Hostels in ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN

Ashgabat – The City of Love with Marble and Gold Structures

Ashgabat is the capital city of Turkmenistan, located between the Kara Kum Desert and the Kopet Dag Mountains. The name of the city translates to ‘the city of love’ and it is one of the most developed cities of the nation. The monuments and ancient buildings form the treasure of the city.

History:
Ashgabat is known to be constructed on the site of Konjikala, an ancient city on the famous Silk Route. The ancient city was destroyed twice, first by an earthquake in the 1st century BC and second by the Mongol attackers in the 13th century AD. After its destruction for the second time, Ashgabat was constructed as a village that survived for many centuries. It was till the 19th century that the city remained mainly under the control of Persian rulers. After that, the city was taken over by the Russian forces. Under the Russian rules, the city was chosen as the administrative centre for two times. The city also became the capital of Turkmen SSR in 1925. After Turkmenistan gained independence in 1991, Ashgabat became the capital of the newly formed nation.

Popular Places:
The Neutrality Arch is the main attraction of the city, as it was constructed as the symbol of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. The ornate inscriptions, along with the elevator made up of glass are some of the best features of this spot. Also, there is a gold-plated statue of Saparmurat Niyazov, the first president of independent nation. Turkmenistan History Museum and the Exhibition of Economic Achievements are other popular sites of the city. One can also find a famous monument of the Russian leader Lenin, known for its Islamic style of construction.

Turkmen Carpet Museum is the world-famous museum displaying the famous artwork of the country. The Azadi Mosque and the Iranian Mosque can also be included in the list of popular tourist places. Among other places are the Palace of Turkmenbashi, the Museum of Turkmen Values, the Museum of Turkmen Values, the Earthquake Museum and the Earthquake Memorial. The Independence Park is known for white marble towers and fountains.

Getting Around:
Buses and taxis are the convenient options to explore different tourist places of the city, A guide to a smoother journey is to have some change handy to pay for your journey.

Places of Entertainment:
Magtymguly Theatre and DVD Cinema are among the popular places of entertainment in Ashgabat. Apart from them, one can find a number of clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs as the wonderful entertainment venues of the city. The Ashgabat Zoo is the place to watch lions and beers. One can shop for carpets and silver jewellery at various spots in the city. Restaurants and cafes are there to serve delicious foods, especially kebabs, and variety of drinks.

Accommodation Options:
Ashgabat has best accommodation facilities in the form of budget hotels, youth hostels, bed & breakfast, motels, guesthouse.

Currency:
The official currency of Ashgabat is New Manat, which is further divided into 100 tenge. TMT is the symbol used for the currency of the city. Banks in the city offer currency exchange facilities, check the internet and news for the latest exchange rates.    

Ashgabat group accommodation | Cheap Hostels & Budget Hotels worldwide