Turkmenistan Silk Road

Mosque Near the Desert - Annau, Turkmenistan

This new mosque stands near the desert ruins of Anau Mosque. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Money and a Toy Car for Wishes - Annau, Turkmenistan

Money and a symbolic token are left as a wish (for the birth of a boy) at the Anau Mosque between Ashgabat and Merv. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Annau Mosque - Annau, Turkmenistan

Anau Mosque (15th century) is on the route between Ashgabat and Mary. Sheikh Djemalledin is buried here, making it a pilgrimage site where people leave money and symbolic items in hopes that their wishes of having children will be fulfilled. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Smiling Faces - Annau, Turkmenistan

These girls served as our companions at Anau Mosque (between Ashgabat and Mary). ..They were shy at first, but quickly hammed it up for the camera. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Overlooking Gonur Depe Archeological Site -Turkmenistan

Our Russian bus waits for us on a hill overlooking Gonur Depe. It doesn't look like much from this picture - just a series of short walls, but the atmosphere is special. Intact ancient pieces of pottery and bones are scattered just about everywhere. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Tea Set at the Cemetery - Sehitli Sem, Turkmenistan

En route to Mary, we stopped at a cemetery called Sehitli Sem. It is believed that the cemetery grew up around the grave of a Sehit (martyr in Arabic). It houses both Turkmen and Kazakh graves. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Geologist and an Archaeologist - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan

Blaz, our Slovenian friend (and geologist), breaks for a picture with the local archeologist at Gonur Depe. ..When he first requested we take the photo, he joked "Milk and Coffee." The sun at Gonur Depe is very strong and is quick to tan local hides...The ancient Gonur Depe cityscape stands in the background. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

House of Pilgrims at Merv, Turkmenistan

This building houses pilgrims visiting the Mausoleum of Mohammad ibn Zeid on the grounds of Merv. ..In Turkmen religious culture, it's an honor to be able to sleep and eat near a holy site. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Tunnels at Archeological Site of Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan

No one really knows that these tunnels were built for. Even the famous Russian-Greek archaeologist, Viktor Sarianidi, has not been able to confirm the reason for their existence... He does have a theory that Gonur Depe was either the birthplace of Zoroastrianism or its religious predecessor. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Cradle-shaped Fabric as Prayers to have Children - Mary, Turkmenistan

Pieces of fabric tied together in the shape of a cradle are tied to the saxaul tree outside the Mausoleum of Mohammed ibn Zeid. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Ancient Pot at Archeological Site of Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan

Composed mainly of one to two foot mud walls, the site of Gonur Depe (outside Mary) is not terribly photogenic. What makes it a fantastic place to visit, however, is that it still contains fragments of pottery and bones from civilizations dating back to 1500-2500 BC. It's easy to feel like an archeologist as you trip over and kick up surprisingly intact remains. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Little Boy with Ribbons for Prayers - Merv, Turkmenistan

People tie fabric and ribbons on the trees outside the 12th-century Mausoleum of Mohammed ibn Zeid in hopes that their prayers may be answered and their wishes fulfilled. ..This young boy was visiting the holy site with his family. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Old Mullah - Merv, Turkmenistan

This mullah tends the Mausoleum of Mohammaed ibn Zeid on the grounds of Merv. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Kyz Kala - Merve, Turkmenistan

There are two almost identical structures (large and small) next to each other in Merv. Originally built by the Sassanians in the 7th century, these were later used by the Seljuq sultans. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Cow Looking for Shade - Merv, Turkmenistan

This cow finds relief in the shadow of Kys Kala (small) at Merv. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Camel in Front of Kyz Kala - Merv, Turkmenistan

This camel wanders around the 7th century Kyz Kala at the ancient city of Merv. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Timurid Mausoleum - Merv, Turkmenistan

Our Slovenian-American-English group and our Russian-Turkmen guide (far right) visit the Timurid Mausoleum at Merv. .. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Camels in the Desert at Merv, Turkmenistan

Looking out at a herd of camels from a gap at small Kyz Kala at Merv. ..The shepherdesses were inside shading themselves from the sun. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Mausoleum at Merv, a Silk Road City in Turkmenistan

In its heyday (i.e., 12th century), this mausoleum had a turquoise blue dome that could be seen a day's ride away (20-30 km). The mausoleum managed to survive the Mongol invasion in 1221. ..The building was recently renovated by a Turkish construction company in 2004, but the inside is already starting to fall apart. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Il-Arslan Mausoleum - Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan

Il-Arslan Mausoleum has an unusual conical dome and is supposed to be Konye-Urgench's oldest standing monument. Gutlug Timur Minaret is in the background...Konye-Urgench is another UNESCO site and a major Silk Road city in Turkmenistan. Like Merv, it was destroyed by the Mongol armies in the 13th century with only a few buildings rebuilt and still standing today. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Tomb inside Mausoleum at Merv, Turkmenistan

Legend has it that Sultan Sanjar's wife had a dream about his body being taken so she moved it. When archeologists excavated the tomb recently, there was no body inside. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Icehouse Amidst the Heat - Merv, Turkmenistan

This structure once served as an icehouse in the Middle Ages and was able to keep ice for up to 2.5 years at a time. ..It's difficult to fathom this as you admire the structure in the baking 45+ degree (C) heat. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Leaning Minaret - Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan

It would be an understatement to say the Gutlug Timur Minaret stands out in the flat desert landscape at Konye-Urgench. Built in the 1320s and standing 64 meters tall, it's one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia. Unfortunately, it is suffers from similar structural issues as the Tower in Pisa and continues to lean under the strain. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Geometric Patterns Inside Mausoleum at Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan

Known as the pearl of Konye-Urgench, this mausoleum sports beautiful geometric patterns on its inside dome. There are 365 sections on the sparkling mosaic, 24 pointed arches, 12 bigger arches below that and four big windows (representing the weeks of the month). A plethora of symbolism in one tiled dome, by any measure...No one seems to know who is buried here, but the mausoleum is dedicated to the daughter of a Mongol Leader. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.