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Türkmenabat

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City
—°12
Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
ℹ️

Practical info — Türkmenabat

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Plan your visit to the Repetek Reserve for spring or autumn to avoid the extreme summer heat.
  • Carry your passport at all times, especially when traveling near the border with Uzbekistan.
  • Shared taxis are the most common and efficient way to get around the city and to the border.
  • Cash is essential; ensure you have enough Turkmen Manat for all local transactions.
  • Visit the Lebap Bazaar on Sunday mornings for the most authentic and lively experience.

🍽 Food

🍽
Fitchi

Savory meat pies found at specialized 'Fitchi Houses' near the city center.

🍽
Lebap Melons

The region is world-famous for its sweet melons; try them at any local market.

🍽
Fresh Churek

Traditional Turkmen flatbread baked in clay ovens, best when warm from the bazaar.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Lebap Bazaar

A great place for traditional carpets, spices, and high-quality dried fruits.

🛍
Telpek hats

Sheepskin hats produced by local craftsmen, available in the garment section.

🧘
Amu Darya riverbank

The embankment is a popular spot for locals for quiet sunset walks.

🧘
Amudarya State Nature Reserve

Explore the unique protected riparian forests along the river in a peaceful setting.

🧘
Ancient Amul Settlement ruins

An archaeological site on the outskirts offering historical silence.

With more than 250,000 inhabitants, Türkmenabat is the second-largest city in Turkmenistan and the administrative seat of the eastern Lebap Region. The settlement on the right bank of the Amu Darya looks back on nearly two thousand years of history: in antiquity it was known as Amul, a major Silk Road caravan stop between Bukhara and Merv. Under Russian rule it was renamed Chardzhou and grew into the key junction of the Trans-Caspian Railway where the line crossed the Amu Darya. Today the local economy revolves around cotton ginning, silk production, mineral fertilisers and a significant river port. Nearby lie the mud-brick ruins of medieval Amul fortress and the strictly protected Repetek Biosphere Reserve, famous for its black saxaul forests and shifting dunes.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, May, Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C24111826313230241682
Rain mm1927252012200041415

Geography

Population
230,861 (2026)
Coordinates
39.08330, 63.56500

Facts

  • The city was officially named Chardzhou until 1999
  • Türkmenabat is located on the left bank of the Amu Darya
  • Key junction of the strategic Trans-Caspian Railway
  • Center of the Turkmen silk and cotton industries
  • The Repetek Biosphere State Reserve is 70 km away
  • The first railway bridge was completed in 1888

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Turkmenabat Silk FactoryTurkmenabat Silk Factory<1 km · SExplore →
Amu Darya WetlandsAmu Darya Wetlands2 km · EExplore →
Serhetyaka Trade HubSerhetyaka Trade Hub5 km · NEExplore →
Amu DaryaAmu Darya8 km · SWExplore →
SaýatSaýat38 km · NWExplore →
Repetek Biosphere ReserveRepetek Biosphere Reserve50 km · SWExplore →
Bukhara Deer Breeding CenterBukhara Deer Breeding Center72 km · NExplore →
Jeyran EcocenterJeyran Ecocenter77 km · NExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Türkmenabat (12)

Kraevedcheskii muzei🏛 museum

This museum explores the ethnography and history of the region along the Amu Darya river.

Görogly Ýadygärligi🏺 historical

A prominent monument dedicated to the legendary hero of Turkic epic poems.

Suratkeşler Şamçasy🏛 museum

A gallery showcasing contemporary paintings and sculptures by Turkmen artists.

Harby Muzey🏛 museum

A museum documenting the military heritage and defense history of Turkmenistan.

Drama Teatry🎭 culture

A cultural hub hosting performances of traditional and modern Turkmen drama.

Oguz Han🏺 historical

A large statue of the legendary ancestor of the Oghuz Turks.

Turkmenabat Presidential Palace🏰 castle

A grand government building featuring white marble walls and golden domes.

Seyitnazar Seydi State Music and Drama Theater🎭 culture

Seyitnazar Seydi State Music and Drama Theater. A key cultural venue named after the 18th-century Turkmen poet and soldier.

Islam Karimov Monument🏺 historical

Islam Karimov Monument. A commemorative statue honoring the first president of Uzbekistan in Turkmenabat.

Source of Life Church⛪ religious

Source of Life Church. An active Protestant church known for its animated community involvement.

Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker📍 landmark

Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker. A Russian Orthodox church featuring traditional white walls and blue domes.

Owgan Bazary🎭 culture

Owgan Bazary. A bustling market specifically known for its variety of Afghan-imported goods.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of city is Türkmenabat?
It is an important regional trade center on the Amu Darya river.
When is the best time to travel?
Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant temperatures.
Are there tourist attractions?
Visit the bazaar for an authentic local experience.
How to get there?
Türkmenabat is well accessible by train or domestic flight.
Is the area safe?
Yes, the city is considered safe for travelers.
Türkmenabat: where is it located?
Türkmenabat is located in Turkmenistan.
Türkmenabat: what is there to see?
Highlights include Kraevedcheskii muzei, Görogly Ýadygärligi, Suratkeşler Şamçasy.
Türkmenabat: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, May, Sep.
Türkmenabat: why is it worth visiting?
With more than 250,000 inhabitants, Türkmenabat is the second-largest city in Turkmenistan and the administrative seat of the eastern Lebap Region.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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Nearby cities

🗺️
Magdanly
An industrial city in the east, known for its mining of minerals.
Kerki — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Kerki
A historical city on the Amu Darya in eastern Turkmenistan.
🗺️
Gazojak
A small city near the Uzbek border, important for the gas industry.
Saýat — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Saýat
A city southeast of Türkmenabat characterized by cotton cultivation.
Seýdi — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Seýdi
A modern industrial city known for its oil refinery.
Farap — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Farap
A town in the Lebap Region that is an important border crossing to Uzbekistan.
Darganata — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Darganata
A historical settlement on the Amu Darya, now agriculturally oriented.
Koytendag — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Koytendag
A spectacular mountain range featuring the country's highest peak and famous dinosaur footprints.

History & landmarks

Dayahatyn Caravanserai — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Dayahatyn Caravanserai
The ruins of the 11th-century Dayahatyn Caravanserai are a stunning example of Seljuk brick architecture along the Silk Road.

Nature

🗺️
Amu Darya
A historical river in Central Asia shaping the eastern region.

More places

Turkmenabat Silk Factory — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Turkmenabat Silk Factory
A traditional company that processes silkworm cocoons into fine silk threads and traditional Turkmen fabrics.
Amu Darya Wetlands — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Amu Darya Wetlands
Important habitats for waterfowl and fish along the major river in eastern Turkmenistan.
Serhetyaka Trade Hub — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Serhetyaka Trade Hub
An important logistics and trade center near the border with Iran, promoting cross-border commodity exchange.
Repetek Biosphere Reserve — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Repetek Biosphere Reserve
A unique desert nature reserve in the heart of the Karakum.
🗺️
Amudarya State Nature Reserve
Protects the floodplain forests and the sensitive ecosystem along the river.
Dayakhatyn Caravanserai — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Dayakhatyn Caravanserai
An exceptionally well-preserved 11th-century caravanserai on the historic Silk Road.
Sundukli Desert — Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan)
Sundukli Desert
A smaller desert region in eastern Turkmenistan, bordering the Amu Darya river.
🗺️
Bagtyyarlyk Gas Field
A major gas field on the right bank of the Amu Darya, the main supplier for the gas pipeline to China.