Lebap Region, Turkmenistan

Turkmenabat

Turkmenistan's second-largest city on the Amu Darya, an ancient Silk Road hub and the administrative center of Lebap Province.

Best seasonSpring (April-May) and autumn (September-October)

Turkmenabat is the second-largest city in Turkmenistan and the administrative center of Lebap Province, set on the banks of the Amu Darya River near the border with Uzbekistan. The site grew from the ancient settlement of Amul, a major Silk Road trade hub linking Bukhara, Khiva and Merv for some two thousand years. The modern city was founded by Russian Cossacks in 1886 as New-Chardjuy during construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, and was later known as Leninsk and Chärjew before taking its present name. Long a key trade and transport center, the city developed cotton processing, silk and food-processing industries and remains an important railway, highway and air gateway, with an international airport opened in 2018 and a major bridge across the Amu Darya. Its lively bazaars, including the World Bazaar, the Green Bazaar and the Central Bazaar, are among the most colorful markets in the country. Nearby attractions include the medieval ruins of the Amul fortress, the Repetek Biosphere Reserve some 70 km to the south with its unique Karakum desert ecosystem, and the Zaton riverside recreation area. The city makes a natural base for exploring the Silk Road heritage and desert landscapes of eastern Turkmenistan.

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