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| DN TOURS » Program #4 (Turkmen Part) |
Program #4 (Turkmen Part)
Day 1. Arrival in Ashgabat International Airport.
Arrival in Ashgabat by Inetrnational Airlines.Ashgabat-the capital of Turkmenistan has borne this name since 1881. In the Turkmen folklore the name of the city is linked with the meaning “a city of love”. Love is not only an integral part of the name of the city, but also a feeling familiar to all generations of the citizens of Ashgabat. The present Ashgabat distinguishes itself with its own style, harmoniously combining the best traditions of its own national architecture and the achievements of the modern town-building.
Transfer to the hotel.Accommodation. Day 2. Full day CSS in Ashgabat Today morning we proceed to visit
Ruins of Nisa (III BC-III AD) In the IV century BC Akhemenid Empire had been ruined with the strikes of Alexander’s troops. During the period of the Selevkids-the successors of Alexander, three independent States established: Bactria, Khorezm and Parthia. Among these three states Parthia had lived for a long time, from 3rd century BC till 3rd century AD. During its existence Parthia has had several capital cities. Among the capitals of Parthia Nisa was a legendary and mysterious city in the Kingdom of Parthia.
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National Museum of History.
Visiting ruins of Seitjemal-et Din mosque located at Anau. It is the medieval city located 12km in the south–east of Ashghabat is well known by its medieval mosque called “Seitjemal – ad – din”. Among an insignificant number of the Timurids epoch monuments on the territory of Turkmenistan the mosque of Seyit Jemaletdin in Anau was the most brilliant one. According to the inscriptions on its facades and its interior it was built when Khorosan was ruled by Abu Kasim Baber Bahadurhan (1446/1457). Its construction was financed by his vezir Muhammed Khudaiot, who chose the site near the grave of his father Jemaletdin, Anau was born. Transfer to the hotel
Overnight at the hotel. Day 3. Half day in Ashgabat. Proceed to nomad village located in the heart of Karakum desert Our city sightseeing tour includes: Russian fruit & vegetable market - No matter how comfortable and accessible modern supermarkets are, the majority numbers of the citizen of the Turkmen capital still do shopping at bazaars. Its natural that exotic Asian assortment from the Turkmen fields and vegetable gardens is on sale here. Melons pomegranates, grapes, dried fruits and vegetables are sold all year round. Tempting smell leads better that any guide-book to the fast food counters. Golden pastries are fried here, juicy manty are on sale, and wonderful drink, camel chal (fermented drink made of camel’s milk) is offered. A little further, the smoke over braziers indicates the place where fragrant mutton shish kebab is cooked. The rhythm of life at the market adds a positive tone to the human mood. Shopping Centre “Ympas”.
Afternoon drive to Kekirdek village located 110 km from Ashgabat.We drive there on board of russian built minivans non A/C 4x4. Kekirdek village of nomads preserved many of the traditional nomadic customs and handicraft throughout the centuries. Watch the Teke tribe villagers prepare a traditional Chynar-patterned felt, see how the wool is combed and beaten and help the woman with their tremendous work.
Watch the firing the Tamdyr-oven to bake the dark bread common in rural areas and join milking the dromedary camels to make Chal, the traditional fermented camel milk. Watch the summer Ak-Oy yurts together with the villagers and learn the significance of the amulets and protective Alaja strings used in the centre of everyday nomads life. Visit the well where the villagers get water from for every day life. Try Turkmen plov and pishme-pasties fried on the natural fire. Sleep under the stars in the open air in the courtyard of the host of Kikirdek village.
Day 4. Drive to Dashoguz via Darvaza & Kune-Urgench.
Early morning after breakfast continue our adventure trip to Dashoguz. Dashoguz region is located in the northern part of Turkmenistan and lies on the left coast of the lower stream of Amudarya River. Northern part of the region is taken by the ancient delta of the Amudarya River, Sarykamysh Lake and hollow and south-eastern outskirts of Usturt plateau. Climate of Dashoguz region is sharply continental with hot and dry summer while the winter is cold. The major part of its territory is covered by the desert with poor vegetation – saksaul, sedge, wormwood.
En route we’ll have an excursion to Kune-Urgench. At the beginning of the 1st century AD the Chinese sources mentioned the city of Yue-gan which is identified with city of Gurgench or Urgench. It relates to Khorezm according to the ancient and medieval geographic conceptions. In the later period this city is mentioned in connection with the most important political events. Kunya Urgench had been destroyed and rebuilt several times. And at last, the city was miraculously revived by trade that had been united into the lands of the Golden Horde and by 1366 had become” the largest, greatest, most beautiful and most important city of Turks”, a city that “shakes under the weight of its population. Ibn Battuta continues to describe a city so busy that a man could not move in the throng. The Arab, Persian historians, geographers and travellers left enormous information about Kunya Urgench.
There are preserved numerous archeological and architectural monuments presenting considerable scientific and cultural value on the territory of Kunya Urgench. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to include Kunya Urgench in its list of world heritage at the 29th session held in Durban, South Africa.
Upon arrival we start our program with visiting:
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Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum – 1172-1200y. – mausoleum presents semicubic erection, crowned with the high conic cupola.
Turebek Khanum Mausolum – Turebek Khanum wife of the Urgench governor Kutlug Temur.
Mausoleum of Najmitdin Kubra and Sultan Ali
Kutlug Timur Minaret – 60m in height the minaret was built in 1320-1330 by golden horde khan Kutlug Timur.