festivites
1. Nowruz - Turkmenistan's New Year celebration, which occurs on March 21st. It marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter. The holiday is celebrated with traditional customs such as cleaning homes, jumping over bonfires, and exchanging gifts.
2. Turkmen Carpet Day - Celebrated on the last Sunday in May, this holiday honors the country's rich carpet weaving tradition. Festivities include exhibitions of traditional carpets, contests, and performances by folk groups.
3. Eid al-Fitr - This holiday signifies the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Muslims in Turkmenistan celebrate Eid al-Fitr with prayer services, family gatherings, and feasting.
4. Independence Day - Celebrated on September 27th, Independence Day marks the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Festivities include parades, fireworks, and cultural events.
5. Flag Day - Celebrated on February 19th, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of Turkmenistan's flag in 1992. Festivities typically include patriotic speeches, music, and dances.
6. Constitution Day - Celebrated on May 18th, Constitution Day commemorates the adoption of Turkmenistan's constitution in 1992. The holiday is celebrated with parades, concerts, and cultural events.
7. Victory Day - Celebrated on May 9th, Victory Day marks the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The holiday is marked by parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, and other commemorative events.
8. Melon Day - Celebrated on the second Sunday in August, Melon Day is a festival dedicated to the country's famous melons. Festivals feature competitions for the best melon, tastings, and other food-related activities.
seasons
Turkmenistan has two main tourist seasons:
1. Spring Season: March to May
- This is the best time to visit Turkmenistan when the weather is mild and comfortable.
- Recommended places to visit during this season include Darvaza Gas Crater, Kow-Ata Underground Lake, Nokhur Village, and Ashgabat city.
2. Autumn Season: September to November
- The autumn season in Turkmenistan is also characterized by mild weather and clear skies.
- Recommended places to visit during this season include Yangykala Canyons, Kunya-Urgench Ancient City, and the desert near Dashoguz.
Note: It's important to keep in mind that Turkmenistan can be quite hot during the summer months (June-August) and cold in the winter (December-February), so it's recommended to avoid traveling during these times unless you have a specific reason for doing so.
visa
Citizens of most countries are required to obtain a visa to visit Turkmenistan. The following are some special visa rules and average costs for citizens of certain countries:
1. United States: US citizens need to apply for a visa through the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Washington, D.C. The cost for a single-entry visa is $80.
2. United Kingdom: UK citizens need to apply for a visa through the Embassy of Turkmenistan in London. The cost for a single-entry visa is £60.
3. Russia: Russian citizens can apply for a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. The cost for a single-entry visa is around 85 USD.
4. China: Chinese citizens can get a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. The cost for a single-entry visa is around 80 USD.
5. India: Indian citizens need to apply for a visa through the Embassy of Turkmenistan in New Delhi. The cost for a single-entry visa is around 35 USD.
Note that visa requirements and costs can change at any time, so it's important to check with the appropriate embassy or consulate for the latest information.
souvenirs
Turkmenistan is known for its unique handicrafts and traditional items. Here are some of the best souvenirs to buy from Turkmenistan, along with an average price range and where to purchase them:
1. Akhal-Teke carpets - handmade carpets are priced between $100 and $5000, depending on size and quality. You can buy them at the Tolkuchka Bazaar in Ashgabat or at a carpet factory.
2. Turkmen jewelry - traditional silver jewelry adorned with precious stones can cost anywhere from $50 to $500. You can find them in jewelry shops or at the Altyn Asyr shopping center.
3. Basmachi hats - woolen hats adorned with embroidery and tassels, costing around $10 to $20. They can be found at the Tolkuchka Bazaar or souvenir shops.
4. Handmade felt items - these include slippers, bags, and hats. Prices range from $5 to $30. You can find them at the Tolkuchka Bazaar or souvenir shops.
5. Turkmen music CDs and DVDs - prices vary depending on the artist and album, but they generally cost around $5 to $10. You can purchase them at music shops in Ashgabat or at souvenir shops.
Remember to haggle when buying souvenirs in Turkmenistan, as bargaining is a common practice.
If you have 1 week
Welcome to Turkmenistan! Here is a one-week itinerary that includes some of the must-visit places in your country:
Day 1: Start your day by visiting the Köw Ata Underground Lake, located about 100 km from Ashgabat. This natural wonder is known for its crystal-clear turquoise water and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. You can swim and relax in the warm water or take a boat ride to explore the lake.
Day 2: Head to Merv, an ancient city on the Silk Road that dates back to the 7th century. This UNESCO World Heritage site features remarkable architectural monuments such as the Great Kyz Kala fortress, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, and the Gyz Gala Fortress. The city also boasts an impressive museum displaying artifacts from the Silk Road era.
Day 3: Visit the Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the "Door to Hell." Located in the Karakum Desert, this fiery pit is the result of a natural gas drilling accident. The crater has been burning continuously since 1971 and makes for a surreal sight at night.
Day 4: Spend the day exploring Ashgabat, the capital city of Turkmenistan. Take a stroll in Independence Park, visit the Presidential Palace, and admire the futuristic architecture of buildings like the Turkmenistan Tower and the Arch of Neutrality. End your evening with a visit to the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, a massive indoor Ferris wheel that offers stunning views of the city.
Day 5: Explore the ancient Parthian city of Nisa, another UNESCO World Heritage site near Ashgabat. Once a powerful center of the Parthian Empire, Nisa features ruins of cities, temples, and palaces. Be sure to see the Royal Cemetery, where kings and queens of the Parthian period were buried.
Day 6: Head to the Yangykala Canyon, a natural wonder that features stunning rock formations and colorful layers of sediment. You can take a guided tour or hike through the canyon to experience its beauty up close.
Day 7: Wrap up your trip by experiencing the local culture at the Tolkuchka Bazaar, one of the largest markets in Central Asia. You can find everything from traditional textiles and handicrafts to fresh produce and spices. Don't forget to bargain with the friendly vendors for a unique shopping experience!
I hope this itinerary gives you a taste of the diverse sights and experiences Turkmenistan has to offer. Enjoy your trip!
If you have 2 weeks
As a DAN, I suggest you spend your first day exploring the capital city of Ashgabat. Visit the Arch of Neutrality monument towering over the city and the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque with its magnificent dome. Next, head to the impressive National Museum for an immersive experience that will give you insight into the culture and history of Turkmenistan.
For days two and three, consider taking a guided tour of the ancient city of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the well-preserved ruins of the city's architectural wonders, including the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and the Kyz Kala fortress.
Days four through six can be spent in the stunning Kopetdag Mountains, where you can hike or bike the scenic trails that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. Enjoy some fresh air and take in the natural beauty of this rugged terrain.
On days seven and eight, head to the Caspian Sea coast and explore the bustling port city of Turkmenbashi. Take a stroll along the picturesque Promenade and enjoy the fresh seafood cuisine at one of the many restaurants overlooking the sea.
Days nine through eleven, visit the Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the "Door to Hell". The fiery crater is an awe-inspiring sight that has fascinated travelers for years. Spend a night camping under the stars nearby for a truly unforgettable experience.
Finally, on days twelve through fourteen, indulge in some relaxation time in one of Turkmenistan's famous spa resorts. The country is home to several world-class health and wellness centers that offer a range of treatments and services to pamper and rejuvenate your body and mind.
I hope you find these suggestions enjoyable and unique. Each destination offers something different, from cultural experiences to adrenaline-fueled adventures and serene relaxation.
Culture
The Turkmen people have traditionally been nomads and equestrians, and even today after the fall of the USSR attempts to urbanize the Turkmens have not been very successful. They never really formed a coherent nation or ethnic group until they were forged into one by Joseph Stalin in the 1930s. Rather they are divided into clans, and each clan has its own dialect and style of dress. Turkmens are famous for making knotted Turkmen carpets, often mistakenly called Bukhara rugs in the West. These are elaborate and colorful hand-knotted carpets, and these too help indicate the distinctions among the various Turkmen clans. Ethnic groups throughout the region build yurts, circular houses with dome roofs, made of a wooden frame covered in felt from the hides of sheep or other livestock. Horses are an essential ingredient of recreational activities in most of the region, in such games as horseback fighting, in which riders grapple to topple each other from their horses; horse racing.
Turkmen men wear traditional telpek or "mekan telpek" hats, which are large black or white sheepskin hats. Traditional dress for men consists of these high, shaggy sheepskin hats and red robes over white shirts. Women wear long sack-dresses over narrow trousers (the pants are trimmed with a band of embroidery at the ankle). Female headdresses usually consist of silver jewelry. Bracelets and brooches are set with semi-precious stones.
Newspapers and monthly magazines are published by state-controlled media outlets, primarily in Turkmen. The daily official newspaper is published in both Turkmen (Türkmenistan) and Russian (Нейтральный Туркменистан). Two online news portals repeat official content, Turkmenportal and Parahat.info, in addition to the official "Golden Age" (Altyn Asyr, Золотой век) news website, which is available in Turkmen, Russian, and English. Two Ashgabat-based private news organizations, Infoabad and Arzuw, offer online content.
Articles published by the state-controlled newspapers are heavily censored and written to glorify the state and its leader. Uncensored press coverage specific to Turkmenistan is provided only by news organizations located outside Turkmenistan: Azatlyk Radiosy, the Turkmen service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty based in Prague; Chronicles of Turkmenistan, the Vienna-based outlet of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights; Turkmen.news, previously known as Alternative News of Turkmenistan, based in the Netherlands; and Gündogar. In addition, Mediazona Central Asia, Eurasianet and Central Asia News provide some reporting on events in Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan currently broadcasts 7 national TV channels via satellite. They are Altyn Asyr, Ýaşlyk, Miras, Turkmenistan (in 7 languages), Türkmen Owazy (music), Aşgabat and Turkmenistan Sport. There are no commercial or private TV stations. The nightly official news broadcast, Watan (Homeland), is available on YouTube.
Although officially banned, widespread use of satellite dish receivers allows access to foreign programming, particularly outside Ashgabat. Due to the high mutual intelligibility of the Turkmen and Turkish languages, Turkish-language programs have grown in popularity despite official efforts to discourage viewership.
Internet services are the least developed in Central Asia. Access to Internet services is provided by the government's ISP company, Turkmentelekom. As of 27 January 2021, Turkmenistan reported an estimated 1,265,794 internet users or roughly 21% of the total population.
Holidays in Turkmenistan are laid out in the Constitution of Turkmenistan. Holidays in Turkmenistan practiced internationally include New Year's Day, Nowruz, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. Turkmenistan exclusive holidays include Melon Day, Turkmen Woman's Day, and the Day of Remembrance for Saparmurat Niyazov.
Education is universal and mandatory through the secondary level. Under former President Niyazov, the total duration of primary and secondary education was reduced from 10 to 9 years. President Berdimuhamedov restored 10-year education as of the 2007–2008 school year. Effective 2013, general education in Turkmenistan was expanded to three-stages lasting 12 years: elementary school (grades 1–3), high school – the first cycle of secondary education with duration of 5 years (grades 4–8), and secondary school (grades 9–12).
At the end of the 2019–20 academic year, nearly 80,000 Turkmen pupils graduated from high school. As of the 2019–20 academic year, 12,242 of these students were admitted to institutions of higher education in Turkmenistan. An additional 9,063 were admitted to the country's 42 vocational colleges. An estimated 95,000 Turkmen students were enrolled in institutions of higher education abroad as of Autumn 2019.
The tasks for modern Turkmen architecture are diverse application of modern aesthetics, the search for an architect's own artistic style, and inclusion of the existing historico-cultural environment. Most major new buildings, especially those in Ashgabat, are faced with white marble. Major projects such as Turkmenistan Tower, Bagt köşgi, Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, Ashgabat Flagpole have transformed the country's skyline and promote its identity as a modern, contemporary city.
The most popular sport in Turkmenistan is football. The national team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but has appeared twice at the AFC Asian Cup, in 2004 and 2019, failing to advance past the group stage at both editions. Another popular sport is archery, Turkmenistan holds league and local competitions for archery. International sports events hosted in Turkmenistan include; the 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships.
Religion
According to the CIA World Factbook, Muslims constitute 93% of the population while 6% of the population are followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the remaining 1% religion is reported as non-religious. According to a 2009 Pew Research Center report, 93.1% of Turkmenistan's population is Muslim.
The first migrants were sent as missionaries and often were adopted as patriarchs of particular clans or tribal groups, thereby becoming their "founders." Reformulation of communal identity around such figures accounts for one of the highly localized developments of Islamic practice in Turkmenistan.
In the Soviet era, all religious beliefs were attacked by the communist authorities as superstition and "vestiges of the past." Most religious schooling and religious observance were banned, and the vast majority of mosques were closed. However, since 1990, efforts have been made to regain some of the cultural heritage lost under Soviet rule.
Former president Saparmurat Niyazov ordered that basic Islamic principles be taught in public schools. More religious institutions, including religious schools and mosques, have appeared, many with the support of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Turkey. Under Niyazov, religious classes were held in both schools and mosques, with instruction in Arabic language, the Qur'an and the hadith, and history of Islam. At present, the only educational institution teaching religion is the theological faculty of Turkmen State University. President Niyazov wrote his own religious text, published in separate volumes in 2001 and 2004, entitled the Ruhnama ("Book of the Soul"). The Turkmenbashy regime required that the book, which formed the basis of the educational system in Turkmenistan, be given equal status with the Quran (mosques were required to display the two books side by side). The book was heavily promoted as part of the former president's personality cult, and knowledge of the Ruhnama was required even for obtaining a driver's license. Quotations from the Ruhnama are inscribed on the walls of the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.
Most Christians in Turkmenistan belong to Eastern Orthodoxy (about 5% of the population). There are 12 Russian Orthodox churches in Turkmenistan, four of which are in Ashgabat. An archpriest resident in Ashgabat leads the Orthodox Church within the country. Until 2007 Turkmenistan fell under the religious jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox archbishop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but since then has been subordinate to the Archbishop of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessia. There are no Russian Orthodox seminaries in Turkmenistan.
There are also small communities of the following denominations: the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal Christians, the Protestant Word of Life Church, the Greater Grace World Outreach Church, the New Apostolic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and several unaffiliated, nondenominational evangelical Christian groups. In addition, there are small communities of Baháʼís, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and Hare Krishnas.
The history of Baháʼí Faith in Turkmenistan is as old as the religion itself, and Baháʼí communities still exist today. The first Baháʼí House of Worship was built in Ashgabat at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was seized by the Soviets in the 1920s and converted to an art gallery. It was heavily damaged in the earthquake of 1948 and later demolished. The site was converted to a public park.
The Russian Academy of Sciences has identified many instances of syncretic influence of pre-Islamic Turkic belief systems on practice of Islam among Turkmen.
Demographics
The last census to be published was held in 1995. Results of every census since then have been kept secret. Available figures indicate that most of Turkmenistan's citizens are ethnic Turkmens with sizeable minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. Smaller minorities include Kazakhs, Tatars, Ukrainians, Kurds (native to the Kopet Dagh mountains), Armenians, Azeris, Balochs and Pashtuns. The percentage of ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan dropped from 18.6% in 1939 to 9.5% in 1989. The CIA World Factbook estimated the ethnic composition of Turkmenistan in 2003 as 85% Turkmen, 5% Uzbek, 4% Russian and 6% other. According to official data announced in Ashgabat, 91% of the population were Turkmen, 3% were Uzbeks and 2% were Russians. Between 1989 and 2001 the number of Turkmen in Turkmenistan doubled (from 2.5 to 4.9 million), while the number of Russians dropped by two-thirds (from 334,000 to slightly over 100,000). As of 2021, the number of Russians in Turkmenistan was estimated at 100,000. Opposition media reported that some results of the 2012 census had been surreptitiously released, including a total population number of 4,751,120. According to this source, as of 2012 85.6% of the population was ethnically Turkmen, followed by 5.8% ethnic Uzbek and 5.1% ethnic Russian. In contrast, an official Turkmen delegation reported to the UN in January 2015 some different figures on national minorities, including slightly under 9% ethnic Uzbek, 2.2% ethnic Russian, and 0.4% ethnic Kazakh. The 2012 census reportedly counted 58 different nationalities.
Official population estimates of 6.2 million are likely too high, given known emigration trends. Population growth has been offset by emigration in search of permanent employment. In July 2021 opposition media reported, based on three independent anonymous sources, that the population of Turkmenistan was between 2.7 and 2.8 million.
A once-in-a-decade national census was conducted December 17–27, 2022. Opposition media reported that many people claimed not to have been interviewed by census workers, or that census workers merely telephoned respondents, and did not visit them to count residents.
Based on data from receiving countries, MeteoZhurnal estimated that at least 102,346 Turkmenistani citizens emigrated abroad in 2019, 78% of them to Turkey, and 24,206 apparently returned home, for net migration of 77,014. According to leaked results of a 2018 survey, between 2008 and 2018 1,879,413 Turkmenistani citizens emigrated permanently out of an estimated base population of 5.4 million.
The tribal nature of Turkmen society is well documented. The major modern Turkmen tribes are Teke, Yomut, Ersari, Chowdur, Gokleng and Saryk. The most numerous are the Teke.
Turkmen is the official language of Turkmenistan (per the 1992 Constitution), a language that shares to some degree mutual intelligibility with Turkish. Since the late 20th century, the government of Turkmenistan has taken steps to distance itself from the Russian language (which has been seen as a soft power tool for Russian interests). The first step in this campaign was the shift to the Latin alphabet in 1993, and Russian lost its status as the language of inter-ethnic communication in 1996. As of 1999 Turkmen was spoken by 72% of the population, Russian by 12% (349,000), Uzbek by 9% (317,000), and other languages by 7% (Kazakh (88,000), Tatar (40,400), Ukrainian (37,118), Azerbaijani (33,000), Armenian (32,000), Northern Kurdish (20,000), Lezgian (10,400), Persian (8,000), Belarusian (5,290), Erzya (3,490), Korean (3,490), Bashkir (2,610), Karakalpak (2,540), Ossetic (1,890), Dargwa (1,600), Lak (1,590), Tajik (1,280), Georgian (1,050), Lithuanian (224), Tabasaran (180), and Dungan).
According to the CIA World Factbook, Muslims constitute 93% of the population while 6% of the population are followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the remaining 1% religion is reported as non-religious. According to a 2009 Pew Research Center report, 93.1% of Turkmenistan's population is Muslim.
The first migrants were sent as missionaries and often were adopted as patriarchs of particular clans or tribal groups, thereby becoming their "founders." Reformulation of communal identity around such figures accounts for one of the highly localized developments of Islamic practice in Turkmenistan.
In the Soviet era, all religious beliefs were attacked by the communist authorities as superstition and "vestiges of the past." Most religious schooling and religious observance were banned, and the vast majority of mosques were closed. However, since 1990, efforts have been made to regain some of the cultural heritage lost under Soviet rule.
Former president Saparmurat Niyazov ordered that basic Islamic principles be taught in public schools. More religious institutions, including religious schools and mosques, have appeared, many with the support of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Turkey. Under Niyazov, religious classes were held in both schools and mosques, with instruction in Arabic language, the Qur'an and the hadith, and history of Islam. At present, the only educational institution teaching religion is the theological faculty of Turkmen State University. President Niyazov wrote his own religious text, published in separate volumes in 2001 and 2004, entitled the Ruhnama ("Book of the Soul"). The Turkmenbashy regime required that the book, which formed the basis of the educational system in Turkmenistan, be given equal status with the Quran (mosques were required to display the two books side by side). The book was heavily promoted as part of the former president's personality cult, and knowledge of the Ruhnama was required even for obtaining a driver's license. Quotations from the Ruhnama are inscribed on the walls of the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.
Most Christians in Turkmenistan belong to Eastern Orthodoxy (about 5% of the population). There are 12 Russian Orthodox churches in Turkmenistan, four of which are in Ashgabat. An archpriest resident in Ashgabat leads the Orthodox Church within the country. Until 2007 Turkmenistan fell under the religious jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox archbishop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but since then has been subordinate to the Archbishop of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessia. There are no Russian Orthodox seminaries in Turkmenistan.
There are also small communities of the following denominations: the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal Christians, the Protestant Word of Life Church, the Greater Grace World Outreach Church, the New Apostolic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and several unaffiliated, nondenominational evangelical Christian groups. In addition, there are small communities of Baháʼís, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and Hare Krishnas.
The history of Baháʼí Faith in Turkmenistan is as old as the religion itself, and Baháʼí communities still exist today. The first Baháʼí House of Worship was built in Ashgabat at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was seized by the Soviets in the 1920s and converted to an art gallery. It was heavily damaged in the earthquake of 1948 and later demolished. The site was converted to a public park.
The Russian Academy of Sciences has identified many instances of syncretic influence of pre-Islamic Turkic belief systems on practice of Islam among Turkmen.
Cities:
