Walls of Gyaur Kala Merv Turkmenistan May 2018
Gyaur Kala Merv Turkmenistan May 2018
Mary
Mary is the third largest city of Turkmenistan. It is located in a big oasis in the middle of the Kara Kum Desert . Mary was founded in 1884 as a Russian military administrative center 30 kilometers from ancient Merv (by the way until 1937 Mary was called Merv).
Today it is a major center of cotton industry, large traffic point and the main center of gas industry which brings the most revenues to Turkmenistan treasury. The most interesting places in the city are the History Museum with a rich collection of artifacts, Turkmen carpets, national costumes and silver.
Some sites of ancient settlement which is to be the capitals of ancient Merv in different millenaries make up the historical-architectural zone Bairamali which is protected by the state.
The most significant landmarks are: Sultan-kala (the 9th - the 12th centuries), Gyaur-kala (the 3rd century B.C. - the 8th- th 9th centuries A.D.), Erk-kala (the first century B.C.), Abdullakhan - kala (15th century) and Bairamalikhan - kala (the 18th century). Of course the most important landmark there is Sultan Sandzhar Mausoleum (1118-1157).
Ruins of Mosque in Gyaur Kala Merv Turkmenistan May 2018
Little Kyz Kala Merv Turkmenistan May 2018
Making a Wish at Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Annau Turkmenistan May 2018
Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Annau Turkmenistan May 2018
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Travel to Turkmenistan
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Desert, Mountains, and Historic Sites (11 days)
Day-1 Arrive in Ashgabat (B)
Early morning arrival in Ashgabat. Private transfer to hotel. Accommodation in hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn.
Breakfast at hotel. Late morning or early afternoon we begin the day with orientation tour of the city. We will see independence period parks and monuments, such as the Monument and Park of Independence (looking like a white-marble “Eiffel Tower” standing in a beautiful park) and a fountain-monument devoted to the 10th anniversary of independence (sculptural depiction of ten Akhal-Tekke horses placed on the top of a beautiful fountain), impressive Ertoghrul Ghazi mosque. We will also visit Kipchak village (10 km outside Ashgabat) to see an impressive complex of the biggest mosque in Turkmenistan and the family mausoleum of the first President. Finish the day with a tour of the National Museum of History (more than 327.000 objects on a display) exhibiting exclusive ancient artefacts from different historical & archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, such as Old Nisa, Ancient Merv, Kunya-Urgench & others. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day-2 Ashgabat – Mary/Gonur Depe (B, L-picnic)
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Mary (40 minutes by Boeing 717 or 737). On arrival in Mary, we drive to Gonur Depe, which used to be the capital of the legendary Margush country. After two hours drive through fields and villages and another hour through the desert, we arrive at an important archaeological site, the center of a remarkable Bronze Age civilization, discovered in 1972 and explored continuously till 2012 by Prof. Victor Sarianidi. Gonur Depe, as the professor describes, is a palace complex of 10 ha, represented by partly excavated earthen walls of former administrative buildings and religious structures of the Zoroastrian type. After about two hours of sightseeing, we will have a picnic-lunch, lunch boxes that we bring with us from the city. Return to Mary for rest. Overnight at hotel Mary/Margush.
Day-3 Mary – Ashgabat (B)
Breakfast at hotel. We drive east of Mary, towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural decor. If time permits, a possible visit to several more interesting spots within the site. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary to visit Regional Museum Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country as well as interesting ethnographic displays reconstructing the scenes of daily life of the Turkmen population and other minorities of the Murghab oasis. In the afternoon we fly back to Ashgabat (40 minutes by Boeing 717 or 737), from a newly built airport of Mary. On arrival in Ashgabat, transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
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Travel to Turkmenistan
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Mild Adventure (9 days)
Day 1 Ashgabat arrival (B)
Early in the morning arrive in Ashgabat. Meet Turkmen guide and driver. Transfer to hotel for overnight. Late morning start sightseeing Ashgabat, visiting independence-period parks and monuments, including the Neutrality Square, and the National Museum of History, whose halls are dedicated to various themes and historical periods. Demonstrating a rich collection of artefacts from all over Turkmenistan, including ivory rhytons from Old Nisa, the museum will also offer us reconstruction models of most of the sites that we are going to visit. In the evening we head south to the Kopetdag Mountains to take a cable-car ride and see a splendid view of the white-marble capital city. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day 2 Ashgabat – Mary/Gonur Depe (B,L-box)
Early in the morning we fly to Mary (40 min by Boeing 717 or 737). On arrival in a newly built airport of Mary, we set off north-east, towards Gonur Depe, which used to be the capital of the legendary Margush country. After two hours’ drive through fields and villages and another hour through the desert, we arrive at an important archaeological site, the centre of a remarkable Bronze Age civilisation, discovered in 1972 and explored continuously till 2012 by Prof. Victor Sarianidi. After about two hours of sightseeing, we will have a picnic lunch, lunch boxes that we brought with us from the city, and then head back to Mary. Evening rest. Overnight at hotel Mary/Margush.
Day 3 Mary (Merv) – Ashgabat (B)
After breakfast, we head 25 km to the east of Mary, towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural décor. If time and enthusiasm permits, it is possible to visit several more interesting spots within the site. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary. On arrival in Mary, we visit Regional Mary Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country. In the afternoon we fly back to Ashgabat (40 minutes by Boeing-717), from a newly built airport of Mary. On arrival in Ashgabat, transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day 4 Ashgabat – Dashoguz (B)
This morning we fly to the north of Turkmenistan, Dashoguz, to see outstanding monuments of the Turkmen Khorezm. Arrive in Dashoguz. Drive to Kunya-Urgench (Old Urgench) to see the former capital of the Khorezmshah Empire (100 km). Another World Heritage site, Kunya-Urgench welcomes you with the mausoleum of Turabeg Khanum (15 c.), one of the best architectural examples of its time; the minaret of Kutlug Temur (11-14 cc.), the highest medieval minaret in Central Asia; the mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh (late 12 c.), with a turquoise cone of a dome; and the mausoleum of Il-Arslan (the mid 12 c.), the founder of the pre-Mongol Khorezmshah empire. Before we drive back to Dashoguz, we visit a cosy museum in Kunya-Urgench, the displays of which are located in khujras (prayer cells) of the former madrasah. Each khujra highlights a separate aspect of former life in the area: a student’s room, a jeweller’s room, workshops of blacksmith’s, shoe and cart makers, carpet and silk weavers, and others. Sightseeing over, we return to Dashoguz. Overnight at hotel Dashoguz/Uzboy.
Travel to Turkmenistan www.kosmostrip.net
Travel to Turkmenistan
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Day 1 Arrival in Ashgabat (B)
Early morning arrival in Ashgabat. Meet our guide and driver, transfer to hotel 4* for overnight. Late in the morning we visit the fortress of Old Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the earliest of Parthian Empire capitals. After sightseeing at Old Nisa we proceed to the National Museum of History (closed on TUE) (more than 327.000 objects on a display) and see the exclusive ancient artifacts from different historical & archeological sites of Turkmenistan, like Old Nisa, Ancient Merv & etc. Then we continue exploration of the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. We will visit the Park of independence with its independence monument, and Neutrality Square, famous for its Arch of Neutrality topped by a rotating gold-plated statue of the first President of Turkmenistan, and Earthquake Memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day 2 Ashgabat – Mary/Gonur Depe (Margush) (B,L-box)
Early in the morning we fly to Mary (40 min by Boeing 717 or 737). On arrival in a newly built airport of Mary, we set off north-east, towards Gonur Depe, which used to be the capital of the legendary Margush country. After two hours’ drive through fields and villages and another hour through the desert, we arrive at an important archaeological site, the centre of a remarkable Bronze Age civilisation, discovered in 1972 and explored continuously till 2012 by Prof. Victor Sarianidi. After about two hours of sightseeing, we will have a picnic lunch, lunch boxes that we brought with us from the city, and then head back to Mary. Evening rest. Overnight at hotel Mary/Margush.
Day 3 Mary (Merv) – Ashgabat (B)
After breakfast, we head 25 km to the east of Mary, towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural décor. If time and enthusiasm permits, it is possible to visit several more interesting spots within the site. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary. On arrival in Mary, we visit Regional Mary Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country. Evening transfer to the airport for flight to Ashgabat (40 minutes by Boeing-717). Arrival to Ashgabat, transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day 4 Ashgabat – Dashoguz
Ice House Merv Turkmenistan May 2018
Georgina Herrmann, Rolex Laureate, 1996
In the middle of the Kara Kum desert in the Central Asian republic of Turkmenistan lies Merv, three ancient cities full of archaeological treasures and knowledge of the past. Dr Georgina Herrmann, a 1996 Rolex Award Laureate, is one of the driving forces behind the international effort to unearth and understand the secrets of the area.
Merv- A Fascinating City
I talk about the ancient city of Merv located in Central Asia. I talked about why the city was important in world history. For example, the third Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, may have not been able to come to power if it was not for the support of Merv.
Travel to Turkmenistan
Travel to Turkmenistan
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Classical Silk Road Tour (8 days)
Day-1 Arrive in Ashgabat (B)
Early morning arrival in Ashgabat. Meet our guide and driver, transfer to hotel 4* for overnight. Late in the morning we begin the day heading for the fabled Bazaar of Tolkuchka (THU, SAT, SUN), attracting colourfully dressed people from all over the country to buy or sell camels, cattle and poultry, amulets, carpets, jewellery, and myriads other things. From the market we continue for sightseeing Ashgabat. We will visit the Park of independence with its independence monument, and Neutrality Square, famous for its Arch of Neutrality topped by a rotating gold-plated statue of the first President of Turkmenistan, and Earthquake Memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum of History (more than 327.000 objects on a display) and see the exclusive ancient artefacts from different historical & archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, like Old Nisa, Ancient Merv & etc. Overnight at hotel Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn/Ashgabat.
Day 2 Ashgabat – Mary (B)
In the morning, we head east along one of the major directions of the former Silk Road in Turkmenistan. 12 kilometres from Ashgabat we will make a stop near modern Anau, at a former medieval city of Bagabad, featuring the citadel of an important Timurid-period centre and the ruins of the Seyit Jemaleddin mosque, which is referred to in many historical sources as “house of beauty”. Many centuries ago (around the 5th mill. BC) this area accommodated the population of early Central Asian farmers who developed the world-famous Anau culture, evidences of which were discovered and extracted during archaeological researches throughout the XX century. Having reached the modern village of Kaahka, we will make a short de-tour (40 km) to the fortress of Nadir-Shah (18 c.), astonishing in its accuracy and magnificent setting, still preserving late medieval “refrigerators,” or ice-houses. Then we continue to Mary, observing succession of desert, settlements and fields and encountering numerous “depe”, mounds marking and hiding remnants of former fortified strongholds, caravanserais, watch-towers or country-side estates of wealthy landlords. In the afternoon, we arrive in Mary, the capital of the present-day Mary region and the centre of the Murghab oasis. Overnight at hotel Mary/Margush.
Day 3 Mary (Merv) (B)
After breakfast, we head 25 km to the east of Mary, towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural décor. If time and enthusiasm permits, it is possible to visit several more interesting spots within the site. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary. On arrival in Mary, we visit local Regional Museum Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country as well as interesting ethnographic displays reconstructing the scenes of daily life of the Turkmen population and other minorities of the Murghab oasis. Overnight at hotel Mary/Margush.
Древний Мерв / Ancient Merv - 1911
Древний Мерв
Транскаспийский область
Фотографии Сергей. М. Прокудина-Горского
1911
Ancient Merv
Transcaspian Oblast
Photographs by Sergey. M. Prokudin-Gorsky
1911
Muisc:
Melody from Central Asia
Here I present another series of photographs by the great pioneering
Russian photographer, Sergey Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorsky.
Merv, now in present day Turkmenistan is an UNESCO World heritage Site. Merv was briefly the largest city in the world in the 12th century , located on the old Silk Road.....
When these photographs were taken in 1911, Merv was part of the Russian Empire.
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travel to turkmenistan
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Ancient Merv: On the Silk Road
Merv is one of the oldest and best – preserved oasis – cities along the Silk Road in Central Asia, with a variety of monuments surviving the ravages of time and attracting archaeologists and tourists alike.
On the southern edge of the Kara-kum desert, in the Mary province of Turkmenistan, the fertile soil and abundance of water provided by the broad delta of the Murgab River attracted human settlement for over
2.500 years.
Although today’s Merv appears to be a largely deserted landscape, below the surface, at depths ranging from three to seventeen meters, there lays one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. Merv is not only the name of the oldest cities that have stood on the site but of the whole surrounding area, comprising Erk-kala, Gyaur-kala, Sultan-kala and Abdullah Khan-kala. The rich history of these various settlements forms one of the most complex and well-preserved urban centres on the Silk Road with their ruins occupying thousands of acres.
With the development of the Great Silk Road, which spanned Europe, India and Asia, and which passed directly through the Mary Oasis, Merv became a center for trade; where caravans loaded with Chinese silk, precious stones, sweets and jewellery of silver and gold from India, stopped to trade wares at the markets and bazaars. In the history Merv also served as a military base, a political hub and a centre for culture and learning; at one point rising to be one of the most important capitals of the Islamic world on par with the likes of Cairo and Damascus. In the 10th Century CE it was perhaps the largest city in the world with an estimated population of 150.000
However, as with many cities in Turkmenistan and neighbouring countries, Mongol inbasions had a dramatic effect on Merv’s prosperity. This decline was also affected by natural factors with the climate becoming drier and the Mrgab River, in turn, becoming shallower. There was no longer the abundance of fertile soil for farming and a dwindling water supply meant that many people abandoned the city. This period in history also saw a growth in sea trade and Merv’s importance as a great hub upon the Silk Road was all but ended.
In 1904 the arrival of the American expedition of the Carnegie Institute marked the beginning of the archaeological studies at Merv and in 1946-1986 the South Turkmenistan Archaeological Complex Expedition (STACE) made considerable progress with the study of its history and culture. In 1987 Turkmenistan established an archaeological park to protect the remains; all modern agriculture was removed from the area and access to the various monuments was developed; much improving the site.
Travel to Turkmenistan
Travel to Turkmenistan
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ТOUR: LEGENDS OF TURKMENLAND
ROUTE: KUNYA-URGENCH - ASHGABAT – MARY - TURKMENABAD
DAYS: 4 days, 3 nights
Date
Location
Program
Day 1
Kunya-urgench
Meeting at the border check-point “Hojeyli”
Excursion to Kunya-Urgench sites: (Capital of Ancient Khorezm). Location: 150 km to the north-west of Dashoguz.
Excursion: (Mausoleum of Soltan Tekesh XII-XIII cc.); Mausoleum of Il Arslan King (XII c) known as Khorezm Sheikh II Arslan; Mausoleum of Torebegh King (XII c), considered the most interesting and beautiful in Central Asia; Minaret Gutlugh Temir (XII c.), the tallest ancient minaret in Central Asia with the height of 64 meters
After launch Drive to Dashoguz
Flight Dashoguz-Ashgabat
Transfer & hotel accommodation
Day 2
Ashgabat - Mary
Breakfast
Drive to Mary. En route visit: Seyitjemaletdin sites, Abivert and Mane baba
Arrival in Mary.
Hotel accommodation
Rest & night
Day 3
Mary
Excursion to Old Merv - one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia. He built during the centuries, and its area is 100 square kilometers. On the territory of Merv are at least five cities that were built at different times. Mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar will amaze you with its size and solidity. The area is 360ga Gyaur Kala, and has the correct plan in the form of well-defined walls and gates designed to each side of the worl
Launch
Drive to Gonur depe. Margush: - In historical science, III and II millennium BC, known as the Bronze Age. This era was marked by a truly evolutionary breakthrough in the development of human civilization. That’s when the first cities emerge and public education. One such entity was an ancient country Margush, located in the valley of the old delta of the Murghab River in Mary province. According to researchers, it is the fifth center of world civilization, along with Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
Rest & night
Day 4
Mary - Farap
Breakfast
Drive to border check-point Farap via Turkm
Поход на Кавказ. Фильм 6. Турки, туркмены и гора Машук
Turkmenistan Smart door For UNIPO-2018
Turkmenistan Smart door For UNIPO-2018