History of Turkmenbashi. Around the Caspian Sea

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 the 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 on the 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.

Turkmenbashi is a port city and a popular tourist center of Turkmenistan. It is located on the shores of the Krasnovodsk Bay of the Caspian Sea to the south of the desert plateau at the foot of Mount Shaga-dam. The surrounding arid landscape resembles a lunar landscape. Most excursions to seaside resort towns and mountains begin from Turkmenbashi. The coast of the Caspian Sea is known for its sandy beaches, clear water, and an abundance of marine flora and fauna, which allows for water sports.

General information

Turkmenbashi is located in the Balkan velayat on the shores of the Caspian Sea, 520 km northwest of Ashgabat, with which it is connected by road and railway. It is connected to Azerbaijani Baku on the western bank by a 306 km ferry crossing.

Until 1993, the city was called Krasnovodsk, according to one version, this is a translation of the local toponym Kyzyl-Su, associated with the fact that there was a lot of plankton with a pink tint in the water of the Krasnovodsk Bay. There are also other versions. In 1993, the city was renamed in honor of the first president of Turkmenistan, Turkmenbashi Saparmurat Niyazov.

The city has developed oil refining, food, including fishing and light industries. There is also an oil refinery located here. Turkmenbashi is the first important port of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan, and the Avaza tourist zone is the first recreation area in the country.

Story

Turkmenbashi is a relatively young city. It was founded in 1869 by a Russian expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel N.G. Stoletov. In October, the Russians took to the open sea and headed here to form a city on the coast of the Caspian Sea. But during their voyage there was a strong storm and all the ships were scattered across the sea. Therefore, each ship arrived in the bay at different times. The first arrived in the bay on October 31, the second on November 3 and the third on November 6. Because of this, the date of the founding of Krasnovodsk is an unclear issue: each of the three dates can be considered significant and chosen as the birthday of the city of Turkmenistan.

So, on the wild coast of the Krasnovodsk Bay, it was decided to build a fortress - a trading post. The builders considered this bay the best place to locate the new city, because it almost never freezes and is protected from strong winds on all sides.

Like many other centers of the country, Krasnovodsk owes its existence to the Russians, who occupied this Central Asian territory. Once on the shore, the sailors began to build not just a settlement here, but a system of economic, trade and cultural relations with the local Turkmen tribes.

Currently, tourists in Turkmenbashi may be interested not only in modern buildings that are appearing so actively, but also in some old buildings that can tell about the past of the city.

Every city has its own history and Turkmenbashi is no exception to this rule. Many buildings of past years in this area have not survived. The reason for this was probably certain circumstances, for example, wars that destroyed everything in their path. Or maybe it was the people themselves who were to blame, who failed to do so little - to preserve their heritage. The main task now is to preserve at least what remains. In addition, Turkmenbashi is currently laying claim to becoming a major tourist center of the country.

Naturally, the favorite places to visit for tourists are ancient historical monuments of past years. But every day the number of such places is decreasing. On the site of the ruins of the old city, new buildings are being erected - administrative buildings and modern hotels. Of course, such measures that the state is implementing cannot be ignored, because Turkmenbashi is a modern city that also needs to develop and move forward.

Any seaside city originates from a train station and seaport. The Turkmenbashi station in the Moorish style was built in 1895-1896, but the author of the work is unknown. The station building is one of the most beautiful on the entire Central Asian railway. The station square is adjacent to the memorial to soldiers who died during the war.

The sea trade port in Turkmenbashi developed rapidly. About a dozen piers were built. And not so long ago they built an interesting port management building in the form of a ship at sea.

Also, construction of a new international port began not long ago. Recently, Turkmen ships have mastered many sea routes, right up to the sea gate of Gibraltar. And the port itself is rapidly developing. Frontal modernization of portal cranes and long-distance vessels is underway. A radical reconstruction of port buildings, logistics centers and oil terminals is being carried out.

The new port, which is being built according to modern international standards, will receive both foreign ships and cruise ships, yachts and other vessels.

The main pride of Turkmenbashi is, of course, the sea. Everyone falls in love with him - guests and locals alike. This miracle of nature will not leave anyone indifferent.

Attractions

Avaza is an actively developing seaside resort in the east of the Caspian Sea. This tourist area of Turkmenistan is located 12 km west of the center of Turkmenbashi.

Avaza is a piece of paradise that stretches for 16 km. Currently, several hotels of world significance and medical and health facilities have already been built.

Parau-bibi Mosque is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Muslim women. This small white mosque is located on one of the rocks of Kopetdag.

There is one legend that is dedicated to the history of the appearance of the mosque. According to her, Parau-bibi was a beautiful Turkmen woman who lived in one of the villages. One day they promised to give her as a ransom to her enemies. To save herself, she ran to the mountains and began to pray. The rock moved apart and hid the girl forever. A mosque appeared on this site. A crooked staircase leads to it. Halfway along you can see the imprints in the rock that Parau-bibi left: from the elbow, knee, forehead and finger. Currently, 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 have many children.

Also, according to legend, several sickle-shaped stones lying a little further were previously melons that Parau-bibi threw at approaching enemies. According to custom, girls step on these stones. If the stone begins to rotate, it means that everything will be fine. If not, then after a year you need to try again, returning to these places.

Mausoleum of Shir-Kabir. 6 km from Dehistan is the ancient burial place of Mashad - a Muslim necropolis with the mausoleum of Ali ibn Sukkari or Shir-Kabir located in the center. The monument belongs to the buildings of the Serakh architectural school and dates back to the 10th century. The walls of the building, made of square mud bricks, were decorated from the base to the dome with carved ganch, Kufic inscriptions, foliage patterns, and painted in red, blue and green colors.

Shir-Kabir is also called a mosque “on wooden pillars.” It is the oldest surviving mosque on the territory of Turkmenistan. In addition, the unusual carved mihrab (prayer) oriented towards Mecca, which consists of three niches inscribed in each other, indicates that this mausoleum was primarily used as a mosque, and not just as a tomb.

Shir-Karir has been reconstructed several times; its interior retains decorative elements from the 10th century. Until now, the interior decoration bears the imprint of beauty and grandeur. For pilgrims, this place is a shrine, who, having visited it, claimed that after Mecca this is the only place on earth that is blessed by Allah.

Dehistan is a clay plain in the southwest of Turkmenistan near the Caspian Sea. But this area was not always so inconspicuous and deserted. Once upon a time, during its heyday, life was in full swing here, the gardens were blooming, the fields that surrounded the rivers were green. Already in the 3rd millennium BC. This territory was developed by the first farmers. In the 3rd-6th centuries, Turkic tribes began to come to the oasis, irrigated by the Atrek River: Massagetae, Hephthalites, Saki. But a more powerful tribal union was headed by the Dahi, who organized large strongholds and settlements.

Misrian– the ancient settlement, which is located on the territory of Dehistan, is the largest historical monument. Currently, only the ruins of this settlement remain, but even from them one can imagine that at one time this was an area with a high level of cultural development. The city included shakhristan (citadel), rabat (suburb) and densely populated artisan quarters surrounding it on all sides. The real size of the ancient city is not clear, because there is not enough data about it. In the 10th-13th centuries, the citadel was fenced with a powerful fortress wall, which was guarded by two rows of sentries.

Misrian can be considered the center of the craft. This is confirmed by the remains of hundreds of workshops that produced bricks, bronze cauldrons, lamps, ceramics and other products. Ceramics surprises with the high artistic level of plot and ornamental painting.

Also, a wide range of all kinds of glass products were produced, and master jewelers made their masterpieces from precious metals and were characterized by high professionalism and exquisite taste in the artistic processing of stone. In addition, a water supply system, baths, and city sewerage that were perfect for that time were found in Misrian, which serves as an indicator of the development of urban culture.

The more or less preserved monuments of Dehistan are two twenty-meter minarets. They are located only 120 m from each other, and according to surviving inscriptions, they were built at an interval of almost 200 years.

From one cathedral mosque, only two pylons of the portal remained with an amazingly rich decoration of plant-epigraphic style using polychrome glaze of the highest quality. During the reign of the Khorezmshahs, the city managed to experience active prosperity, but then was completely destroyed by Mongol troops. In the 15th century the city ceased to exist.

Caravanserai Tasharvat. The picturesque ruins of the Tasharat caravanserai are located 38 km from the city of Balkanabad, the capital of the Balkan velayat. During the Great Silk Road, the caravanserai played an important role for passing caravans, in which they stopped along the way of their wanderings.

A country	Turkmenistan
velayat	Balkan
National composition	Turkmens, Russians, Kazakhs, Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Armenians
Population	73,803 people (2010)
Coordinates	Coordinates: 40°01′00″ N. w. 52°58′00″ E. d. / 40.016667° n. w. 52.966667° E. d. (G) (O) (I)40°01′00″ n. w. 52°58′00″ E. d. / 40.016667° n. w. 52.966667° E. d. (G) (O) (I)
Ethnobury	Turkmenbashi residents, Krasnovodsk residents
Based	1869
Hyakim	Merdan Chaityev (from 04/01/2011)
Former names	Krasnovodsk
Official language	Turkmen
Vehicle code	BN
Confessional composition	Muslims, Christians
Telephone code	+ 993 243
Timezone	UTC+5
Center height	27 m
Postcode	745000

Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk; Turkmen: Trkmenbay) is a city in the Balkan velayat of Turkmenistan.

Population - 68 thousand inhabitants (2005)

Port on the Caspian Sea. Oil refining, food, light industry.

Story

The first attempt to consolidate the Russian Empire on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea dates back to 1717, when Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky founded a fortification on the coast of the Krasnovodsk Bay (“at the mouth of the Uzboy”), preparing a campaign against Khiva.

In 1869, under the leadership of General Stoletov, Fort Krasnovodsk was re-founded. The place where Krasnovodsk was founded was called Shaga-dam. The fort was used as a base for operations against Turkmen nomads and for campaigns against the Bukhara and Khiva khanates. The Transcaspian region was formed, Krasnovodsk was its center until the construction of Ashgabat (see Central Asian possessions of the Russian Empire). It was a small town inhabited by Russian military and officials, as well as merchants - Persians and Armenians. After the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, which began from Krasnovodsk, from Central Asia via ferry to Baku in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Krasnovodsk became an important transport center and began to grow.

The Red Army captured the fort in February 1920. On November 21, 1939, the Krasnovodsk region was formed with the administrative center in Krasnovodsk, it was liquidated and restored several times (January 23, 1947 liquidated, April 4, 1952 restored, December 9, 1955 liquidated, December 27, 1973 restored, August 25, 1988 liquidated ).

On January 10, 1991, on the territory of the former Krasnovodsk region, the Balkan region (since May 18, 1992 - velayat) was formed with its center in Balkanabad (formerly Nebit-Dag). In 1993, the city was renamed by President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) in his honor.

Population

cellular

The only cellular operator in Turkmenistan, Altyn Asyr, operates in the city - a national company that began operating in 2005. The Russian operator MTS Turkmenistan operated until December 2010.

Name

The modern Russian name of the city is Turkmenbashi. The modern name of the city was given in 1993 in honor of Saparmurat Niyazov, at that time the President of Turkmenistan. Before this, from the time of its founding, the city was called Krasnovodsk (translation of the local toponym Kyzyl-Su).

Geography

The city is located on the shores of the Krasnovodsk Bay, 520 km northwest of Ashgabat, with which it is connected by road and railway.

The city is connected to Azerbaijani Baku on the western shore of the Caspian Sea by a ferry crossing (270 km).

The city's population consists mainly of Turkmens (almost 90%), Russians (about 6%), as well as Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Turks. The official language is 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 is connected by ferry 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 holidays, family holidays 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. The weather here is incredibly hot and very dry almost all year round. 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, the beautiful sandy beaches of 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. A large number of foreign tourists come to the city to admire the picturesque beauty of this reservoir. 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 this sacred place is the second most important (after Mecca) of those that have been 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 of Dehistan is considered to be 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 that reigns in these establishments immerses tourists in the amazing world of Turkmen cuisine. It is worth noting that most cafes and restaurants in Turkmenbashi offer their customers not only 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, there are entertainment centers, restaurants, clubs, discos, and gaming establishments. Every tourist will find something to their liking in Avaza. In the future, they plan to build ski slopes and a huge water park here. 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 the 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, for whom traveling by rail in trains does not seem comfortable enough. The price for domestic flights is low - only $7–10.

The railway is the main transport linking Turkmenbashi with other major cities of the state. It transports several hundred thousand cargoes brought to the port every day. Passenger trains run in the direction of Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat, Mary. The cost of a ticket is about $2.5 in a 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. The cost of a ticket for public transport in 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 communications in Turkmenbashi have become more developed than landline communications. 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 cellular operators, 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 crowded places, you need to be extremely attentive to your 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 of the Avaza resort area. 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 purchase a small apartment in a residential area of Turkmenbashi, you need 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, together with the cost of a 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 this magnificent city, you must follow several important rules.

All tourists coming to Turkmenbashi are required to stay only at the hotel that was indicated in the invitation by the travel agency and was the basis for issuing an entry visa. Travel of foreign tourists in some areas, mainly in protected areas, is only possible when accompanied by a representative of a 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.

If Avaza is something beautiful and modern, then the rest of the cities of Turkmenistan are still far away. In this post I will show the city formerly called Krasnovodsk, and today known as Turkmenbashi...

Turkmenbashi International Seaport is the largest in the country. Last year, construction began on a new port worth $2 billion:

We held “public diplomacy” events in every major settlement. We met with city leaders, ministers of tourism (and even sports), in a word, with officials. This had a special meaning around which the idea of the project was born: to raise the topic of friendship between the Caspian states.

The idea and organization belong to the Astrakhan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Separate negotiations were held with each state regarding visas, meetings and escorts. Led our team Alexander Bashkin , in total there were 11 people in four cars + a minibus with a doctor (Center for Disaster Medicine).

In Turkmenbashi we met the mayor of the city:

Mailboxes come from the USSR. True, we had blue ones:

A few street photos. From time to time you come across expensive cars, although the average hospital fleet in the city, frankly speaking, is not rich:

Drip irrigation of trees - a tube with desalinated water is connected to each trunk:

Railway station. Restored historical building:

Few cars:

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I didn’t notice any modern high-rise buildings:

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There are also few people on the streets. Although it is worth making allowances for Saturday morning:

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But the administrative buildings look very decent. Bank head office, for example:

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Memorial Complex. Without trees it looks somehow unusual:

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Russian consulate?

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Women walk on the streets in national clothes:

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Here, apparently, the private sector will build something modern:

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Computer center. Meanwhile, computers are scarce in the country - we haven’t seen them anywhere at all:

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Cafe, underwear:

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Some advertisements are in Russian. In Turkmenistan, many (especially the older generation) speak it fluently:

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Lavash and pastries called Dukan No. 1. Obviously not related to diet:

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Typical courtyard:

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Most houses do not have entrances, and the stairs to the upper floors are located outside the building:

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This is a trestle bed on which the dastarkhan - the national refectory tablecloth - is placed. In the evenings they gather here and drink tea. Similar to our benches at the entrances:

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Locals:

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Our compatriot Anatoly Petrovich, we met at the entrance to his house. He says he is happy with life in Turkmenbashi. Russians are not oppressed, there is enough pension. There are no utility bills in Turkmenistan at all:

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