📖 About Ashgabat

Ashgabat, the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan, is home to a metropolitan population of 922,000 as of 2024, representing approximately 50% of the nation's total population. The city holds a unique distinction in the Guinness World Records for having the highest density of white marble-clad buildings in the world, with 543 structures covered in white Carrara marble. Ashgabat's economy accounts for more than 27% of Turkmenistan's GDP, spanning key sectors including industry, construction, transport, communications, finance, and retail.

Founded in 1881 as a Russian military fort, Ashgabat has evolved into Central Asia's most distinctive capital, situated at the edge of the vast Karakum Desert. The city's dramatic transformation accelerated following independence in 1991, with massive investments in infrastructure, monuments, and public spaces. The city also holds the Guinness record for the greatest number of fountain pools in a public space, showcasing the government's commitment to creating an impressive urban environment despite the desert climate.

Ashgabat boasts a 2,300-year history dating back to the Parthian Empire, though the modern city was virtually rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1948 that killed an estimated 110,000-176,000 people—two-thirds of the population. Today, visitors are drawn to its unique blend of ancient historical sites like Old Nisa and ultra-modern architecture, making it one of the world's most visually striking and unusual capital cities.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Ashgabat's economy represents more than 27% of Turkmenistan's GDP, with major industrial segments including electric power generation, building material production, and light and food industries. The construction sector plays a particularly significant role, accounting for over 6.6% of the country's GDP. Hydrocarbon exports, predominantly natural gas to China, make up 25% of Turkmenistan's national GDP, with much of this economic activity centered in or flowing through the capital.

The city serves as Turkmenistan's cultural heart, blending traditional Turkmen heritage with modern aspirations. Traditional Turkmen carpet weaving, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, remains an important cultural practice. The city hosts numerous cultural events and festivals celebrating Turkmen traditions, while modern venues like the Alem Cultural Center represent the nation's embrace of contemporary entertainment. Despite being a closed society with limited tourism, Ashgabat maintains a unique cultural identity reflected in its distinctive white marble architecture, grand public spaces, and carefully curated image as a showcase capital.

📜 History

Ashgabat's history stretches back 2,300 years to the Parthian Empire, when the ancient city of Konjikala occupied the site in the 2nd century BC. This strategic location on the Great Silk Road allowed the settlement to flourish until the 13th century when it was destroyed by the Mongols. The modern city was founded in 1881 as a Russian military fort named Askhabad, taking its name from a nearby Turkmen settlement. Its strategic position on caravan routes and the Transcaspian Railway attracted rapid growth, with the population exceeding 45,000 by 1911.

The city experienced several name changes and dramatic events throughout the 20th century. From 1919 to 1927, it was renamed Poltoratsk after local revolutionary Pavel Poltoratskiy before reverting to Ashkhabad. On October 6, 1948, one of the most violent earthquakes ever registered in the region, estimated at 7.3 magnitude, virtually destroyed the city and killed an estimated 110,000-176,000 people—two-thirds of the population. The city was rebuilt on the same regular plan with Soviet urban planning principles. Following Turkmenistan's independence in 1991, the government officially adopted the Turkmen version Ashgabat in 1992. In 2021, the city celebrated 140 years of its written history, having transformed from a small military outpost into one of Central Asia's most distinctive and architecturally unique capitals.