Central Asia · Asia

Turkmenistan

Discover Turkmenistan - Central Asia's most mysterious country, where the Karakum Desert hides a flaming crater, white marble cities rise, and ancient Silk Road ruins whisper.

Where Is Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia. Its capital is Ashgabat.

Where Turkmenistan isCentral Asia · Capital Ashgabat

Capital Ashgabat
Population 7.62M
Area 488,100 km²

Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated and enigmatic countries on Earth. Occupying a vast sweep of the Karakum Desert north of Iran and west of Uzbekistan, it sits on enormous natural gas reserves that rank among the largest in the world. Its capital, Ashgabat, holds the Guinness World Record for the most white marble-clad buildings in the world - an eerily pristine city of gleaming towers, golden statues, and wide empty boulevards that feels like a science fiction movie set. Very few tourists visit, and those who do discover a country that is genuinely unlike anywhere else.

But Turkmenistan's real treasures predate the marble. The ancient city of Merv was once one of the largest cities in the world, a Silk Road metropolis that rivaled Baghdad and Cairo before the Mongols destroyed it in 1221. The ruins of Nisa, capital of the Parthian Empire that defeated Rome, sit just outside Ashgabat. And then there is the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the Door to Hell - a 70-meter-wide pit in the desert that has been burning continuously since Soviet geologists set it alight in 1971, its flames visible for miles across the empty landscape at night. Turkmenistan is strange, restricted, and genuinely unforgettable.

At a glance

Language

Turkmen

Currency

Turkmenistani Manat (TMT)

Calling Code

+993

Drives On

Right

Internet

.tm

Timezone

TMT (UTC+5)

Script

Latin

Government

Unitary Presidential Republic

Independence

1991

By population

Largest cities in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat

Capital city built almost entirely of white marble, with golden domes, enormous monuments, and the surreal emptiness of a planned city few are allowed to freely explore

1,000,000

Turkmenabat

Second largest city on the Amu Darya River near the Uzbek border, a trading hub and gateway to the eastern provinces

250,000

Mary

Modern city near the ancient ruins of Merv, one of the great Silk Road cities that was once among the largest in the world

125,000

Dashoguz

Northern city and gateway to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Kunya-Urgench, the medieval capital of the Khwarezmian Empire

165,000

People

Famous people from Turkmenistan

Magtymguly Pyragy
Literature
18th-century poet and spiritual father of the Turkmen nation, whose verses shaped Turkmen identity and are memorized by every schoolchild
Gorogly
Literature
Legendary folk hero of the Turkmen epic tradition whose adventures on horseback form one of Central Asia's great oral literature cycles
Polina Guryeva
Sport
Weightlifter who won Turkmenistan's first-ever Olympic medal, a silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games, becoming a national sensation

Food

Traditional cuisine of Turkmenistan

Plov: Turkmen-style rice pilaf with lamb, carrots, and onions, cooked in a kazan over open fire and served at every important gathering
Shashlik: Skewered and grilled lamb marinated in onions and spices, the centerpiece of any Turkmen outdoor feast
Chorek: Round flatbread baked in a tandoor oven with decorative patterns, the daily bread of Turkmen life served at every meal
Dograma: Festive dish of shredded bread and boiled meat in rich broth, traditionally prepared for religious holidays and community gatherings

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas CraterLandmark: The Door to Hell - a 70-meter burning crater in the desert that has blazed continuously since 1971, visible for miles at night
Karakum DesertDesert: One of the world's largest sand deserts covering 70% of Turkmenistan, with shifting dunes, oasis settlements, and extreme temperatures
Koytendag MountainsMountain: Turkmenistan's highest range on the Uzbek border, home to rare cave systems, dinosaur footprints, and endemic wildlife
Yangykala CanyonCanyon: Spectacular red and pink layered cliffs in the western desert, Turkmenistan's hidden Grand Canyon entirely off the tourist radar
Ancient MervLandmark: UNESCO World Heritage ruins of one of the oldest and largest oasis cities on the Silk Road, spanning 4,000 years of continuous settlement

Sport

Sports in Turkmenistan

Horse Racing: Turkmenistan is home to the Akhal-Teke horse, one of the world's oldest and most beautiful breeds, celebrated with annual racing festivals
Weightlifting: The country's strongest international sport, with Polina Guryeva winning Turkmenistan's first Olympic medal at Tokyo 2020
Wrestling: Traditional goresh wrestling is deeply embedded in Turkmen nomadic culture, practiced at festivals and national celebrations

Facts

Did you know?

Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble-clad buildings in the world
The Darvaza Gas Crater, or Door to Hell, has been burning in the desert since 1971 when Soviet geologists accidentally ignited it
The Akhal-Teke horse, Turkmenistan's national symbol, has a metallic golden sheen to its coat and is one of the oldest horse breeds on Earth
Turkmenistan has the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves but remains one of the most closed countries to foreign visitors
Ancient Merv was once one of the largest cities in the world with an estimated 500,000 people before the Mongol destruction in 1221
Turkmenistan's president officially renamed the months of the year and days of the week in 2002, though the changes were later reversed

Stories