The city's population consists mainly of Turkmens (almost 90%), Russians (about 6%), as well as Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Turks. Official language considered Turkmen. Almost all residents of the city profess Islam; a separate category of the population belongs to the Christian church.
The basis of the economy of Turkmenbashi is the oil refining industry. On the territory of the city there is a whole complex of enterprises involved in the processing of oil and its associated natural resources. The largest ship repair plant in Central Asia is also located here. It is worth noting that the port of Turkmenbashi ferry crossing connected to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku.
Within the city there is the famous Avaza resort area, which includes a huge number of hotels, entertainment centers, gaming clubs and other establishments. This place is ideal for youth recreation, family vacation with children who will definitely enjoy splashing around in the amazingly beautiful and warm Caspian Sea.
Climate and weather
The climate of Turkmenbashi is considered subtropical desert. Practically all year round The weather here is incredibly hot and very dry. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 125 millimeters per year. Usually they fall out at the end of autumn - beginning of winter. The average daily air temperature at this time is approximately +5 °C. The weather is surprisingly hot in summer. During the day the air warms up to +35 °C, and at night the thermometer drops to +18 °C. In summer, precipitation is minimal.
The best time to travel to amazing Turkmenbashi is from late spring to early autumn.
Nature
Beautiful Turkmenbashi differs from other cities of Turkmenistan with its amazing, magnificent nature. The main feature of the city's natural landscapes is the Caspian Sea - the largest salty sea on earth, which has no connection with the world's oceans. On the picturesque shores of the Caspian Sea you can meet graceful flamingos, amazing pelicans, and lazy Caspian seals. But the main wealth of this sea, of course, is the sturgeon, the population of which is called upon to preserve by the environmental service of Turkmenistan.
In the east, Turkmenbashi is surrounded by low mountains; in the west, its shores are washed by the blue waters of the Caspian Sea. By the way, wonderful sandy beaches Turkmenbashi are considered the best in the entire sea. No wonder there are many resorts and sanatoriums on its coast near the city.
Attractions
The main attraction of Turkmenbashi is the Caspian Sea, which amazes with its beauty and diverse underwater world. To admire the picturesque beauty of this reservoir, people come to the city a large number of foreign tourists. Not far from Turkmenbashi, a completely unique resort area has been created with numerous hotels, “floating” restaurants, bars, entertainment centers, clubs, etc.
There are few ancient sights in the city itself, but the surroundings of Turkmenbashi amaze with their historical and cultural values. One of the important centers of the world women's pilgrimage is the white mosque of Parau-Bibi, which was built on one of the rocks of the majestic Kopetdag and today is considered the patroness of pregnant women and children. Hundreds of thousands of girls come here every year, praying for a long-awaited pregnancy.
Most tourists prefer to visit the famous Shir-Kabir mausoleum, the construction date of which dates back to the 10th century. In addition, on the territory of the ancient burial place of Mashad there is the Shir-Kabir mosque, which is considered the oldest surviving mosque in all of Turkmenistan. The walls of this amazing structure from its base to the dome are decorated with carved ganch with patterns and inscriptions painted in red, blue and pistachio colors. Some pilgrims who come here claim that it is sacred place is the second most important (after Mecca) of those that were blessed by Allah.
The most visited attraction near Turkmenbashi is the amazing Dehistan - this is a plain that has preserved traces of the life of people who came to this territory back in the third millennium BC. The largest historical monument Dekhistan is considered the site of Misrian. Unfortunately, not a single building or structure of that era has survived to this day, and tourists coming here today can only observe the ruins of this settlement.
But on the territory of Dehistan you can visit two relatively well-preserved minarets, the height of which reaches 20 meters.
In Turkmenbashi itself, many foreigners are eager to visit the Museum of 26 Baku Commissars, which tells about the amazing fate of each of the executed commissars.
Nutrition
The cuisine of Turkmenbashi is somewhat different from gastronomy in other parts of the country. The main dish on the menu of any restaurant in the city is fish. Usually sturgeon species of fish are used to treat tourists. The most popular dish in public catering establishments in Turkmenbashi is considered to be “Kavurdaka” - pieces of fish fried in sesame oil. In addition, many foreigners prefer to order the famous dried fish and amazing fish kebab. Interestingly, this type of kebab is prepared in the same way as with meat. Pieces of fish are alternately skewered with onions and then fried over an open fire. In many restaurants you can even watch the process of preparing this delicious dish. It is worth noting that in Turkmenbashi, as throughout Turkmenistan, fish dishes are served with a unique sweet and sour sauce.
The main dish of every Turkmenbashi restaurant is, of course, the famous Turkmen pilaf. No feast is complete without this wonderful treat. In addition, the menu of the city's restaurants includes several dozen meat dishes. Usually lamb, chicken and beef are cooked here. The main dishes are “Govurma”, “Gara Chorba” and “Kakmach”.
Among the drinks here, it is worth trying the famous Turkmen “Ayran”.
Hospitable Turkmenbashi offers its visitors a great time in restaurants that are located above the waters of the Caspian Sea. The unique atmosphere reigning in these establishments immerses tourists in a stunning world Turkmen cuisine. It is worth noting that most cafes and restaurants in Turkmenbashi offer their customers not only treats national cuisine, but also dishes from other countries of the world.
Food prices in Turkmenbashi remain at the same level as throughout the country. So, dinner in a middle-class restaurant here will cost about $7 per person. And in amazing restaurants “over the water” you will have to pay a slightly larger amount for a two-course meal - about $10–12 per person.
Accommodation
The beautiful city of Turkmenbashi has always warmly welcomed its guests. On its territory there are many hotels of various classes. In the Avaza resort area you can find hotels whose level of comfort corresponds to four and five stars.
The most popular hotel among foreigners is “Turkmenbashi”. This hotel was the first on the entire Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to receive five-star status. All hotel rooms are equipped with modern, comfortable furniture, as well as all necessary technical equipment, such as air conditioning, TVs, refrigerators and telephones with international calling.
In addition, all guests can additionally use the services of restaurants, fitness clubs, gyms, saunas, swimming pools, a tennis court, parking, an entertainment center and other facilities located on the hotel premises. The cost of living at the Turkmenbashi Hotel depends on the type of room and its configuration. The average price for accommodation is around $150–200 per night.
In the city you can find a large number of small but very comfortable hotels. Accommodation in such establishments will cost much less than in large hotels. You can pay no more than $70 for one night.
Entertainment and relaxation
The main entertainment of the city of Turkmenbashi is concentrated in the Avaza resort area. This is a stunning natural area where spa treatment facilities are located, as well as numerous hotels and inns that meet all international standards. In addition, here are entertainment centers, restaurants, clubs, discos, gaming establishments. Every tourist will find something to their liking in Avaza. In the future they plan to build here ski slopes and a huge water park. Already today, many people call Avaza a national tourist zone. Fishing, rowing and yachting are especially popular here.
In addition, Turkmenbashi offers travelers exciting excursions to the sights of the city and its surroundings. The most visited places are Dehistan, the Parau-Bibi Mosque and the Khazar Reserve.
Purchases
In Turkmenbashi there are a huge number of souvenir shops and shops that sell various commemorative goods. The most popular purchases among foreign tourists are items of national costume, silk and wool items, skullcaps, telpaks, jewelry, and various figurines. As a rule, most travelers prefer to purchase statues of horses - a symbol of the state. And, of course, few foreigners returned home without a magnificent Turkmen carpet. Turkmenbashi has a large number of shops specializing in the sale of carpets. It is worth noting that it is best to purchase such an expensive product (at least $300) exclusively in government stores, since only there sellers can issue you a special certificate confirming the fact of purchase. In addition, the price of the carpet already includes tax, which is required to be paid when exporting the carpet abroad.
Carpets and felt mats can also be purchased at local city markets. True, their quality will be slightly lower than in government retail outlets.
All payments for purchases are made only in national currency- manat.
Transport
Turkmenbashi is a major transport hub. There is a railway with a high freight and passenger turnover here. Turkmenbashi is the largest port in Turkmenistan, and there is an airport near the city.
Air travel is carried out by the state air carrier Turkmenistan Airlines. Turkmenbashi is connected by air to Ashgabat, Turkmenabad and Dashoguz. Air travel within the country is mainly used by foreign tourists who want to travel around railway It doesn't seem comfortable enough on trains. The price for domestic flights is low - only $7–10.
The railway is the main transport linking Turkmenbashi with other major cities states. It transports several hundred thousand cargoes brought to the port every day. Passenger trains go in the direction of Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat, Mary. The ticket price is about $2.5 per reserved seat carriage and just over $4 for travel in a comfortable SV.
As a major seaport, Turkmenbashi is connected by ferry to major ports in other countries, in particular Baku in Azerbaijan and Astrakhan in Russia. Interestingly, the crossing is by rail. Each of the operating ferries carries up to 28 railway cars and about 200 passengers. The price of such a crossing ranges from $20 to $40. There is also excellent cargo communication between the ports of Baku, Astrakhan and Turkmenbashi.
The city's public transport is represented by buses and taxis. At the same time, most foreigners prefer the services of the latest cab drivers. Cost of a ticket to travel to public transport Turkmenbashi is about $0.1–0.15. You will have to pay a little more for a taxi ride - about $1.
Connection
In Turkmenbashi, telephone communications are somewhat less developed than in the capital of the state. Although there are street telephones here, they are only suitable for city communications. In addition, the quality of communication from these machines leaves much to be desired. For international calls, you can use telephones installed in hotels, as well as in any post office. The cost of a call abroad is approximately $1.
mobile connection in Turkmenbashi has received greater development than the stationary one. The cellular network is provided by two operators: TM CELL and MTS-Turkmenistan. By the way, these companies perfectly support roaming of all major global operators cellular communications, including Russian ones. When traveling around Turkmenbashi, you can purchase a SIM card from any local operator and talk to your family at a price of $0.25 per minute of call.
The Internet connection in the city is excellent. There are cozy Internet cafes on the central streets of Turkmenbashi, as well as in large hotels. Interestingly, in addition to the indicated places, access to the Network is also provided by various large establishments and the airport. It is worth noting that the cost of one hour of work on the Internet will cost you only $2.
Safety
Turkmenbashi enjoys a reputation as a relatively calm and safe city. True, the status of a major transport center with huge passenger traffic makes it attractive to pickpockets and scammers. It is worth noting that more serious offenses against foreign citizens were not recorded. Remember that when you are in places large cluster people need to be extremely attentive to their belongings and wallets. It is best to leave valuables at the hotel.
However, with regard to sanitation, everything is not so good: as in any Asian city, in Turkmenbashi there is a risk of contracting such serious diseases as dysentery, malaria, hepatitis, and typhoid. Before coming here you must have all required vaccinations.
In addition, the local tap water is completely unsuitable for consumption. To begin with, it is recommended to boil it and only then drink or brush your teeth. When purchasing food from local stores or markets, you should wash it thoroughly afterwards. Especially fruits and vegetables. And products such as meat or fish must be heat treated before eating.
Business climate
The seaside city of Turkmenbashi is attractive to investors primarily for its oil business - the city is home to a whole complex of oil refineries. The city and country authorities have adopted a number of laws regulating relations between foreign investors and state-owned enterprises. It is worth noting that under these laws, joint ventures receive a number of additional tax benefits and product certification.
In addition, recently there has been an increase in tourist interest in Turkmenbashi, especially after the opening resort area"Avaza". Most foreign investments are made in the tourism business. Opening large hotels and entertainment venues is a very quickly profitable business.
Real estate
Real estate in Turkmenbashi has received very high praise from experts from all over the world. It is worth noting that the increased interest from investors is due to the policy pursued in the real estate market (there are no restrictions on the sale of housing for foreign citizens), as well as the implementation of many measures to attract tourists to the city and its surroundings. In particular, the creation of the Avaza resort and recreational zone was of great importance in the development of the Turkmenbashi real estate market.
The cost per square meter in Turkmenbashi is slightly lower than in the capital of the state, and in comparison with other cities in the country it is slightly higher than the average. To buy a small apartment in residential area Turkmenbashi needs to prepare an amount of $25,000–30,000. Most businessmen who buy real estate for the subsequent organization of a hotel or hostel give preference to country cottages. The cost of real estate of this kind is noticeably higher than a simple apartment. The price of an average-sized house along with the cost land plot is about $45,000. It has been noted that the suburban housing market today is experiencing certain difficulties associated with fluctuations in land prices.
Beautiful Turkmenbashi charms tourists with its cordiality and hospitality. For an unforgettable and safe holiday in that magnificent city Several important rules must be followed.
All tourists coming to Turkmenbashi are required to stay only at the hotel that was indicated in the invitation travel agency and was the basis for registration entry visa. Travel of foreign tourists in some areas, mainly in protected areas, is possible only when accompanied by a representative travel company. It is worth noting that video and photography also requires special permission from local authorities or the population.
Staying in Turkmenbashi is possible only after appropriate preventive vaccinations - against typhoid, malaria, dysentery and hepatitis. By the way, during the hot period of the year the problem of preventing dysentery is especially acute in the city.
The hot weather of Turkmenbashi is unusual for many tourists, so in order to avoid troubles, it is advisable to always have sunscreen cosmetics, hats and repellents with you that will protect you from annoying insects.
When purchasing souvenirs, remember that not all goods are allowed for export abroad. It is strictly forbidden to export any types of fish and black caviar. In addition, when purchasing carpet products, you must provide the customs authorities with a special certificate confirming the purchase of the goods, payment of the appropriate tax, and the age of the carpet. Products whose age does not exceed 50 years are allowed for export abroad.
Today I want to tell you about the city of Turkmenbashi, named after the past great leader and father of all Turkmen Turkmenbashi. It’s funny that almost all Russian-speaking Turkmens continue to call it Krasnovodsk in the old fashioned way. The new name is not taking root well. This, by the way, is a widespread phenomenon in Turkmenistan. Despite the fact that all the main streets and cities in Turkmenistan have long been renamed, locals are reluctant to use the new names. Until now, Lenin Street is in use instead of Turkmenbashi or Moskovskaya instead... But what difference does it make what it is called now, the three Turkmens I interviewed could not remember the new name.
But let's return to Turkmenbashi. The city is young. It was founded in 1869 by Russian soldiers. In the 20th century, Krasnovodsk turned into a transport, trade and oil refining center of Turkmenistan.
Turkmenbashi is interesting because it is not at all touristy, which means you can see how ordinary people live. This will be especially useful for all those who drool pink over the polished scenery of Ashgabat. Look how people live.
For at least the last five years, Turkmenbashi has been on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The fact is that a tourist zone called Avaza is being actively built next to it. It attracted the attention of city and state authorities and left Turkmenbashi practically without water and electricity.
Opposition Turkmen media say that residents of Turkmenbashi experience a shortage of drinking water every day. The communal system has not seen repairs for many years; the sewerage and water supply systems are in terrible condition. There is no water for weeks; last summer it was turned on for 3-4 hours in the evenings, and not every day. A characteristic feature of the city is water tanks in all courtyards.
People no longer know where to complain, they call and write to Ashgabat, but the authorities say that they cannot do anything. One local resident told reporters that she sends bags of dirty laundry to relatives in the capital because she has nowhere and nothing to wash it with.
Locals confirmed to me that everything is really very bad with water, but even worse with electricity and roads. There is nothing.
The airport was built new, but it is aimed at tourists who come to Avaza. The airport is even called international, although there are no international flights from it. At the exit, a crowd of Turkmen offers the services of taxi drivers. 
01. The city itself is small, spread out on the coastal hills. 
02. Like the whole of Turkmenistan, it is divided into two parts. The first one is the front door. This is what potential tourists can see. Ideal roads, ideal cleanliness. A fairy tale city, a dream city. The second part is real: dirty, ruined and poor. 
03. One of the few historical buildings that has survived to this day is the station. 
04. The station was restored, for some reason ugly plastic windows were installed. 
05. Soviet monuments were also left, but with a reservation. Firstly, they were all repainted gold. Secondly, on many monuments heads of Slavic appearance were replaced with heads of Turkmen appearance (if I may say so). 
06. Monument to the fisherman. People call it a monument to a poacher. 
07. Soviet buildings have been preserved on the main street. 
08. The photo clearly shows the Turkmen show off. Here only the main facade is painted, only what guests passing by can see. 
09. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter what. 
10. Gate 
11. The old Soviet hotel has survived to this day unchanged. 
12. Real streets look something like this. 
13. And so. The woman got water and carries it into the house. This is the city center, there has been no water for three days. 
14. Main street: perfectly smooth asphalt, clean houses, lanterns. There are two janitors on the left. If women find a cigarette butt or piece of paper, they will rush to the garbage like a hungry student to a pack of Doshirak. 
15. The facade of the house, which faces main street, with new tinted windows so that the apartments cannot be seen through them. “Is it possible to install transparent windows?” – I asked a local resident. “If your windows face the main street, you can’t, only blue ones...” the local resident answered sadly. “It would be better if they put pink ones, it would be more fun!” – his companion joked. The couple laughed. Note the water tanks to the left of the house. 
16. From the other side the house looks like this. This is the real Turkmenistan, which no one will show you. Again, look at the giant water tanks in the background. Please note that there is no asphalt either. 
17. Behind the scenery is life! Without water, electricity and roads. In those hours when water begins to flow through the pipes in Turkmenbashi, city residents drop everything and run to stock it. The water from the tap usually flows dirty, but no one cares because there is no other one. Basins, pots, baths and, of course, special tanks are used. From these reservoirs, people are laying improvised water pipes so that the water supply goes directly to the apartments. 
18.
19. Everyone has plates. 
20. The first floors are taken over by courtyards. 
21.
22.
23.
24. Again water tanks, from which water supply goes to the apartments. 
You can't survive here without this. 
25. Instead of fixing the water supply, the authorities are building palaces and golden statues of leaders. So that dear readers can drool over how good everything is with the Turkmens. Why do we need water, why do we need electricity in our houses? It’s better to have a palace! 
26. And this is what the school looks like main road. 
27. And this is an exemplary kindergarten. I didn't see any children there, although it was a weekday. It is sure to be shown to tourists as a symbol of a successful and prosperous Turkmenistan. 
28. And this is the Turkmenbashi hotel. Yes, it was about him that the joke was “Come to Turkmenbashi (city) to Turkmenbashi (month) along Turkmenbashi (street) to Turkmenbashi (hotel).” And all this through Turkmenbashi airport. 
29. Beauty! Attention to banners. 
30. Banners along the road cover up unsightly buildings. 
31. Real Krasnovodsk. 
32. Wedding car decoration
33. Beautiful
34.
35. Shawarma is called kebab here ( 
36. Fish is sold right on the sidewalk. 
37. Women wear national dresses.
38. Schoolgirls all over the country wear green uniforms. 
40. Young animals
41. Boys must wear suits. 
42. I wanted to go to the bank... 
43. Fuck it! You can't just go to the bank! Sneakers are not allowed! Yes, this is not a joke. 
44. A lot of Soviet equipment is still in use in Turkmenistan. In no other country have I seen as much retro junk as there is in Turkmenistan. The country is actually poor, if you scrape off the gilding from the decorations. 
45. Market 
46.
47. Last summer, Turkmenbashi residents complained to journalists that the local market had very expensive products. They blame the price hike on visiting workers involved in construction projects in Avaza:
There are so many of them that they now make up half of the total population of our city. They say this: if all migrant workers are sent home, then prices at the market will return to normal, and it will be easier to get a job.
48. 
49. All the vegetables are Turkish, almost nothing of our own. Tomatoes for 100 rubles. Inexpensive. 
50. Everything is plastic, just like in Moscow. 
52. Golden teeth;) Let me remind you that Turkmenbashi fought with them at one time. 
53. That's it. 
For some reason, Turkmenistan is often compared in comments to the UAE, or more precisely, to the emirate of Dubai. The comparison is fundamentally incorrect. There is not much local population in Dubai, in this they are very similar to the Turkmens. But only the natives of Dubai live like this:
And this is the Al-Barsha area. A foreigner cannot buy real estate here. Luxurious villas, good cars. I have not seen a single collapsed house or poor Dubai citizen in Dubai. All sorts of guest workers from Bangladesh or Indians live in poverty. And in Turkmenistan, one of the richest post-Soviet republics, the leader took away all the wealth. And now he decides whether to build him a new golden statue, a new palace, or cover everything with white marble. And ordinary people live the same way as ours. There is no Turkmen miracle.
Continue tomorrow.
Small cozy city , located on the shore of Krasnovodsk Bay, which is 520 km northwest of Ashgabat a. The city lies at an altitude of 27 m above sea level, surrounded on the east by a semicircle of low mountains and hills. Turkmenbashi- one of the country's largest ports on the Caspian Sea. Previously, until 1993, the city was called Krasnovodsk and was renamed in honor of the country's first president.
The population of the city according to 2005 data is 68.3 thousand people. Ethnic composition: Turkmens, Russians, Kazakhs, Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Armenians.
Main active denominations- Sunni Muslims and Christians. State language is Turkmen, Russian is recognized as the language of interethnic communication.
The climate of the region is moderate continental. The absolute summer maximum temperatures occur in July (+ 44.7 C), the absolute minimum in January and February (-21.5 C). The highest rainfall occurs in spring and autumn. average temperature water on the coast during the swimming season is + 23 C.
Turkmenbashi- a relatively young, developing city, it was founded in 1969 by a military expedition led by Russian General Stoletov. Due to circumstances (a strong storm), the expedition squadron, consisting of several ships, did not approach the shore at the same time (from October 31 to November 6), so there is no exact date for the founding of the city. The bay, surrounded on all sides by mountains, seemed completely windless to the pioneers ideal place, and therefore it was decided to establish a guard fortress and a fortified fort here.
The military settlement was named Krasnovodsk, since the local population used the toponym to define this territory Kyzyl-Su (« red water"). The military fort began to grow rapidly, involving it in trade, economic and cultural relations local tribes Turkmen
Initially, a very tiny town was built, intended only for Russian military personnel and officials, but with the development of trade it began to expand, merchants - merchants - Armenians and Persians settled here. And when in late XIX, at the beginning of the 20th century, construction began in the region Transcaspian railway, the city began to develop at an unprecedented pace and soon turned into the most important transport and shopping mall Turkmenistan a.
Today is a modern city Krasnovodsk, renamed to Turkmenbashi, is a fairly large industrial, commercial and cultural center country, one of the main ports on Caspian Sea. Turkmenbashi is proud of its oil refining, food, light and ship repair industries, and of course, its rapidly developing tourism and transport infrastructure.
The city has its own airport and train station, serving both local and long-distance destinations, but of course, the main role here is played by the ferry terminal, connecting Turkmenistan with an Azerbaijani city Baku.
And even though there are no monuments in the city ancient history and incredibly exciting archaeological excavations, nevertheless, curious tourists will find something to see here too.
Well, firstly, this is, of course, the sea, warm, gentle and almost always calm, with very clean water and many kilometers of beaches. The developing resort business will provide an opportunity not only to have a good rest, but also to seriously improve your health, thanks to the radon waters and mud discovered nearby Lake Molla-Kara, which are delivered to local sanatoriums in tanks.
Secondly, this is urban architecture, partially preserved from the 19th century. Just one building railway station, built by an unknown architect in the Moorish style and is the most beautiful on Central Asian Railway, will cause the liveliest delight. And the structure of a modern port, which looks like a sailing ship, with many new, modern piers, is not an object of admiration for the idle traveler.
Yes and in the surrounding area Turkmenbashi there is a mass most interesting places, arousing genuine curiosity. This and Parau-Bibi Mosque- one of the main shrines for Muslim women in the country, and Shir-Kabib mausoleum- the oldest place of pilgrimage in the country, ancient settlements of Dehistan And Misrian, and Sumbar Valley with charming natural landscapes, beautiful groves and the famous old oak tree, located near the village Garrygala and many many others.
Tourist attractions of Turkmenbashi.
Avaza
Avaza receives guests. More recently, in 2007, the project of creating the largest tourist zone in the city of Turkmenbashi, initiated by the head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, seemed like a distant and unrealizable dream. The plan was extremely simple, to realize the natural and economic resource of one of the best sea coasts, to show the openness of Turkmenistan and readiness...
Parau-Bibi Mosque
The white mosque, standing in splendid isolation on one of the cliffs of the Kopetdag, is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Muslim women. Exists beautiful legend, associated with the emergence of this shrine. According to her, Parau-Bibi was a beautiful young girl from one of the Turkmen tribes. One day, cruel nomads attacked, and their leader was simply blinded by the beauty of the young villager, he promised...
Mausoleum Shir-Kabib
The Shir-Kabib mosque or the mosque “on wooden pillars” is the oldest building of this type in Turkmenistan. It is located six kilometers from Dehistan in the very center of the Muslim necropolis Mashad, and in another way, its name sounds like the mausoleum of Ali ibn Sukkari “Shir-Kabib”. This monument belongs to the famous Serakh school and dates back to 10 ...
Dehistan
The bare, waterless area of Dehistan, which lies in the southwest of Turkmenistan, near the Caspian Sea. Once upon a time it was a blooming oasis surrounded by deep rivers, but time is evil. The heyday of Dehistan, which occurred in the 3rd century BC. passed, the rivers dried up, the gardens were covered with sand, and the strong tribe of ancient Turkmens - the Dahams, who came here to replace the Massagetae, Hephthalites and Saks, had the same thing...
Misrian
The ancient settlement is the largest historical monument on the territory of Dehistan. Only poorly preserved ruins have survived to this day. ancient city, but even what has survived makes a great impression. Already by appearance one can determine that it was a highly developed medieval city, consisting of a citadel, shakhristan - an urban settlement and rabads - handicrafts...
Turkmenbashi- a port city located in the Balkan velayat on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Until 1993, the city was called Krasnovodsk - the city's name was actually a translation of the local toponym "Kyzyl-Su". In 1993 it was renamed in honor of the first president of Turkmenistan, Turkmenbashi Saparmurat Niyazov. According to the 2005 census, the population is 68 thousand people. Oil refining, food (as well as fishing), light industry are developed here, there is an oil refinery, ship repair, a memorial museum of 26 Baku commissars, and a local history museum.
The city of Turkmenbashi is the first important port and gateway of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan, and the Avaza national tourist zone is the first recreation area in the country.
Transport.
The city is important transport node, educated seaport with a ferry terminal, a railway and an airport with a runway capable of handling all types of aircraft. Also currently under construction new airport, railway and multi-lane expressway Ashgabat - Turkmenbashi.
Sights of Turkmenbashi
Avaza- actively developing seaside resort, located 12 km west of the city center.
Parau-bibi Mosque. The small white mosque of Parau-bibi is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Muslim women. She stands all alone on one of the rocks of the Kopetdag.
There is a beautiful legend dedicated to the history of the mosque. According to this legend, Parau-bibi was a beautiful Turkmen woman who lived in one of the villages. Somehow they promised to hand it over to the advancing enemies. To escape, she ran into the mountains and prayed. Then the rock moved apart and hid Parau-Bibi forever. A mosque arose on this site. A crooked staircase leads to the mosque. Halfway along you can see the imprints in the rock that Parau-bibi left: from the knee, elbow, finger and forehead. Today, hundreds of women come to a small mosque and ask Parau-bibi, the patroness of pregnant women and children, to help them maintain their beauty, find a good husband and many children.
Also, according to legend, lying a little further away, several sickle-shaped stones were previously pieces of melon, which Parau-bibi, in a panic, threw at the approaching enemies. According to custom, young women step on these stones. If the stone begins to rotate, it means everything will be fine. If it doesn’t rotate, then in a year you need to try again, returning to these beautiful places.
Mausoleum Shir-Kabib. 6 km from Dehistan is the ancient burial place of Mashad - a Muslim necropolis with the famous mausoleum of Ali ibn Sukkari or “Shir-Kabir” located in the center. The monument belongs to the buildings of the prestigious Serakh architectural school and dates back to the 10th century. The walls of the building, made of square mud bricks, were decorated from base to dome with carved ganch with scrollwork, foliate patterns and Kufic inscriptions, and painted in blue, red and pistachio green.
Caravanserai Tasharvat. The picturesque ruins of the Tasharvat caravanserai lie 38 km from the city of Balkanabad, the capital of the Balkan velayat. During the functioning of the Great Silk Road, the caravanserai was of great importance for the caravans passing by, in which they made a stop on the way of their long wanderings.
The caravanserai building is a rectangular fortification with a stone wall, inside of which are the ruins of a residential building. Near the caravanserai there was an elm grove of 100 trees. The first mention of the Tasharvat fortification was discovered in 1871-1872. Archaeological research has shown that the building was inhabited at the end of the 19th century.
Dehistan
is a clayey, waterless plain in the southwest of Turkmenistan near the Caspian Sea. But this area was not always so deserted and inconspicuous. Once upon a time, during its heyday, life was in full swing here, gardens were blooming, fields were green, surrounded by the life-giving waters of rivers. Already in the 3rd millennium BC. this territory was actively developed by the first farmers who came here, and in the 3rd-6th centuries, numerous Turkic tribes began to come to the oasis, irrigated by the Atrek River: the Sakas, Massagetae, Hephthalites. But the most powerful tribal union was headed by the Dahi (hence the name of the area), who created large fortified strongholds and settlements (Shadur-kala, Akga-kala).
Misrian- a settlement located on the territory of Dehistan and is its largest historical monument. Only the ruins of this huge settlement have reached us, but even from them we can say that at one time it was a place with the highest level cultural development. The city consisted of shakhristan (citadel), rabat (suburb) and densely populated artisan quarters surrounding it on all sides. The true size of the ancient city has not been clearly established, since not enough information about it has been preserved. In the 10th-13th centuries, the citadel was surrounded by a powerful fortress wall, which was guarded by two rows of sentinels.
Excursion around the city of Turkmenbashi.
“I demand from my city: asphalt, sewerage and hot water. As for culture, I myself am cultured.”
Karl Kraus.
This November marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city of Krasnovodsk (present-day Turkmenbashi). Krasnovodsk is the oldest modern city in Turkmenistan.
The history of the city is inextricably linked with the history of Russian-Turkmen relations, which had both white and black pages.
The first Russian military-scientific expeditions to the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea were organized at the beginning of the 18th century, in particular three times in the period from 1715 to 1717.
In 1716 on east coast In the Caspian Sea, three fortresses with small garrisons were built, one of which was located in the Kizyl-Su Bay.
In 1717, a large expedition was organized under the leadership of Bekovich-Cherkassky.
Up to 3 thousand people, 6 thousand horses, and a large number of camels took part in it. Despite the fact that Bekovich-Cherkassky sent ambassadors to the Khan of Khiva Shirgazi, that he was the ambassador of the Russian state, the latter attacked him 120 kilometers from Khiva.
As a result of the fighting, the Khivans suffered heavy losses, despite their multiple superiority. Russian troops were better armed and disciplined. Realizing that it would not be possible to win in a fair battle, the Khan of Khiva resorted to cunning.
He expressed regret about what happened and invited Bekovich-Cherkassky and his entire squad to visit. The detachment was divided into five parts. Soon they were dealt with separately.
Bekovich-Cherkassky himself was beheaded. This is how the first major Russian expedition to Russia ended sadly. Central Asia. The events of 1717 did not become a big obstacle to the further expansion of relations between the Turkmens and Russia.
In 1719 and 1726, new expeditions were launched, as a result of which the first scientific map of the Caspian Sea was created. In the second half of the 18th century, the Russian state several times sent expeditions to the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea.
In 1773 and 1781, expeditions led by S. Gmelin and Count M. Voinovich were on the island of Cheleken. They emphasized that their people were received cordially and friendly by the Turkmens of the coast.
In 1801 - 1802, representatives of the Turkmen of Mangyshlak arrived in St. Petersburg with a request to accept them as Russian citizenship. In May 1802, Alexander the First, by a special decree, announced the acceptance of the Turkmen of Mangyshlak under the protection and citizenship of Russia.
In 1811, part of the Turkmen of Mangyshlak moved to Astrakhan, where their ancestors still live. According to the 2002 population census in Astrakhan region About 2,200 Turkmen lived there.
Expeditions were organized in 1819-1821, 1832, 1836. In 1836, the Maslakhat of the Caspian Yomuds took place in Esenguly. It was attended by 118 representatives selected from approximately 180 thousand population of the region.
After a general exchange of views, it was decided that it was necessary to ask Russia for protection. In 1859, an expedition was organized to explore east coast Caspian Sea, as well as selection of a site for the construction of a fort.
Krasnovodsk was examined in detail
bay, depth measurements were taken. In November 1869, a military detachment led by N.G. Stoletov founded the city of Krasnovodsk, on the site of the ancient Shagadam well. The process of Turkmenistan joining the Russian Empire, which was not always voluntary.
In 1870-1872, several expeditions were organized from Krasnovodsk deep into the Turkmen lands. In 1874, the Trans-Caspian Military Department was created, the center of which became Krasnovodsk.
Earlier in 1873, the Krasnovodsk police station was created. On the basis of the department, the Trans-Caspian region was created in 1882. In June 1880, construction of the first railway in the history of Turkmenistan began.
The highway started from the shore of the Mikhailovsky Bay of the Caspian Sea and already in September 1881 was brought to Kizylarvat. Krasnovodsk becomes a sea trade port.
Being an important transshipment point for goods, it is becoming the “gateway of Central Asia”. In 1908, the number of workers in the city reached 1.5 thousand people. In 1913, about 1 million tons of cargo were transported along the Trans-Caspian Railway.
By 1913, 7,000 people lived in Krasnovodsk. The ethnic composition of the population, both at that time and subsequently, was varied - Russians, Persians, Tatars, Poles, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Kazakhs.
Not many Turkmens lived, mainly in nearby villages. The city has trading warehouses, a bazaar, hotels, port facilities, offices of companies and communities, including oil production.
In 1917, after the October Revolution, power in the city passed to the Bolsheviks. In July 1918, power was seized by the right-wing Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks as a result of a coup.
In February 1920, the Red Army again captured the city. In the 1930s, Krasnovodsk, as well as throughout Turkmenistan, experienced rapid industrial growth. In 1939, 21 thousand people already lived in the city.
The development of the city required qualified specialists. Due to their influx, the city's population grew. In 1943, during the difficult years of the war, the Krasnovodsk oil refinery produced its first products.
The country at that time was especially in need of petroleum products. In 1940, the TSSR was already producing 540 thousand tons of oil per year. In the 50s and 60s, Krasnovodsk became a major industrial center of Turkmenistan.
The oil refining, food industries, construction materials production, and energy industries are developing here. In 1972, 51 thousand people already lived in the city.
There is a pedagogical and medical school in Krasnovodsk. In 1989, the population of the seaside city reached 58,900 people. It should be noted that in the 70-80s, population growth slowed down significantly.
In Krasnovodsk, even then, trends towards an outflow of population to Ashgabat and central areas THE USSR. City before 1987 administrative center Krasnovodsk region, which was subsequently abolished and re-created in January 1991, but with its center in the city of Nebit-dag.
Since 1992, it has been renamed Balkan. In 1993, the city was renamed in honor of the President of Turkmenistan - Turkmenbashi. In the 90s there was a strong outflow of residents to the republics former USSR and to Ashgabat.
According to the 1995 census, Krasnovodsk is the only locality Turkmenistan, where Russians made up the majority of the population (32.8%). Krasnovodsk continued to remain one of the most multinational cities in Turkmenistan.
Numerous communities of Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Germans, Lezgins, Uzbeks, and Kazakhs were represented here. In 1999, the five millionth resident of Turkmenistan was born in the city.
In 2005, the city had 68,300 inhabitants. Krasnovodsk is in many ways a unique city in Turkmenistan. And it's not just its seaside location. It is the only one where entire blocks built up with buildings that are a hundred or more years old have been preserved.
The architecture of the city is also original, which has certain Caucasian features, somewhat similar to Baku. As before, the main problem of the city is water supply.
Despite the fact that a lot of work has been done in this regard, this problem continues to occur. In the second half of the 20th century, Krasnovodsk grew significantly in size.
New microdistricts were built - Cheryomushki, as well as residential areas west of the city. However, over the past 20 years, not a single new multi-storey residential building has been built in the city, but there are logical explanations for this, including due to the strong outflow of population during this period.
An important problem for the city is ecology. This issue is especially relevant due to the proximity of the city oil refinery and thermal power plant. In 2010, large-scale work began to clear the city port of old ships.
There were dozens of the latter. In 2000, the first two modern hotels– Turkmenbashi and Serdar. In 2007, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov put forward the idea of building a National Tourist Zone in the town of Avaza, 12 kilometers west of Turkmenbashi.
Over these 4 years, 10 new hotels, several holiday homes, two children's health camps, cottage holiday homes, cafes, amphitheaters and other facilities have already been built here.
Among them is a seven-kilometer canal. In the future, it is planned to build a water park, an indoor ski complex, parks, hotels and other tourist facilities.
There are plans for the construction of a new city, announced by the country’s president in 2008. big event for the city was the opening of a new international class airport that meets all requirements, with runway almost 4 kilometers.
Currently, international and local flights are operated from the airport, in particular to Istanbul and Moscow. This year a major transport interchange was opened, as well as new highways.
The city has one of the oldest Orthodox churches, founded in 1895. Walking through the streets of the old part of the city, you are immersed in the unique atmosphere of Krasnovodsk of the past, the way it was when it appeared.
Despite the fact that many buildings are a hundred years old or more, they are all functional. Many are still residential buildings.
