heart of the city, side by side with the University).

Works of painting should be found in the art gallery "Mohammed."

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Ashgabat

Given the short "adult" history of Ashgabat, there are no ancient monuments on its territory. In the vicinity (15 km to the west) it is worth to visit the ruins of the ancient settlement Nis, dating from the 1st millennium BC, since 2007 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city was once the capital of the powerful Parthian kingdom and was founded by the tsar Mithridates I. Here you can see the remains of two fortresses - Old and New Nisa, the royal residence and the "cabinet", respectively, as well as temples, palace halls, the royal treasury and graves of the Arsakid dynasty.

Also at 15 km from Ashgabat, but in the other direction, there is the native village of Turkmenbashi Kipchak. Here you can see how a tidy sum of $ 100 million is embodied in a white marble mosque, you yourself understand who the name is. Its total area is 18 thousand (!) Sq. M. km, and the prayer hall can accommodate 10,000 believers at the same time. Here, in the sarcophagus, the culprit of the celebration rests.

It is interesting to visit the museums of Ashgabat - a wonderful Carpet Museum, which tells about the history of carpet weaving, traditions and ways of weaving carpets, and exhibited many artifacts - from the oldest specimen (17th century) to the modern giant of 301 sq. .m, named "Golden Age of the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi" .In the National Museum you can learn more about the history of the country and see the objects found in the excavations of Merv, Nisa, Koneurgench, and in the Museum of Fine Arts, evaluate the works of Russian, European and Central Asian artists on Turkmen themes .In the National Treasury are exhibited silver jewelry for women and horses (!) And copies of gold sculptures Altyn-tepe .

Among the architectural buildings of our time are the palaces of Turkmenbashi and Rukhyt, the Independence Monument and the Arch of Neutrality, business centers, parks and fountains. To breathe fresh air surrounded by sculptures of the great figures of the Turkmen people - from the mythical Oguz-Khan to the Seljuk sultans, spiritual leaders and poets - it is possible in the Independence Park. Photo by Ashgabat (15)