The Turkmen city of Turkmenbashi was once called. History of Turkmenbashi

Excursion around the city of Turkmenbashi.

“I demand from my city: asphalt, sewerage and hot water. As for culture, I myself am cultured. "

Karl Kraus.

This November marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city of Krasnovodsk (present-day Turkmenbashi). Krasnovodsk is the oldest modern city in Turkmenistan.
The history of the city is inextricably linked with the history of Russian-Turkmen relations, which had both white and black pages.
The first Russian military scientific expeditions to the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea were organized at the beginning of the 18th century, in particular three times in the period from 1715 to 1717.
In 1716, three fortresses with small garrisons were built on the eastern coast of the Caspian, one of which was located in the Kizyl-Su bay.
In 1717, a large expedition was organized under the leadership of Bekovich-Cherkassky.
It was attended by up to 3 thousand people, 6 thousand horses, a large number of camels. Despite the fact that Bekovich-Cherkassky sent ambassadors to the khan of Khiva Shirgazi, that he was the ambassador of the Russian state, the latter attacked him 120 kilometers from Khiva.
As a result of the battles, the Khivans suffered big losses, despite the multiple superiority. The Russian troops were better armed and disciplined. Realizing that it would not be possible to win in a fair battle, the khan of Khiva resorted to cunning.
He expressed regret about what had happened, and invited Bekovich-Cherkassky and his entire detachment to visit. The detachment was divided into five parts. Soon they were dealt with separately.
Bekovich-Cherkassky himself was beheaded. So sadly ended the first major Russian expedition to Central Asia... The events of 1717 did not become a big obstacle to the further expansion of relations between the Turkmen and Russia.
In 1719 and 1726, new expeditions were equipped, as a result of which the first scientific map of the Caspian Sea was created. In the second half of the 18th century, the Russian state sent several expeditions to the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea.
In 1773 and 1781 on the Cheleken island there were expeditions led by S. Gmelin and Count M. Voinovich. They emphasized that the Turkmen of the coast received their people cordially and friendly.
In 1801 - 1802, representatives of the Turkmen of Mangyshlak arrived in St. Petersburg with a request to accept them into Russian citizenship. In May 1802, Alexander the First, by a special decree, announced the acceptance of the Turkmens of Mangyshlak under the patronage and citizenship of Russia.
In 1811, part of the Turkmens of Mangyshlak moved to Astrakhan, where their ancestors still live. According to the 2002 census, about 2,200 Turkmen lived in the Astrakhan region.
Expeditions are organized in 1819-1821, 1832, 1836. In 1836 Maslakhat of the Caspian Yomuds took place in Esenguly. It was attended by 118 representatives, selected from approximately 180 thousand inhabitants of the region.
After a general exchange of views, it was decided that it was necessary to ask Russia for patronage. In 1859, an expedition was organized to explore the eastern coast of the Caspian, as well as the selection of a site for the construction of the fort.
Krasnovodsk
bay, depths were measured. In November 1869, a military detachment led by N.G. Stoletov founded the city of Krasnovodsk, on the site of the ancient well Shagadam. The process of entry of Turkmenistan into the Russian Empire begins, which was not always voluntary.
In 1870-1872 several expeditions were organized from Krasnovodsk to the depths of the Turkmen lands. In 1874, the Transcaspian military department was created, the center of which was Krasnovodsk.
Earlier, in 1873, the Krasnovodsk police station was created. On the basis of the department, the Transcaspian region was created in 1882. In June 1880, the construction of the first railway in the history of Turkmenistan began.
The main line began from the shore of the Mikhailovsky Bay of the Caspian Sea and in September 1881 was brought to Kizilarvat. Krasnovodsk becomes a commercial sea port.
As an important transshipment point for goods, it turns into a "gateway to Central Asia." In 1908, the number of workers in the city reached 1.5 thousand people. In 1913, about 1 million tons of cargo were transported along the Trans-Caspian Railway.
By 1913, 7,000 people lived in Krasnovodsk. The ethnic composition of the population, both at that time and later, was motley - Russians, Persians, Tatars, Poles, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Kazakhs.
Not many Turkmen lived, mainly in nearby villages. The city is home to trade warehouses, bazaars, hotels, port facilities, offices of companies and communities, including those for oil production.
In 1917, after the October Revolution, power in the city passed to the Bolsheviks. In July 1918, as a result of a coup, power was seized by the Right Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks.
In February 1920, the Red Army again captured the city. In the 1930s, Krasnovodsk, as well as throughout Turkmenistan, experienced rapid industrial growth. In 1939, already 21 thousand people live in the city.
The development of the city required qualified specialists. Due to their influx, the city's population grew. In 1943, during the difficult years of the war, the Krasnovodsk oil refinery gave its first products.
The country was in particular need of oil products at that time. In 1940, the TSSR was already producing 540 thousand tons of oil per year. In the 50s-60s Krasnovodsk became a large industrial center of Turkmenistan.
The oil refining, food industry, production of building materials, and the energy industry are developing here. In 1972, 51 thousand people already live in the city.
There is a pedagogical and medical school in Krasnovodsk. In 1989, the population of the seaside town reached 58,900. It should be noted that in the 70-80s, population growth slowed down significantly.
Already then in Krasnovodsk, tendencies towards an outflow of the population to Ashgabat and central areas THE USSR. Until 1987, the city was the administrative center of the Krasnovodsk region, which was subsequently abolished and re-created in January 1991, but with its center in the city of Nebit-dag.
Since 1992 it has been renamed into Balkan. In 1993 the city was renamed in honor of the President of Turkmenistan - Turkmenbashi. In the 90s, there was a strong outflow of residents to the republics of the former USSR and to Ashgabat.
According to the 1995 census, Krasnovodsk is the only settlement in Turkmenistan where Russians made up the majority of the population (32.8%). Krasnovodsk continued to be one of the most multinational cities in Turkmenistan.
Numerous communities of Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Germans, Lezgins, Uzbeks, Kazakhs were represented here. In 1999, a five-millionth resident of Turkmenistan was born in the city.
In 2005, the city had 68,300 inhabitants. Krasnovodsk in many ways unique city in Turkmenistan. And it's not just about its seaside location. It is the only one where entire quarters have survived, built up with buildings that are a hundred or more years old.
The architecture of the city is also original, which has certain Caucasian features, somewhat similar to the Baku one. As before, so now the main problem cities - water supply.
Despite the fact that a lot of work has been done in this regard, a similar problem continues to occur. In the second half of the 20th century, Krasnovodsk grew significantly in size.
New microdistricts were built - Cheryomushki, as well as residential quarters west of the city... However, over the past 20 years, more than one new multi-storey residential building has not been built in the city, but there are logical explanations for this, including in view of the strong outflow of the population during this period.
Ecology is an important problem for the city. This issue is especially relevant due to the proximity of the city oil refinery and thermal power plant. In 2010, a large-scale work began to clean up the city port of old ships.
There were dozens of the latter. In 2000, the first two modern hotels - Turkmenbashi and Serdar - were built in Krasnovodsk and its environs. In 2007, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov put forward the idea of ​​building a National Tourist Zone in the town of Avaza, 12 kilometers west of Turkmenbashi.
Over these 4 years, 10 new hotels, several holiday homes, two children's health camps, cottage holiday homes, cafes, amphitheaters and other facilities have already been built here.
Among them is a seven-kilometer canal. In the future, it is planned to build a water park, an indoor ski complex, parks, hotels and other tourist facilities.
There are plans for the construction of a new city, announced by the President of the country in 2008. A big event for the city was the opening of a new international-class airport that meets all the requirements, with a runway of almost 4 kilometers.
Currently, international and local flights are carried out from the airport, in particular to Istanbul and Moscow. This year, a major traffic intersection was opened, as well as new highways.
One of the oldest Orthodox churches, founded in 1895, is located in the city. Walking through the streets of the old part of the city, you are immersed in a peculiar atmosphere, Krasnovodsk of the past, such as it was at its inception.
Despite the fact that many buildings are a hundred or more years old, they are all functional. Many are still residential buildings.

Turkmenbashi city

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The modern Russian-language name of the city is Krasnovodsk, according to one version, this is a translation of the local toponym Kyzyl-Su, associated with the fact that there was a lot of plankton with a distinct pink tint in the water of the Krasnovodsk Bay. Other versions are also available.

Administrative divisions

In July 2013, 2 etraps were created within the city of Turkmenbashi. The Avaza etrap with an area of ​​9660 hectares includes the Avaza National Tourist Zone, international Airport and several small villages. The Kenar etrap with an area of ​​7262 hectares included the main part of the city of Turkmenbashi and the territory of the Kenar village.

Story

Bakhmi station of the Trans-Caspian Railway in 1890

The first attempt to consolidate the Russian Empire on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea dates back to 1717, when Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky founded a fortification on the coast of the Krasnovodsk Gulf (“at the mouth of the Uzboy”), preparing a campaign against Khiva.

Sunset in the city of Turkmenbashi

In 1869, under the leadership of Colonel Stoletov, the fortified fort of the Russian army was re-founded (now the village of Kenar, before it was renamed "UFRA"). The place where Krasnovodsk was founded was called Shaga-dam. The fort was used as a base for operations against the Turkmen nomads and for campaigns on the Bukhara and Khiva khanates. The Transcaspian region was formed, Krasnovodsk was its center before the construction of Ashgabat (see Central Asian possessions of the Russian Empire). It was small town, inhabited by Russian military and officials, as well as traders - Persians and Armenians. After the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, which began from Krasnovodsk, from Central Asia via a ferry to Baku in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, Krasnovodsk turned into an important transport center and began to grow.

The Red Army captured the fort in February 1920. On November 21, 1939, the Krasnovodsk region was formed with the administrative center in Krasnovodsk, it was liquidated and restored several times (liquidated on January 23, 1947, restored on April 4, 1952, liquidated on December 9, 1955, restored on December 27, 1973, liquidated on August 25, 1988 ).

On January 10, 1991, on the territory of the former Krasnovodsk region, the Balkan region was formed (from May 18, 1992 - the velayat) with the center in Balkanabat. In 1993, the city was renamed by President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) in his honor.

Modern Turkmenbashi

Hotel Turkmenbashi Turkish park

In recent years, large-scale work has been carried out in the city to reconstruct the historical part of the city, entrance highways, life support infrastructure. A new "Turkish" park and a cascade of fountains have been built. At the end of 2012, the Makhtumkuli Avenue was completely reconstructed, the new highway connected with the city embankment of Bahra Khazar, providing a double exit from the city at the western Balykchi road junction along the dam, laid across the Soymonov Bay to the Airport-Avaza expressway.

The Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries specializes in the production of polypropylene, diesel and universal oils and other petroleum products.

It houses the State Service of Maritime and river transport Turkmenistan and Turkmenbashi International sea ​​port.

There are 3 modern hotels in the city.

Population

Population change in Turkmenbashi

Year 1913 1939 1972 1979 1989 2005 2010

Population (people)

73 803

Transport

Boeing at Turkmenbashi airport

The city is important as a transport junction formed by a seaport with a ferry terminal, a railway and an airport. The Trans-Turkmen highway M37 passes through the city, linking Karabogaz, Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi with Bukhara.

The airport

Main article: Turkmenbashi (airport)

In 1990 Krasnovodsk airport celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was originally located downstairs in the hospital area. During the Second World War, he was transferred to the top of the plateau and existed at the same airfield with the Air Force units as a joint airfield. It was considered the assigned airport of the Ashgabat enterprise. As an independent unit, it has existed since 1959 after the creation of 225OOAE (a separate united air squadron), in 2010 it was reconstructed and received international status. It has two runways and connects the city with Ashgabat and Dashoguz. You can get to the airport from the city by car or bus. Travel time to the city by car takes 10-15 minutes.

Railway connection

Turkmenbashy station Main article: Turkmenbashy station

Turkmenbashi railway station was built in 1895 by the architect Alexei Benois. Benois is the author of the palace of the Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich in Tashkent and many other projects in the former Turkestan.

The station building is one of the most beautiful on the entire Central Asian railway. Railway station square is adjacent to the memorial to the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War.

Sea transport

An integral part of transport system In the international transport projects and corridors of Turkmenistan, there are railway ferry crossings Turkmenbashi - Baku, Turkmenbashi - Astrakhan. Turkmenbashi International Seaport is the largest seaport in Turkmenistan.

Turkmenbashi - Baku

Main article: Ferry crossing Baku - Turkmenbashi

Ferry crossing Turkmenbashi - Baku is a railway-passenger crossing on the Caspian Sea between the cities of Turkmenbashi and Baku (Azerbaijan). Distance - 306 km. Each of the operating ferries takes on board 28 railway cars and 200 passengers. All eight vessels operating at the crossing sail under the Azerbaijani flag. This crossing is part of the European route E60.

Transport

Depot

Geography

The city is located on the shores of the Krasnovodsk Bay, 520 km north-west of Ashgabat, with which it is connected by road and rail.

The city is connected with Azerbaijani Baku on the western coast of the Caspian Sea by a ferry (306 km).

Climate

The climate is subtropical desert. Annual precipitation is only 125 mm, mainly in the autumn-winter period.

Average annual temperature - + 15.1 C ° Average annual wind speed - 3.8 m / s Average annual air humidity - 60%

Climate of Turkmenbashi

Indicator Jan. Feb March Apr. May June July Aug. Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Absolute maximum, ° C 20.7 22.3 29.0 36.0 40.7 41.9 44.7 42.9 43.5 33.4 28.1 24.7 44.7

Average maximum, ° C 7.5 8.7 13.1 19.9 25.8 31.6 34.6 34.5 29.3 21.5 14.2 9.1 20.8

Average temperature, ° C 3.3 3.9 7.7 13.7 19.5 25.1 28.2 28.0 22.7 15.4 9.3 4.9 15.1

Average minimum, ° C? 0.3? 0.2 3.2 8.5 13.6 18.9 22.2 22.0 16.7 10.0 5.0 1.2 10.1

Absolute minimum, ° C? 21.5? 21.9? 12.6? 2.6 2.7 6.6 14.1 10.2 3.3? 2.9? 12.1? 16.3? 21 ,9

Precipitation rate, mm 12 13 17 16 9 3 2 5 5 11 19 13 125

One of the districts of Krasnovodsk

New photographic documents from the city of Turkmenbashi, sent by our sources, indicate that the city on the Caspian Sea is dragging out a miserable existence. Next to the pompous tourist Avaza with a series of white marble hotels and blue bathtub pools, the streets, houses and roads of the former Krasnovodsk resemble slums, where the communal infrastructure has not been renovated for years, and the locals experience acute every day. And these are not all the problems of the residents of the western region of Turkmenistan.

Railway hospital area

The area of ​​the railway hospital (Gogol and Nagornaya streets) resembles the place where aerial bombs or artillery shells fell, although, thank God, there was no war here. Take a look at these pictures: no normal roads, no sidewalks, no children's playgrounds. Everything that is captured in the photographs of our readers and still remains behind the scenes is the result of the absolute inaction of the city khyakim, his deputies and other officials, who, according to the residents of Krasnovodsk, are busy dividing profits from the seaport and building facilities that are not the first necessity of the city residents. People invested with power simply do not appear here, which means that no roads are needed. The route of the first person of the state does not run through these slums, although he often visits the western region of the country. The President, on whose intervention in the current situation the residents of Krasnodar are counting so much, prefers to admire his brainchild -.

The lack of water in Krasnovodsk and the Balkan velayat is a separate issue. On these hot days, residents are supplied with water to their apartments every other day in the evenings for 3-4 hours. On Wednesday, June 24, there is no water for the fourth day. In the area of ​​the new airport, life-giving moisture does not exist even longer - a week or ten days.

People complain - they write, they even call Ashgabat, but no one cares about this problem. One resident of the city of Turkmenbashi, describing the life of her family by the sea without water and light, said that she had to collect the accumulated dirty linen in a trunk and send it to her relatives in Ashgabat to wash there.

Another problematic aspect of the city is the excessive cost of food in the local market. Some of our readers blame visitors from other regions of the country for this, in particular, from those who work in hundreds at Avaza construction sites.

“There are so many of them that they now make up half of the entire population of our city. Locals say this: if all labor migrants are sent home, then prices at the bazaar will return to normal, and it will be easier to get a job, ”our reader writes.

But the newcomers themselves do not feel guilty. They say that they came here leaving their homes and families for a long time not because of a good life, but because in the same Dashoguz there is a shortage of jobs.

In this reportage, we did not talk about all the problems of the city by the sea. In the following articles, we will touch upon another headache of the residents of Krasnovodsk - or rather, their absence. In the meantime, local residents are asking how, in the presence of such problems, the day of the khyakim and his deputies passes, among whom there are probably those responsible for solving social issues of the residents of Krasnovodsk.

More photos from Turkmenbashi in the section, on our pages in

If Avaza is something beautiful and modern, then the rest of the cities of Turkmenistan are still far away. In this post I will show the city, formerly called Krasnovodsk, and today known as Turkmenbashi ...

Turkmenbashi international seaport is the largest in the country. Last year, construction began on a new port worth $ 2 billion:

3.

In every major locality we have hosted "people's diplomacy" events. We met with city leaders, ministers of tourism (and even sports), in a word, with officials. This was a special meaning, around which the idea of ​​the project was born: to raise the topic of friendship of the Caspian states.

The idea and organization belongs to the Astrakhan Foreign Ministry. Separate negotiations were held with each state regarding visas, meetings and escorts. He led our team Alexander Bashkin , in total there were 11 people in four cars + a minibus with a doctor (Center for Disaster Medicine).

In Turkmenbashi we met with the mayor of the city:

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Mailboxes are originally from the USSR. True, we had blue ones:

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Several photos of the streets. From time to time you come across expensive cars, although the average car fleet in the city in the city is, frankly, not rich on average:

Drip irrigation of trees - a tube with desalinated water is connected to each trunk:

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Railway station. Renovated historic building:

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There are few cars:

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I did not notice modern high-rise buildings:

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There are also few people on the streets. Although it is worth correcting for Saturday morning:

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But the office buildings look very decent. Bank head office, for example:

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Memorial Complex. It looks somewhat unusual without trees:

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Russian consulate?

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Women walk the streets in national clothes:

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Here, apparently, something modern will be built from the private sector:

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Computer center. Meanwhile, there are few computers in the country - we have seen them in very few places:

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Cafe, underwear:

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Some announcements are in Russian. In Turkmenistan, many (especially the older generation) speak it fluently:

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Lavash and pastries called Dukan №1. It clearly has nothing to do with diet:

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Typical courtyard:

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Most of the houses have no entrances, and the stairs to the upper floors are outside the building:

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This is a trestle bed, on which dastarkhan, the national refectory tablecloth, is placed. In the evenings they gather here and drink tea. The similarity of our benches at the entrances:

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Locals:

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Our compatriot Anatoly Petrovich, we met at the entrance of his house. He says he is happy with life in Turkmenbashi. Russians are not oppressed, there is enough pension. There are no utility bills in Turkmenistan at all:

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Relaxing in the shade on a pillow:

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School uniform for girls:

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Some kind of fruit tree is often found in the yards. Don't know what they eat it with?

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Paths, trees - by and large, all of this was erected on bare and lifeless sand:

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Two men stood on the road and began to sharpen the fringes, not paying attention to the traffic. It looks like there are really few cars here:

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Everybody drives with a rosary on the mirrors:

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Turkmen student:

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And this is the future of Turkmenistan. Made several portraits:

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The next post will continue. Stay Tuned!

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The population of the city consists mainly of Turkmen (almost 90%), Russians (about 6%), as well as Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Turks. Official language considered Turkmen. Almost all residents of the city profess Islam, a separate category of the population belongs to the Christian church.

The economy of Turkmenbashi is based on the oil refining industry. On the territory of the city there is a whole complex of enterprises engaged in the processing of oil and its associated natural resources. The largest ship-repair yard in Central Asia is also located here. It should be noted that the port of Turkmenbashi is connected by ferry to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku.

The famous resort area "Avaza" is located within the city limits, which includes a huge number of hotels and inns, entertainment centers, gaming clubs and other establishments. This place is ideal for youth holidays, family vacation with children who will definitely enjoy splashing around in the amazingly beautiful and warm Caspian Sea.

Climate and weather

The climate of Turkmenbashi is considered to be subtropical desert. The weather is incredibly hot and very dry almost all year round. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 125 millimeters per year. Usually, their fallout occurs at the end of autumn - the beginning of winter. The average daily air temperature at this time is approximately +5 ° C. The weather is surprisingly hot in summer. During the day, the air warms up to +35 ° C, and at night the thermometer drops to +18 ° C. In summer, the amount of precipitation is minimal.

The best time to travel to amazing Turkmenbashi is from late spring to early autumn.

Nature

The beautiful Turkmenbashi differs from other cities of Turkmenistan with its amazing magnificent nature. The main feature of the natural landscapes of the city is the Caspian Sea - the largest salt sea on earth, which has no connection with the world's oceans. On the picturesque shores of the Caspian Sea you can meet graceful flamingos, amazing pelicans, and a lazy Caspian seal. But the main wealth of this sea, of course, is the sturgeon, the population of which is intended to preserve the nature protection service of Turkmenistan.

In the east, Turkmenbashi is surrounded by low mountains, in the west, its shores are washed by the blue waters of the Caspian. By the way, wonderful sandy beaches Turkmenbashi are considered the best in the entire sea. It is not for nothing that many resorts and sanatoriums are located on its coast near the city.

sights

The main attraction of Turkmenbashi is the Caspian Sea, which amazes the imagination with its beauty and diverse underwater world. To admire the scenic beauty of this reservoir, a large number of foreign tourists come to the city. Not far from Turkmenbashi, a completely unique resort area has been created with numerous hotels, "floating" restaurants, bars, entertainment centers, clubs, etc.

There are few ancient sights in the city itself, but the surroundings of Turkmenbashi amaze with their historical and cultural values. One of the important centers of world women's pilgrimage is the white mosque Parau-Bibi, which was built on one of the rocks of the majestic Kopetdag and today is considered the patroness of pregnant women and children.Every year hundreds of thousands of girls come here to pray for a long-awaited pregnancy.

Most tourists prefer to visit the famous Shir-Kabir mausoleum, which was built in the 10th century. In addition, on the territory of the ancient burial place of Mashad, there is the Shir-Kabir mosque, which is considered the oldest surviving mosque in all of Turkmenistan. The walls of this amazing structure from its base to the very dome are decorated with carved ganch with patterns and inscriptions painted in red, blue and pistachio colors. Some pilgrims who come here claim that it is sacred place is the second most important (after Mecca) of those that were blessed by Allah.

The most visited attraction near Turkmenbashi is the amazing Dehistan - this is a plain that has preserved traces of the life of people who came to this territory in the third millennium BC. The largest historical monument of Dehistan is the Misrian settlement. Unfortunately, not a single building and structure of that era has survived to this day, and tourists who come here today can only observe the ruins of this settlement.

But on the territory of Dehistan, you can visit two relatively well-preserved minarets, the height of which reaches 20 meters.

In Turkmenbashi itself, many foreigners always strive to visit the Museum of 26 Baku Commissars, which tells about the amazing fate of each of the executed commissars.

Nutrition

Turkmenbashi's cuisine is somewhat different from gastronomy in other parts of the country. The main dish on the menu of any restaurant in the city is fish. Usually, sturgeon species of fish are used to treat tourists. The most popular dish in public catering establishments of Turkmenbashi is "Kavurdaka" - these are pieces of fish fried in sesame oil. In addition, many foreigners prefer to order the famous dried fish and amazing fish kebab. Interestingly, this type of kebab is prepared in the same way as from meat. Pieces of fish are alternately strung on a skewer with onions, and then fried over an open fire. In many restaurants, you can even watch the process of preparing this delicious dish. It is worth noting that in Turkmenbashi, as in all of Turkmenistan, fish dishes are served with a unique sweet and sour sauce.

The main dish of every Turkmenbashi restaurant is, of course, the famous Turkmen pilaf. Not a single meal is complete without this wonderful treat. In addition, the menus of the city's restaurants include dozens of meat dishes. Usually lamb, chicken and beef are cooked here. The main dishes are Govurma, Gara Chorba and Kakmach.

The famous Turkmen "Ayran" is worth trying here.

The hospitable Turkmenbashi invites its visitors to have a great time in the restaurants that are located above the waters of the Caspian Sea. The unique atmosphere prevailing in these establishments immerses tourists in the stunning world of Turkmen cuisine. It should be noted that most of the cafes and restaurants of Turkmenbashi offer their customers not only treats national cuisine but also dishes from other countries of the world.

Food prices in Turkmenbashi are kept at the same level as in the whole country. So, dinner in a middle-class restaurant here will cost about $ 7 per person. And in amazing restaurants "over the water" for a two-course meal you will have to pay a slightly larger amount - about $ 10-12 per person.

Residence

The beautiful city of Turkmenbashi always warmly welcomed its guests. There are many hotels of various classes on its territory. In the resort area "Avaza" you can find hotels, the level of comfort in which corresponds to four and five stars.

The most popular hotel among foreigners is "Turkmenbashi". This hotel was the first on the entire Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to receive the status of five stars. All hotel rooms are equipped with modern comfortable furniture, as well as all the necessary technical means, such as air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and telephones with the possibility of international calls.

In addition, all guests can additionally use the services of restaurants, fitness clubs, gyms, saunas, swimming pools, tennis courts, parking, entertainment center and other facilities located on the territory of the hotel. The cost of living in the "Turkmenbashi" hotel depends on the type of room and its configuration. The average accommodation price is around $ 150-200 per night.

On the territory of the city you can find a large number of small but very comfortable hotels. Accommodation in such establishments will cost significantly less than in large hotels. You can pay no more than $ 70 per night.

Entertainment and recreation

The main entertainment of the city of Turkmenbashi is concentrated in the resort area "Avaza". This is a stunning natural corner where the sanatorium-resort treatment facilities are located, as well as numerous hotels and hotels that meet all international standards. In addition, there are entertainment centers, restaurants, clubs, discos, gaming establishments. Every tourist will find something to their liking in Avaza. In the future, there are plans to build ski slopes and a huge water park. Already today, many people call "Avaza" a national tourist area. Fishing, boating and yachting are especially popular here.

In addition, in Turkmenbashi, fascinating excursions to the sights of the city and its environs are conducted for travelers. The most visited places are Dehistan, the Parau-Bibi mosque and the Khazar reserve.

Purchases

In Turkmenbashi, there are a huge number of souvenir shops and shops that sell various memorable goods. The most popular purchases among foreign tourists are items of national costume, silk and wool products, skullcaps, telpaks, jewelry, and various figurines. As a rule, most travelers prefer to purchase statues of horses - the symbol of the state. And, of course, few foreigners returned home without a magnificent Turkmen carpet. Turkmenbashi has a large number of shops specializing in the sale of carpets. It is worth noting that it is best to purchase such an expensive product (at least $ 300) exclusively in state stores, since only there sellers can issue you a special certificate confirming the fact of purchase. In addition, the price of the carpet already includes tax, which must be paid when the carpet is exported abroad.

Carpets and felt mats are also available in local city markets. True, their quality will be slightly lower than in state retail outlets.

All payments for purchases are made only in the national currency - manat.

Transport

Turkmenbashi is large transport hub... There is a railway with a high freight and passenger turnover. Turkmenbashi is the largest port of Turkmenistan, and an airport is located not far from the city.

Flights are operated by the state air carrier "Turkmen Airlines". By air, Turkmenbashi is connected with Ashgabat, Turkmenabat and Dashoguz. Mostly, air travel within the country is used by foreign tourists, who find traveling by rail in trains not comfortable enough. The price for domestic flights is low - only $ 7-10.

Railway is the main transport linking Turkmenbashi with other major cities the state. Several hundred thousand cargoes brought to the port are transported daily along it. Passenger trains go in the direction of Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat, Mary. The ticket price is about $ 2.5 per second-class carriage and just over $ 4 for a ride in a comfortable NE.

As a major seaport, Turkmenbashi is connected by ferry service with major ports in other countries, in particular with Baku in Azerbaijan and Astrakhan in Russia. It is interesting that the crossing is a railway one. Each of the operating ferries takes on board up to 28 railway carriages and about 200 passengers. The price of such a ferry ranges from $ 20 to $ 40. Also, between the ports of Baku, Astrakhan and Turkmenbashi, there is an excellent freight connection.

Public transport in the city is represented by buses and taxis. At the same time, the majority of foreigners prefer the services of the last cabbies. The cost of a ticket for travel to public transport Turkmenbashi is about $ 0.1–0.15. You will have to pay a little more for a taxi ride - about $ 1.

Connection

In Turkmenbashi, telephone communication is somewhat less developed than in the capital of the state. Although there are street telephones here, they are only suitable for city communications. In addition, the quality of communication from these machines is poor. For international calls, you can use the telephones installed in hotels, as well as in any post office. The cost of a call abroad is approximately $ 1.

mobile connection in Turkmenbashi was more developed than stationary. The cellular network is supported by two operators: TM CELL and MTS-Turkmenistan. By the way, these companies perfectly support roaming of all major world mobile operators, including Russian ones. Traveling around Turkmenbashi, you can buy a SIM card from any local operator and talk to your family for $ 0.25 per minute.

The internet connection in the city is excellent. There are cozy internet cafes on the central streets of Turkmenbashi, as well as in large hotels. It is interesting that in addition to the indicated places, access to the Network is also provided by various large establishments and the airport. It is worth noting that the cost of one hour of work on the Internet will cost you only $ 2.

Safety

Turkmenbashi enjoys a reputation as a relatively calm and safe city. True, the status of a large transport center with a huge passenger traffic makes it attractive to pickpockets and fraudsters. It should be noted that more serious offenses against foreign citizens were not recorded. Remember that when you are in crowded places, you need to be extremely attentive to your belongings and wallets. It is best to leave your valuables at the hotel.

However, in terms of sanitation, everything is not so good: as in any Asian city, in Turkmenbashi there is a risk of contracting such serious diseases as dysentery, malaria, hepatitis, typhus. Before arriving here, you must complete all the required vaccinations.

In addition, the local tap water is completely unusable. For a start, it is recommended to boil it and only then drink or brush your teeth. When buying food from local stores or bazaars, you should wash them thoroughly afterwards. Especially fruits and vegetables. And products such as meat or fish must be heat treated before eating.

Business climate

The seaside city of Turkmenbashi is attractive for investors primarily in the oil business - a whole complex of oil refineries is located on the territory of the city. The city and country authorities have passed a number of laws regulating relations between foreign investors and state-owned enterprises. It should be noted that under these laws, joint ventures receive a number of additional tax and product certification benefits.

In addition, recently there has been an increase in tourist interest in Turkmenbashi, especially after the opening resort area Avaza. The majority of foreign investments are invested in the tourism business. Opening large hotels and entertainment venues is a very quickly payback business.

The property

Real estate in Turkmenbashi was highly appreciated by experts from all over the world. It should be noted that the increased interest from investors is due to the policy pursued in the real estate market (there are no restrictions on the sale of housing to foreign citizens), as well as the implementation of many measures to attract tourists to the city and its environs. In particular, the creation of the resort and recreational zone "Avaza" was of great importance in the development of the real estate market of Turkmenbashi.

The cost per square meter in Turkmenbashi is slightly lower than in the capital of the state, and in comparison with other cities of the country, it is slightly higher than the average. To buy a small apartment in a residential area of ​​Turkmenbashi, you need to prepare an amount of $ 25,000-30,000. Most businessmen who buy real estate for the subsequent organization of a hotel or hostel prefer country cottages. The cost of real estate of this kind is noticeably higher than that of a simple apartment. The price of a medium-sized house together with the cost land plot is about $ 45,000. It is noticed that the suburban housing market today is experiencing certain difficulties associated with fluctuations in land prices.

The beautiful Turkmenbashi enchants tourists with its cordiality and hospitality. For an unforgettable and safe rest There are several important rules to follow in this magnificent city.

All tourists arriving in Turkmenbashi are obliged to stay only at the hotel that was indicated in the invitation travel agency and was the basis for registration entry visa... Travel of foreign tourists in some areas, mainly in protected areas, possible only if accompanied by a representative travel company... It should be noted that video and photography also requires special permission from the local authorities or the population.

Staying in Turkmenbashi is possible only after appropriate preventive vaccinations - against typhoid, malaria, dysentery and hepatitis. By the way, in the hot period of the year, the problem of the prevention of dysentery is especially acute in the city.

The hot weather of Turkmenbashi is unusual for many tourists, therefore, in order to avoid troubles, it is advisable to always have sunscreen cosmetics, hats and repellents with you, which will protect you from annoying insects.

When buying souvenirs, remember that not all goods are allowed for export abroad. It is strictly forbidden to export any kind of fish and black caviar. In addition, when buying carpets, it is necessary to provide the customs authorities with a special certificate confirming the purchase of the goods, the payment of the corresponding tax, as well as the age of the carpet. For export abroad, products are allowed, the age of which does not exceed 50 years.