Tourist Attractions in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Arch of Neutrality
With a height of around 23 feet, the Arch of Neutrality tower is the building in the city of Ashgabat that stands as the highest. The design of the café-bar that can be found on the first level of the tower was clearly influenced by the ubiquitous Turkmen trivet. On the very highest level of the tower is a statue of Saparmurat Niyozav, who served as President of the country many years ago. The statue can turn so that it is constantly facing the sun. Marbles of a white hue cover the whole of the tower’s interior. This location is home to a number of other fountains as well.
Statue of Niyazov
The Statue of Niyazov, which is a notable landmark of the city and sits atop the Arch of Neutrality, is located at this location. In order to commemorate Turkmenistan’s achievement of independence from the Soviet Union, a statue of Niyazov, who served as Turkmenistan’s president for many years, was built. The whole structure, including the golden figure that sits in the middle, is crafted out of white marble that was brought in from a number of different nations.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts has a significant amount of artwork in its extensive collection. In spite of the fact that it was established in 1927 by A. A. Karelin, a well-known Russian sculptor, the Museum of Fine Arts did not get its present name until 1939. Paintings by well-known exponents of Turkmen fine art, such as Kylcheva and Bairamova, may be found at the museum. In addition to it, there are artworks from Western Europe on show here.
Earthquake Memorial and Museum
Both the Earthquake Memorial and the Earthquake Museum may be found in close proximity to the Arch of Neutrality. A statue of a bull and a kid is cast in bronze and displayed on the monument (the baby Niyazov). The museum, which can be found below the monument, is often ranked as one of the most magnificent museums in the nation. You may see images of the earthquakes that occurred before 1948 that were responsible for the deaths of thousands of people here.
Soviet War Memorial
The Soviet War Memorial was erected as a tribute to the brave soldiers of the Soviet Union who gave their lives for their country during World War II. The monument was constructed in the 1970s, and it includes a sculpted arch. In the monument, there are two sculptures that were carved from stone. Marble was used in the construction of a significant portion of the monument, notably the arch.
Carpet Museum
The Carpet Museum first opened its doors in 1994 and has an extensive collection of rugs and carpets. In addition to a remarkable collection of historic carpets, the museum has thousands of carpet-related items, such as chuvals, torba, and khurjuns, in addition to a large number of antique carpets. In addition, this location has two of the world’s largest carpets, one of which weighs a tonne and the other of which weighs just a bit less than a tonne combined.
Azadi Mosque
The design of the Azadi Mosque is very similar to that of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, which is located in Turkey. The enormous blue dome that tops the mosque may be seen from many different points inside the city. It is the biggest mosque in the city, and there are four minarets that surround it. Throughout the several areas of the mosque, you can see both intricate ceramic work and holy inscriptions on the walls.
Mosque of Khezrety Omar
The Mosque of Khezrety Omar is an example of a contemporary mosque in the city, and it is an attraction that visitors should make time to see. The mosque may be reached by taking Atamurat Niyazov Kocesi to the east of the city area. The wonderfully painted ceilings of the mosque are the primary draw for visitors to the place of worship.
Ashgabat Zoo
The northern part of the city is home to the Ashgabat Zoo, which is situated in close proximity to the Kara Kum Desert. The zoo is home to over 300 different types of animals and birds from all over the world. All of the birds and animals that are housed in the zoo are maintained in environments that are analogous to their natural habitats as closely as possible. Because of its proximity to the Kara Kum Desert, this place is home to hundreds of penguins, making it an interesting destination in its own right.
Independence Park
To mark the occasion of Turkmenistan’s independence from the Soviet Union, this magnificent park was presented to the public in 1993. The park is home to a magnificent memorial commemorating the nation’s independence that stands around 36 feet tall. In the Independence Park, one of the attractions is a sculpted image of Turkmenbashi that is accompanied by a one-of-a-kind eagle with five heads. Throughout addition, there are statues in the park commemorating important Turkmen figures.
Monument to the Independence of Turkmenistan
During the festivities commemorating Turkmenistan’s ten-year anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union, the Monument to the Independence of Turkmenistan was constructed. The primary focus of this location is an exquisite statue that is crafted out of bronze. The legendary Ahal Teke horse breed is shown here in the form of ten individual horses in the monument. The structure is also referred to as “forty legs” among the surrounding community, and it is encircled by a garden.
National Museum
Year 1998 marked the beginning of operations at the National Museum. More than 500,000 different pieces are housed in the museum’s extensive collection that may be seen by visitors. The museum is composed of nine distinct parts, each of which is dedicated to a certain theme or topic. The museum has an extensive collection of geological discoveries, some of which are very rare fossils. In addition to that, there are artefacts here that date back to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, including pottery and other tools.
Turkmenbashi World of Fairytales
The Turkmenbashi World of Fairytales has an area that is around 80 acres in size. It is also known as the “Disneyland” of Turkmenistan. The amusement park has a total of 54 attractions, with 45 distinct slides included. This amusement park is mostly themed on Turkmen mythology, and it has several scaled-down replicas of Turkmenistan’s most famous landmarks. The enormous “Map of Turkmenistan,” which features depictions of all of the many tourist destinations around the country, is one of the primary draws of this area.
Turkmenbashi Cableway
From the lower foothills all the way up to the peak of the Kopetdag Mountains, travellers may ride the Turkmenbashi Cableway. As part of the cableway, in addition to the stations at which passengers enter and exit, there is also an observation platform from which they may take in panoramic views of the city. The funicular railway in this area has the capacity to carry around 300 passengers each hour. Near the cableway, you’ll find a number of exclusive “green zones” that also have contemporary commercial centres.
Mollanepese Drama Theatre
To see Turkmen comedies or dramas, this establishment is unrivalled anywhere else in the city. Typically, Turkmen folktales serve as the inspiration for these dramatic productions. Evening performances are typically staged from Wednesday through Saturday each week.
Nissa
This area is in Bagir, which is close to Ashgabat. In ancient times, Nissa was a region within the Parthian kingdom. This state existed for around 600 years, up to the third century AD. The remnants of an old stronghold may be seen here in an area that encompasses 34 acres. There is also a gigantic tower, porticos, and enormous clay pots that are referred to as khums. All of these may be found here.
Geok-Depe (Green Hill)
The town of Geok-Depe may be found around 45 kilometres to the northwest of the city. The Russian army under the command of General Mikhail Skobelev assaulted, besieged, and finally took control of this once Turkmen stronghold in the year 1880. This event, which is today known as the “siege of Geok-Tepe,” took place over the course of twenty-three days. Near the ancient remains on the Green Hill, a contemporary mosque has been constructed in recent years.
