Alem Center

Second tallest structure in Turkmenistan, with a museum and cafeteria inside.

Though the country did profess a stature of neutrality, it's a somewhat ironic name because it's essentially a love monument Niyazov created of himself, now moved to the present location after his death.

A golf course that the 2nd president of Turkmenistan summoned Jack Nicklaus to build for his enjoyment in spite of economic hardship in the city.

A memorial park to lives lost in the Battle of Geok Tepe in 1881, by which Russia essentially gained control over the Turkomens, World War II, and the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, which practically leveled the city.

Hall 1 is dedicated to post-independence Turkmenistan, Hall 2 (upstairs) has a focus on ancient history with exhibits from Bronze Age sites and artefacts from Margiana. Halls 3 shows artefacts found at the Parthian site of Nisa. In Hall 4 a model of the medieval Merv, dioramas from Konye Urgench and Anau and the beautiful Merv vase are exhibited. Hall 5 and 6 display collections of weapons, musical instruments, silver jewellery and female dress. In Hall 7 (downstairs) a 20 m x 13 m carpet is exhibited.

The former tallest freestanding flagpole in the world, and at a height of 133 metres (436 feet) still one of the tallest.