The capital of Turkmenistan: a journey to the Soviet past

In the middle of Central Asia, surrounded by Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea, lies a small but very ancient and beautiful country - Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, which is the capital of this politically neutral country, was founded in the middle of the century before last, although the exact date is unknown.

Today, Turkmenistan is the world's fourth largest natural gas resource, and the country's second largest (on a global scale) gas field is located on the territory of the country.

What else is the capital of Turkmenistan interesting? It is a city that has the rights of the region (or velayat, if one uses local terms). It is in it is concentrated almost 15% of the inhabitants of the whole republic.

One of the main and most beautiful buildings of Ashgabat is the Palace of Turkmenbashi. It is worth to look at, because of its grandeur and grandeur, it surpassed many of the world-famous buildings of Islamic culture.

The capital of Turkmenistan is proud of many other very original buildings and monuments. One of them is Turkmenbashi on top of the world. Yes, that's exactly what communist president Niyazov was, who made a pilgrimage to Mecca, receiving subsidies from Saudi Arabia, Russia and other states.

The Turkmen have a great respect for their state and believe that the capital of Turkmenistan is the lucky owner of the world's largest fountain. It really does impress the imagination with its size and architecture.

The city has many monuments to the historical figures of Turkmenistan. They are very original: all the figures proudly display to tourists the emblem of Niyazov - the eagle.

The absence of stereotypes is surprising for the whole of Turkmenistan, the capital of it is a real discovery for people who are used to think in patterns. In Ashgabat, the authoritarian Niyazov's personality is cultivated, which, without hiding, shows golden statues, pretentious monuments, personal emblems and expensive palaces.

Some of the population still wears national clothes: the new president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who has been in power since 2006, is in no hurry to change the situation. His name and to this day are called military units, schools, and his portraits, as well as his predecessor, decorate almost every building in the city.

But today the capital of Turkmenistan surprises tourists not only by carefully preserving the remnants of the communist past. The city is home to the world's largest Carpet Museum, which has hundreds of the best products from around the world.

The capital of Turkmenistan cares about its inhabitants. For children, Disneyland is built here, which has operating copies of all local landmarks, including the Caspian and the country map. The park - the embodiment of all folk tales - is not inferior to its foreign namesakes.

Unique surviving mosques, historical architectural complexes, observation platforms, sports complexes are preserved in the city.

However, the capital of Turkmenistan does not know the night life. Perhaps this is the requirements of Islam, perhaps - the methodology of educating the youth. It is not worth to count on a pleasant night pastime in Ashgabat.

But, after visiting this country, you can recall how people lived in the Land of Soviets.