Being the heart of the Great Silk Road, Turkmenistan has unique nature, a favourable climate, remarkable national values, distinctive customs and traditions, and an abundance of historical and architectural monuments. Open-hearted and hospitable people live in the country, which can be called a paradise for tourists who strive for discoveries and new emotions.
Overview
Present-day Turkmenistan captivates guests and tourists with its developed city infrastructure. For example, the capital of the country, Ashgabat, was included in the Guinness World Records for the highest concentration of white marble buildings.
History
Turkmenistan is one of the most ancient countries. Its territory had been an important part of the Great Silk Road, connecting the West and the East for centuries. This land is a hearth of the most ancient Eastern civilizations. Travellers can discover the legendary country of Margiana (Ancient Merv or Margush), recognized as the fifth centre of world civilization, along with ancient Egypt, China, India and Mesopotamia. Ancient Merv, Kunya-Urgench and the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Flights
Ashgabat International Airport is the main gateway into the country. Turkmenistan Airlines operates direct flights to several cities in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. International travellers usually connect through Istanbul, Dubai or Almaty.
Safety
Travel safety most often becomes a major factor when choosing a tourist destination. In this context, Turkmenistan is beyond comparison. It is the world’s safest country! This fact was confirmed by the Gallup Inc., an analytics and advisory company, known for its public opinion polls conducted worldwide. In October 2020, the company published the Global Law and Order Index, which contains a list of the safest countries on the Earth.In the Index, Turkmenistan shared the first place with Singapore; both countries scored 97 points out of 100. This index a composite score based on the incidence of theft and assault or mugging, and people's reported confidence in their local police, their feelings of personal safety in the past year. The higher the score, the higher the proportion of the population that reports feeling secure.Moreover, to date, Turkmenistan has a zero level of terrorist threat. These results are based on the research by the Institute for Economics and Peace, headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Traditions
Turkmen culture is famous for its hand-woven carpets, whose intricate patterns are a national symbol featured on the state flag. Hospitality, respect for elders and rich oral epic poetry are at the heart of everyday life.
Turkmen Cuisine
Turkmen cuisine is hearty, meat-based and very distinctive. Due to the nomadic past, simple yet incredibly flavourful cooking methods prevail here.
- Turkmen plov (palov): Unlike neighbouring countries, it is often prepared with game or lamb meat, sometimes with sour berries or sea buckthorn juice added.
- Ishlikli: A traditional closed pie with juicy minced meat and onion, which nomads have baked since ancient times directly in hot sand under coals.
- Tamdýrlama: Lamb slow-cooked in a special clay oven (tandyr), which literally melts in your mouth.
- Chal: A drink made from camel milk, excellent for quenching thirst in the heat.
