Mary

Culture and history info

Margush / Margiana

The smooth, mirror - like surfaces of split takyrs (clay soil empty of plants) with light sand waves drifting from the great northern desert of Karakum, stretch to the horizon. It seems that lifeless silence has always reigned here. But this is only an illusion. Driving off-road for what seems several hours and leaving clouds of dust behind, your car climbs a hill from where you can see excavations into the ancient country Margush. In the shimmering heat of the desert you see many sand Hills, the remains of ancient settlements.

Mary Museum

There are two major public museums in Turkmenistan, namely in Ashgabat and Mary. The Mary museum was initially opened in 1984 in a large brick building constructed in 1908 and said originally to belong to a Russian brick factory owner. The upper floor boasts an extensive permanent display of Turkmen ethnography with additional sections on the Baluch and early Russian involvement in this region. Future galleries will focus on flora and fauna, and the impact of wars on local history.

Merv

Due to its size and historical value, the Ancient Merv is the one of the most important sites. It is situated in the lower reaches of the Murgab river. The historians of the past rewarded the Ancient Merv with magnificent epithets like "The Stronghold of the World", "The Dome of Islam", "The Spirits of Kings". Its upsurge took place in XI-XII centuries, at the time of the Great Seldjuks. The Seldjuk's Empire stretched from the Lower Amu-Darya to the Mediterranean sea. Under Seldjuks Merv occupied 640 hectares and was one of the most developed cities of its time. It attracted scientists and merchants from the Moslem world. In 1221 all settlements of Middle Asia were devastated by Mongolian hordes, and Merv was not an exception.

Serags

Serahs oasis, situated between Nishapur and Merv was one of the important points on the way of the Great Silk Route. The significance of Serahs increased after the Arabs' invasion. It was in those days that the direction of one of the main routes of the Great Silk Road has been changed; now it led from the central areas of Iran to Nishapur and from there, across Serahs, to Merv and further to the east.

Tagtabazaar - Ekedeshik Cave Town

Yekedeshik - is a State historical and architectural reserve, located 225 kilometers from Bairam-Ali in the district of Tagta-Bazar. Tahta-Bazar -is a district where once passed great caravan routes from Iran, Khorasan. Yekedeshik -is a unique and spectacular cave that doesn't have any analogues anywhere else.