Ashgabat

Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. It is located in Central Asia, between the Karakum Desert and the Köpetdag mountain range, about 50 km (30 mi) from the Iran-Turkmenistan border. As of the 2022 census, the city has a population of 1,030,063 people.

The city was founded in 1881 and became the capital of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924, when it was called Poltoratsk. Much of the city was destroyed by the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, but it was later rebuilt under a major project led by Saparmyrat Nyýazow, known as the "White City," which included many grand buildings covered in white marble. The city still has the Karakum Canal, a large waterway that brings water from the Amu Darya across the area.

Today, Ashgabat remains an important city for Turkmenistan, with people from many different backgrounds living there. In 2021, the city celebrated 140 years since it was first written about in history.

Etymology

Ashgabat is known as Aşgabat in Turkmen. In Russian, it was called Ашхабад or Ashkhabad from 1925 to 1991, and in Persian, it is called عشق‌آباد or Ešqābād. Before 1991, English often used the spelling Ashkhabad. From 1919 to 1927, the city was named Poltoratsk after a local revolutionary.

The name Ashgabat means "city of love" in Persian. Some believe the name comes from the time of the Parthian Empire around the 3rd century BC, linked to its founder Arsaces I.

Geography

Ashgabat is close to the border with Iran, about 50 km (30 mi) away. The city sits in a valley between the Karakum Desert to the north and the Köpetdag mountains to the south. It is not part of Ahal Province, though it is surrounded by it. The highest point in the city is a sandhill that stands at 401 metres (1,316 ft), where the Ýyldyz Hotel is located. Most of the city sits between 200 and 255 metres (656 and 837 ft) above sea level. The Karakum Canal runs through the city.

Before 1881, buildings in Ashgabat were mostly simple structures made from mud, and only one story high because of the risk of earthquakes. When Russia took control of the area, they began planning the city with straight streets and parks. After a big earthquake in 1948, many buildings fell down, and the city had to be rebuilt. New plans were made, and the city grew, especially in the 1970s and later years, spreading out to include more areas.

Climate

Ashgabat is close to the Köpetdag mountain range and the Kara-Kum desert, which gives it a special kind of weather. The city has very hot, dry summers and cool, short winters. In July, the temperature can reach an average high of 38.3 °C (100.9 °F), while in January, it averages around 8.6 °C (47.5 °F). Snow is rare there. The city receives only about 221 millimetres (8.70 in) of rain each year, with the most rain falling in March and April.

History

Ashgabat grew from the old Silk Road city of Konjikala, which was first known as a place for making wine around the 1st to 2nd century BC. It was destroyed by an earthquake but was rebuilt because it was in a good spot on the Silk Road. Later, Mongols destroyed it in the 13th century, and it remained a small village until Russians arrived in the 19th century.

The area around Ashgabat was home to a fortress built by the Parthians to protect the capital city of Nisa. The city was officially founded in 1881 by Russians as a fortified garrison. It grew quickly with new roads, railways, schools, and buildings. During World War II, Ashgabat provided shelter for many people and institutions from places like Moscow and Kiev.

After Turkmenistan became independent, the city saw many changes, including new building projects and updates to streets and neighborhoods. Today, Ashgabat continues to grow with new housing and developments.

Districts

Boroughs

Ashgabat has four main areas called boroughs. Each borough has a mayor chosen by the president. The boroughs are:

1. Bagtyýarlyk etraby
2. Berkararlyk etraby
3. Büzmeýin etraby
4. Köpetdag etraby

These boroughs were changed over time. Some smaller areas were combined into larger ones.

Microdistricts

The boroughs are divided into smaller parts called microdistricts. These help manage things like utilities and housing. The microdistricts in Ashgabat include numbers 1 through 11, 30, Howdan A, Howdan B, Howdan W, and Parahat 1 through 8.

Demographics

In the past, Ashgabat had a small number of people, mostly from Russia. Over time, more people moved there, especially when a new railway was built. The city's population grew slowly at first but then increased much faster.

Today, most people in Ashgabat are Turkmen, with smaller groups of Russians, Turks, Uzbeks, and Azeris living there too.

Architecture

Post-1991

After Turkmenistan became independent in 1991, the president hired architects and builders from other countries. These builders mixed styles, using designs from old Persia and ancient Greece and Rome. After the president's passing, new buildings started looking more modern. Some buildings even look like things they represent, like a globe for a meeting place or a coin for a bank. Many new buildings are covered in white marble, and you can see special star shapes in many places.

After independence, the city built many tall apartment buildings. These buildings use strong building methods to stay safe during earthquakes. The bottom floor of these buildings is often used for shops and services.

Monuments and statues

Ashgabat has many statues of important people from Turkmenistan and other places. Some statues are very old, while others are newer. There are statues of leaders, writers, and heroes in several parks. Since 1991, new monuments have been built to celebrate Turkmenistan's history and leaders. In 2024, a big statue of a famous Turkmen poet was added to the city.

First Baha'i Temple in the world

Main article: Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan

When Russia ruled the area, many people in Ashgabat followed the Baha'i Faith. They built a special house for worship where people of all religions could pray together. This building had gardens and other buildings around it, like a school and a small hospital. Later, under Soviet rule, the building was used for other purposes and eventually torn down.

Other notable structures

The Arch of Neutrality was moved to the south of the city. The Turkmenistan Tower is the tallest building in the country, standing at 211 meters tall. It was completed in 2011. Many important offices and schools are located along the Arçabil highway.

Economy

Ashgabat's main industries include making cotton textiles and working with metals. The city is an important stop on the Trans-Caspian railway. Many people in Ashgabat work for government offices. There are also foreign workers in the city, such as diplomats and clerks in embassies.

In 2019 and 2020, Ashgabat was named the most expensive city in the world for people living there from other countries. This high cost is because of rising prices and expensive imports.

Industry

In the early 1900s, Ashgabat had very little industry. Most workers were involved in railroad repair, cotton processing, and other small trades. After 1921, new factories were built, including plants for making glass, wine, metal products, silk, cotton, candy, clothes, shoes, and meat.

Today, Ashgabat has many large and medium-sized factories, including important ones for oil, cables, and textiles.

Electrical power generation

The Büzmeýin State Power Plant, built in 1957, was the first big power plant in Turkmenistan. The Ashgabat State Power Plant started in 2006, and the Ahal State Power Plant began operating in 2010.

Shopping

Ashgabat has both modern shopping centers and traditional bazaars. Popular spots include the Berkarar Mall, Arkaç Mall, and Altyn Asyr Bazaar, where people can find carpets, fabrics, and other goods. Traditional bazaars such as Gülistan Bazaar are also popular with local shoppers.

Transportation

On October 18, 2006, the Ashgabat Cable Car opened, linking the city with the foothills of the Kopetdag.

The Ashgabat Monorail started service in 2016, becoming the first monorail in the Central Asia region. It is a loop that is 5.2 kilometers long and runs only through the Olympic Village.

The city is served by the Ashgabat International Airport, which cost $2.3 billion to expand and can handle up to 14 million passengers each year. Turkmenistan Airlines is based there, and several other airlines fly from the airport to destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, as well as to major cities across Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat is connected to Tejen, Mary, Türkmenabat, and nearby countries by a 600 km autobahn network. This network includes a six-lane highway with advanced traffic monitoring.

Air transport

Main article: Rail transport in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat has one main railway station. The Trans-Caspian Railway runs through the city from east to west, and since 2006, there has also been a train line heading north from Ashgabat.

As of June 2025, trains run from Ashgabat to several cities including Türkmenabat, Daşoguz, Serhetabat, Türkmenbaşy, and Amyderýa.

City buses and trolleybus

Public transport in Ashgabat mainly uses buses. Over 100 bus lines cover more than 2,230 kilometers with 700 buses on urban routes. Since September 2025, 700 new Chinese Yutong buses have arrived in the city. These buses have comfortable seats, air conditioning, USB charging, video surveillance, GPS, cameras, and a digital payment system.

Passengers can pay for bus fares either in cash or using the Ýol karty electronic card system. Fares for city buses are 50 Turkmen tenge.

Taxi

In Ashgabat, taxis are usually white or yellow and have a small green "TAXI" sign on the roof. Common taxi models include Toyota Corolla, JAC J7, and Hyundai Elantra. Taxis are available at any time and can be hired through mobile apps or by other common methods.

Telecommunication

Ashgabat has two main mobile phone service providers. Altyn Asyr started in 2004 and added faster internet services in 2010 and 2013. Ashgabat City Telephone Network began offering services in 2003 and uses a different technology.

Besides mobile services, Turkmentelecom provides internet. As of June 2025, there are six Turkmentelecom internet cafés in Ashgabat. These cafés are popular places for people to work, study, and enjoy cultural activities. They have modern equipment and can help with tasks like scanning, printing, and online meetings.

Turkmenpochta is the national postal service and has 38 offices in Ashgabat.

Media

Ashgabat has several newspapers, such as Türkmenistan and Neytralny Turkmenistan.

Television

Seven television channels have their main offices in Ashgabat. Ashgabat TV is the city's main channel, sharing news and events from schools, cultural activities, and more. Subscribers can also watch many international channels through IPTV or satellite dishes.

Radio

Since 2008, Ashgabat has had four FM radio stations: Owaz, Char Tarapdan, Miras, and Watan. These stations can also be listened to online through Turkmentelecom's website.

Human resources

Science and education

Main articles: Education in Turkmenistan and ru:Образование в Туркмении

See also: List of universities in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat is the main place for learning in Turkmenistan, with many schools and universities. Turkmen State University started in 1950, and many other important schools are there too, like the university for doctors and a school for building and design. There are also schools for sports, farming, and technology.

There are also special schools for children from other countries, such as a Russian school, a French school, a Turkish school, and an American school.

Health

Ashgabat is an important place for hospitals and doctors in Turkmenistan. Many new buildings and improvements are being made to help people stay healthy.

There are many special hospitals and centers, including ones for helping mothers and children, treating infections, and caring for people with heart problems. There are also schools to train new doctors and nurses.

The city also has places where people can go to relax and get treatments using special mineral water from deep underground. These places help people with many different health problems.

Culture

Ashgabat is the cultural center of Turkmenistan. The city has many places where people can learn about art, history, and culture, such as theaters, museums, galleries, concert halls, and cinemas.

Museums and galleries

The Trans-Caspian Regional Museum opened in Ashgabat in 1899. In 1998, the National Museum of Turkmenistan opened. It shows Turkmenistan's history from very old times using many different items. Since 2013, it is called The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan. The museum has a big area of 165,323.21 m². It has rooms about Turkmenistan's independence, old history, Ancient History, Margush, Parthia, the Middle Ages, and more. Other museums include the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum and Turkmen Carpet Museum, which have beautiful collections of woven carpets. There is also the Ashgabat National Museum of History with items from the Parthian and Persian times.

The Watan Mukaddesligi Museum, which opened in 2014, is in the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. It has over 1,000 exhibits and focuses on Turkmenistan's history, including events like the Battle of Geoktepe, World War II, the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, and modern Ashgabat.

Since 2024, a private art gallery called ART-bazar has been open in Ashgabat. It shows works by artists from all over Turkmenistan, including ceramics, paintings, felt tapestries, leather items, and handmade paper.

Performing arts

Ashgabat has many theaters, including the Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre, Magtymguly National Musical and Drama Theatre, Main Drama Theatre named by Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, Mollanepes Students Theatre, Mukams Palace, Pushkin State Russian Drama Theatre, Theatre "Art Ist", Turkmen State Puppet Theatre, and Turkmen State Circus. Some areas that were added to Ashgabat also have their own "houses of culture" called Medeniýet Öýi.

Cinemas

Ashgabat has six cinemas. In 2011, Aşgabat Cinema, the first 3D cinema in Turkmenistan, opened. The Watan and Turkmenistan theaters were rebuilt. There are also cinemas in the Berkarar Mall, the Gül Zemin Mall, and Arkach Mall.

Libraries

The State Library of Turkmenistan started in 1892 and now has over 6 million items. Since 2007, it is part of the State Culture Center of Turkmenistan. The State Children's Library of Turkmenistan, named after Bazar Amanov, started in 1935. It has over 250,000 items and serves children of all ages, from preschool to high school. Since 2016, it has an electronic library system.

Main sights

Ashgabat has many interesting places to visit. One famous spot used to be the Arch of Neutrality, a tall structure with a golden statue on top that always faced the sun. It was removed in 2010 and replaced by the Monument to the Constitution, which is now one of the tallest buildings in Turkmenistan.

The city is also home to amazing structures like the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, recognized as the world's tallest indoor Ferris wheel, and the Ashgabat Flagpole, one of the tallest flagpoles globally. The Ashgabat Fountain holds a record for having the most fountain pools in one place.

Palaces

Ashgabat has grand palaces such as the Oguzhan Presidential Palace, used for important government events, the Ruhyýet Palace for official gatherings, and the Wedding Palace for celebrations.

Parks and squares

The city has beautiful parks and squares, including the Ashgabat Botanical Garden, founded in 1929, which is the oldest in Central Asia and contains many different plants from around the world. Other popular spots are Inspiration Alley, an art park, and the amusement park World of Turkmenbashi Tales, similar to Disneyland.

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex

The Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex was built in 2014 to honor those who died in past battles and during World War II.

Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural and Park Complex

In 2024, statues of famous writers and poets from around the world were placed in the Magtymguly Pyragy park.

Mosques

Ashgabat has several important mosques, including the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque and the Ärtogrul Gazy Mosque, which looks like the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Churches

The city has five Christian churches, mostly Russian Orthodox, such as Saint Alexander Nevsky Church. There is also a Roman Catholic chapel on the grounds of the Apostolic nunciature.

Sports

Ashgabat has many places where people can play and watch sports, such as the Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat Stadium, and the Ashgabat Watersports Complex.

The city has hosted big sports events like the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and the 2018 IWF World Weightlifting Championships. Ashgabat also has teams that play football and ice hockey in top leagues.

International relations

Diplomatic missions

Ashgabat is an important city for international meetings. It has embassies from 32 different countries. It is also the home of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the United Nations centre for helping countries in Central Asia work together to prevent problems.

Twin towns – sister cities

Ashgabat has friendly relationships with many cities around the world. Some of these cities are Aktau in Kazakhstan, Albuquerque in the United States, Ankara in Turkey, and Athens in Greece. Other partner cities include Moscow in Russia and Tokyo in Japan. These friendships help the cities share ideas and work together.