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 fourth in the world in terms of natural gas reserves, and the second largest (we are talking about global scale) gas field is located in the country.
What else is interesting in the capital of Turkmenistan? This is a city that has the rights of the region (or velayats, if you use local terms). It is in it that almost 15% of the population of the whole republic is concentrated.
One of the main and most beautiful buildings in Ashgabat is the Turkmenbashi Palace. It is worth looking at, because in its greatness and grandeur it has surpassed many 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 is exactly what the communist president Niyazov imagined himself, having made a pilgrimage to Mecca and received subsidies from Saudi Arabia, Russia and other states.
Turkmens greatly respect their state and believe that it is the capital of Turkmenistan that is the happy owner of the world's largest fountain.
It really captivates the imagination with its size and architecture.
The city has many monuments to historical figures of Turkmenistan. They are very original: all the figures proudly show tourists the emblem of Niyazov - the eagle.
The whole of Turkmenistan is surprised by the lack of stereotypes, while its capital is a real discovery for people who are used to thinking in patterns. The personality of authoritarian Niyazov is cultivated in Ashgabat, which, without hiding, is demonstrated by golden statues, pretentious monuments, personal emblems and expensive palaces.
A part 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. Military units, schools are still named after him, and his portraits, like his predecessor, adorn 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 has the world's largest Carpet Museum, in which hundreds of the best products from around the world.
The capital of Turkmenistan takes care of its residents. For children, Disneyland is built here, in which there are active copies of all the local attractions, including the Caspian and a map of the country. The park - the embodiment of all folk tales - is in no way inferior to its foreign namesakes.
The city has preserved unique functioning mosques, historical architectural complexes, observation platforms, sports complexes operate.
However, the capital of Turkmenistan does not know the nightlife. Perhaps these are the requirements of Islam, perhaps the methodology of educating young people. You should not count on a pleasant night time in Ashgabat.
But, having visited this country, one can recall how people lived in the Land of Soviets.