Ashgabat

Independence Monument, Ashgabat


Ashgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat, Persian: اشک آباد, Russian: Ашхаба́д) is the capital and largest city in Turkmenistan. Located on the southern part of the country, near the border with Iran, Ashgabat has a population approaching a million people (2012 estimate).

Situated between the Kara Kum desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat experiences an arid climate. In July, the average high temperature can reach 38.2°C (100.8°F). On the other hand, during winter, particularly January, temperature may drop to -16°C (3°F), with the average between -1.6 to 0.7°C (29.1 nto 33.3°F). However it rarely snows here. The city receives only 227 mm (8.94 in) of precipitation throughout the year.

Ashgabat traces its beginnings to a fortress built here for the Russian Empire in 1869. A village was then established in 1881. It is located close to the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire, Nisa, and was built on the ruins of the ancient Silk Road city of Konjikala. It first came under Soviet rule in 1917. In 1919 it was renamed Poltoratsk, but the name Ashgabat was restored in 1927, with the founding of the Turkmen SSR as a Soviet republic.

Ashgabat was severely devastated by a massive earthquake in 1948. According to estimates, some two-thirds of the population was killed while official figures by Soviet news was a casualty of 40,000. Today the city has largely rebuilt itself and has a number of tourist sights.

Russian Bazaar, Ashgabat

Sights & Attractions to visit in Ashgabat

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