Today’s Turkmenistan started around 2000 BC with the arrival of Indo-European peoples (Slavs and Turks). Persians of Iranian descent in the north of this geographical region lived in tents and semi-Illyrians. The dry desert climate and steppe lands have been the cause of nomadic life in Central Asia and Eurasia; A kind of life where raising and keeping horses has played an important role in their culture and customs. Some of these well-known Iranian tribes include the Massagets, the Scythians, and the Sogds (ancestors of the Khwarazmshahs). Turkmenistan has always been a place of passage for southern invading and migrant tribes, such as the Middle River, Ilam, and Indus Valley civilizations. Mero region in present-day Turkmenistan was for centuries the center of Greater Khorasan and one of the bases of the Persian language and the center of Iranian scientists, writers and mystics during the Islamic era.
The current region of Turkmenistan was generally Iranian-speaking and Persian-speaking, whose population composition changed since the arrival of the Gazans in the region during the migration of the Seljuks from the north of Qaraqorum to the south, which began during the time of Mahmoud Ghaznavi. The residents of Iranian cities in these areas have gradually mixed with the Turkmen nomads around the cities and the current people of these areas are their descendants. The background of the Persian language of present-day Turkmenistan is evident in the names of the main cities of this country: Ashgabat (Ashkabad), Merv, Chaharjoi, Kohnegorganj, Dehstan, Faraveh, Karkoh, Shahgadham, Chaharkan, Panjde (Takhtebazar), Morghab, Abadan, Abno, Deno, Qahgahe, Balkhanabad, Babadehghan, Sarhadabad, Farab, etc. The names of many of these cities have been changed in recent decades or years by government decision. Other geographical names of this country such as Amu Darya, Lab Ab Province and Balkhan Mountains (Balakhane) also confirm this background.
Most of the inhabitants of Turkmenistan were monotheists during the conquest of the Ghaz Turks. The Turks of Ghaz gradually promoted the Turkmen language by ruling this region. During the rule of the Turks, the culture of Islam, which was brought to Turkmenistan by the Arabs, was integrated with local Russian customs, and later this mixed culture was influenced and changed by Turkic rulers such as the Seljuk dynasty. During the middle Ages, the invasion of Genghis Khan and the Mongols devastated Turkmenistan, and later this destruction continued with the invasion of Timur Lang and the Uzbeks.
During the Qajar era, Agha Mohammad Khan’s attack on the Turkmen of Suvin Khan in the north of Gorgan, the uprising of Khwaja Yusuf Kashgari who called himself the Sultan of Turkestan in the region of Estrabad and Gorganrud against the government of Fath Ali Shah, the attack of Atanias, the ruler of Khiva, with the help of the Turkmen clans, towards Mashhad and Sarkhs in 1239 AH. . Qayat Khan’s rebellion against the government of Iran in 1242 against the government of Iran in 1242, the rebellion of Qayat Khan, the Turkmen leader of Yamut Jafar Bai, between the army of Mohammad Shah Qajar and the Turkmen people is one of the most important military conflicts of this era. He tried to manage them directly under the supervision of the central government, but the Turkmens were only willing to accept the conditions if there was a strong central government. Finally, Tsarist Russia after the occupation of Bukhara in 1284 AH. and the occupation of Khiva in 1289 AH. AD attacked the Turkmens who lived in the eastern borders of Iran and were governed independently from the Qajar central government, and after the battle of Gog Tepe and the suppression of the Turkmens, the Treaty of Akhal was concluded between Iran and Russia in 1881, according to which Most of the Turkmen-inhabited areas became the property of the Russians, as well as the provinces of Marv, Akhal and Ashgabat and their neighboring areas, which Iran had historical ownership of, were taken away from Iran and annexed to Tsarist Russia, and Naser al-Din Shah was forced to give up his claims on the region. Khwarezm gave up and accepted the conditions of the Russians without military resistance, and this was the beginning of the domination of the Russians over the Turkmen-inhabited areas until 1991, when Turkmenistan was conquered.
In 1991, Turkmenistan gained independence. Safar Murad Niyazov, one of the local communist leaders, declared himself as the absolute and undisputed leader of Turkmenistan.
At the end of the 19th century, today’s Turkmenistan was fundamentally changed by the conquest and invasion of the Russian Empire, and a few decades later, after the Russian Revolution of 1917 with the formation of the Soviet Union, it turned from an Islamic tribal society into an absolute Leninist society.
In 1991, Turkmenistan gained independence. Safar Murad Niyazov, one of the local communist leaders, declared himself as the absolute and undisputed leader of Turkmenistan. He brought the newly independent Turkmenistan completely under his absolute authoritarianism. He resisted the democrats of the former Soviet Union who were his rivals until the end of his reign (2006), which ended with his death.
Itinerary
We will be glad to meet you at Imam Khomeini Airport and transfer you to the hotel. You will have time to rest and relax before Tehran-tour starts. First we go to visit Golestan Palace of Qajar dynasty that has been in use from 18th to 19th centuries. Then we go for walk in bazaar. When you walk in bazaar you smell different spice. You can see a lot of tasty nuts. Get acquainted with handicrafts. Today circulation will end by visit the National Museum of Iran. Overnight in Tehran.
Early in the morning we leave Tehran to Kashan to visit historic houses of Borujerdiha and Tabatabaeiha related to the Qajar era. Then we go to visit Tepe Sialk is a large ancient archeological site. The Sialk ziggurat was built around the 3000 BC. Fin Garden the second place select for visit that is famous for irrigation system while you are waking behind nice cypress tree and hear the sound of water, see the beautiful flower, you feel in paradise. We will visit bazaar of Kashan and Timche Amin Dawla which are the masterpiece of Iranian architecture. We continue to Isfahan. Overnight in Isfahan.
Today our tour start with the Naqsh-e-Jahan square which is second biggest square in the world. Sheikh Lotfollah and Imam Mosques, and Aliqapu Palace three place was built with order of Shah Abbas the Great. By writing cannot describe the glory of Naqsh-e-Jahan square. We go to visit Chehel Sutoon which the beautiful image of this palace will remain in the mind for a long time. We will visit Vank Cathedral. The cathedral was established in 1606, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I. In the afternoon we going to walk near Zayanderud River and see three old bridges. Overnight in Isfahan.
Today after breakfast we leave Isfahan to Yazd during the way we stop in Nain to visit Jameh Mosque. In the afternoon we go to visit Dolat-Abad Garden which belongs to Afshar dynasty. By digging a 65-kilometer-long aqueduct, the water is conducted to garden. This garden has the biggest windward in the world. Overnight in Yazd
On this day we will visit water museum, Jameh Mosque, Fahadan neighborhood, Alexander’s Prison, bazaar, Zoroastrian Towers of Silence, Fire Temple and Amir Chakhmaq Complex that each of them is unique. Overnight in Yazd
Today destination is Shiraz, in morning after breakfast we go to Abarkuh to visit cypress with 4500 years old, Aghazadeh Mansion and Abarkuh Brick Glacier. The next place we will visit is Pasargadae which was capital of the Achaemenid Empire. By writing cannot described the glory of this place.overnight in Shiraz
At 8 am we are ready to see Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (pink Mosque). In this mosque, colored glasses are used, which double beauty of the mosque in morning sunshine. Narenjestan e Ghavam the seconded place we go to visit. You can see special painting on woods (Mrjvk). Then we go to visit holy shrine of Shah Cheragh. Shiraz is considered by Shia Muslims to be the three most sacred city in Iran after Mashhad and Qom. We have lunch near Zandieh complex are contains mosque, Bathroom and bazaar in afternoon we will visit them. Overnight in Shiraz
Early morning 7.30 we are ready to visit Persepolis, Necropolis and Pasargadae belong to Achaemenid dynasty. By writing cannot describe the glory of these places. We are fly to Mashhad. Overnight in Mashhad
We go to visit the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) to experience the good mood and the unique feeling that everyone has near Imam Reza (AS). We visit the beautiful birds of the shrine and throw seeds for them. We drink water from the Saqakhaneh in the middle of the old courtyard of the Revolution, the threshold of Imam Reza (as). About 300 years have passed since the construction of this Saqakhaneh, and in the past it was also known as the Naderi Saqakhaneh and the Ismail Tala Saqakhaneh. The foundation stone of this Saqakhaneh was laid by Nader Shah Afshar and its gold plating was done by Ismail Khan, who was one of the commanders of Nader Shah’s army. We see the sweeping ceremony of Imam Reza (AS) shrine. Every morning after the prayer, when the shrine servants change shifts, they place the short brooms in a large tray, and after the ceremony, the shrine servants start sweeping. Servants, dressed in crimson, sweep the stage with long-handled brooms and recite poems. Sweeping the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) has a long history and dates back to the Safavid era. Then we go to visit bazar. In afternoon we fly to Shiraz. Overnight in Mashhad.
Early morning we live Mashhad to Sarahs. Meet tourists in Turkmenistan border Sarahs at 10:00-11:00. Upon arrival to the border point go through custom procedures. Transfer to Mary. After lunch city tour Mary, will visit Mary Museum. With an extensive ethnography section, including a large collection of Turkmen jewelers, carpets, stuffed animals, a fully decorated yurt and pottery from the time of the Mongol occupation. However, best of all is the archaeological section, bringing together artefacts found at both Merv and Margush, including pottery, weapons, household implements and jewelers. The fine quality and design of household items from Margiana is striking and rivals the collection of the National Museum in Ashgabat. A skeleton of a Margiana priestess was once also on display, though a series of deaths and misfortunes among museum staff persuaded them to have the original returned to where it was found. Overnight in Mary
After breakfast, drive to visit an Ancient Merv (UNESCO has listed the site of ancient Merv as a World Heritage Site) – place where lived Imam Reza and it was located at the road crossing of the Great Silk Road and quickly became one of the largest and biggest cities of the ancient world and was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Guided tour: Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, SoltanSanjar Mausoleum, IbnZeid Mausoleum. Drive to Ashgabat. Lunch on the way. On the way stop: – at Annau, the ruins of the 15th century Seyit Jamal-ad-Din Mosque. – Abiward or Abi-ward,was an ancient Sassanid city in modern-day Turkmenistan.Archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Abiwardhave been made in the last century to about 8 km west of the Kahka station in an area of 12,000 m2. The central tell is 60 feet high and 700 feet round. Overnight in Ashgabat
This day explore the capital of Turkmenistan. To visit independence period parks and monuments, such as the Monument and Park of Independence (looks like a white-marble “Eiffel Tower”), and impressive Ertoghrul Ghazi mosque. After that, the group will go to the town of Bagir, to visit the Parthian fortress of Nissa, was once the Capital of the Parthian Empire (under UNESCO Heritage), an excursion to the Kipchak memorial complex. Return to Ashgabat. Overnight in Ashgabat.
After breakfast hotel, free time buying souvenirs. At 12:00 -13:00 drive through the Karakum desert to Darvaza. Visit a small nomadic village on the way to the main attraction and immerse into the traditional life style of Turkmen people. Visit the Gas Crater. Observe the fantastic view of the crater at daylight and at night, feel the heat and listen to the wind and the sound that this giant oven creates. On the way visit water and mud craters. Dinner at the nature. Return Ashgabat. Overnight in Ashgabat
After breakfast transfer to Kov-Ata – Underground Lake. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means Father of caves. At first glance, this underground area appears like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. Next drive to Nokhur. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses were been built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. The Nohkuri people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different to other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran. Nokhur is the largest village with just a thousand or maybe two thousand people. Lunch. Continue our way to Ashgabat. Our traveler leave Iran and Turkmenistan with beautiful memories.
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