National Museum

Ashgabat

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Looking like a lost palace in the urban desert, the National Museum occupies a striking position in front of the Kopet Dag. It’s actually a collection of three pricey museums – the History Museum, the Nature & Ethnographic Museum and the Presidential Museum. The History Museum is the only one that approaches value for money.

Inside the History Museum, the lavish Ancient History Hall includes Neolithic tools from western Turkmenistan and relics from the Bronze Age Margiana civilisation, including beautiful amulets, seals, cups and cult paraphernalia. There is also a model of the walled settlement uncovered at Gonur. The Antiquity Hall houses amazing rhytons – horn-shaped vessels of intricately carved ivory used for Zoroastrian rituals and official occasions.

The Presidential Museum might appeal to those intrigued by personality cults, with its huge photos of the president.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Independence Square

    Independence Square

    3.8 MILES

    At the centre of Ashgabat is the enormous Independence Square, on which sits the golden-domed Palace of Turkmenbashi (the place of work of the former…

  • Arch of Neutrality

    Arch of Neutrality

    1.21 MILES

    Once the centrepiece of Niyazov's Ashgabat, the Arch of Neutrality was erected to celebrate the Turkmen people's unsurprisingly unanimous endorsement of…

  • Carpet Museum

    Carpet Museum

    2.95 MILES

    While there’s a limit to the number of rugs the average visitor can stand, the central exhibit, the world’s largest handwoven rug, really is something to…

  • Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum of Fine Arts

    3.7 MILES

    The Museum of Fine Arts is located in an impressive building with a big rotunda, two tiers and lots of gold. The collection contains some great Soviet…

  • Independence Park

    Independence Park

    1.53 MILES

    The Altyn Asyr Shopping Centre is the curious pyramidal shopping centre at the northern end of Independence Park. The Monument to the Independence of…

  • Statue of Lenin

    Statue of Lenin

    4.09 MILES

    The statue of Lenin, in a small park off Azadi köçesi, is a charmingly incongruous assembly of a tiny Lenin on an enormous and very Central Asian plinth…

  • Circus

    Circus

    4.82 MILES

    This Soviet-era circus building, which resembles a flying saucer, has been 'Turkmenised' with a coating of white marble. It's definitely worth a look if…

  • Azadi Mosque

    Azadi Mosque

    3.99 MILES

    More a statement of foreign-policy leanings than a sign of religious awakening, the Azadi mosque, similar in appearance to the Blue Mosque in İstanbul,…

View more attractions

Nearby Ashgabat attractions

1. Arch of Neutrality

1.21 MILES

Once the centrepiece of Niyazov's Ashgabat, the Arch of Neutrality was erected to celebrate the Turkmen people's unsurprisingly unanimous endorsement of…

3. Independence Park

1.53 MILES

The Altyn Asyr Shopping Centre is the curious pyramidal shopping centre at the northern end of Independence Park. The Monument to the Independence of…

4. Turkmenbashi Museum

1.54 MILES

Taking a leaf out of Kim Jong-il’s book, the Turkmenbashi Museum houses all the gifts and awards presented to former President Niyazov by various people…

5. Palace of Knowledge

1.55 MILES

Beyond the southern end of Independence Park is the huge, golden domed Palace of Knowledge: three large buildings that include a library, concert hall and…

6. Carpet Museum

2.95 MILES

While there’s a limit to the number of rugs the average visitor can stand, the central exhibit, the world’s largest handwoven rug, really is something to…

7. Majlis

3.49 MILES

Turkmenistan's parliament building is opposite Independence Square.

8. Mosque of Khezrety Omar

3.66 MILES

The modern mosque of Khezrety Omar, off Atamurat Niyazov köçesi, is worth visiting for its wonderfully garish painted ceilings.

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