Balkanabat

You can travel to the modern city of Turkmeistan - Balkanabat. The city can be found in the west of Turkmenistan at the southern pediment of the Great Balkhan Range. In the vicinity of the city you can also see the airport where you can fly in and start a tour of this interesting city. In addition to this, there is also the port of Turkmenbash, but in the north-west of the city.

On the tour you will learn that the city is relatively young and was founded in 1933 due to the fact that large oil fields were discovered here. And already in 1946, the once small village acquired the status of a city and, oddly enough, the garden also had another name that was changed to Balkanabat in 1999. After quite a short period of time, the city did not stop its development; on the contrary, it only intensified actively building up and expanding, not inferior to other industrial centers of the country. You will also be surprised to know that Balkanabat is a leader in the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan. And you will definitely pay attention to the fact that the city’s symbol is a monument with a flared silhouette on a mountain background. However, the history of the city is closely intertwined with such deposits like Goturdepe, Barsagelmes and Nebitdag. Since after the Second World War a shortage of oil and gas appeared in the country, the first developers had to live there in very poor conditions: in tents, tent trolleys, sometimes without electricity and hot water. And in honor of all these people in the city the architectural and memorial ensemble “Pioneers” was established, which is one of its main attractions. Also during the tour you can see the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, founded in 1990.

In addition to these two remarkable sights, you can travel to see more on the outskirts of the city.

You will also be surprised to learn that in the Neolithic and Vmezolitic early human monuments were discovered in Kopetdag mountains. 38 km from the city, there are the ruins of the medieval caravanserai of Tasharvat, and next to it is a picturesque groove in which old English elms have been growing for more than a hundred years.