Administrative StructureTurkmenistan consists of five provinces (velayats). Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan with population of 500,000 inhabitants. Other major cities are Dashkhovuz, Mary, Nebit-Dag, Turkmenbashy and Charjou.

Climate    The climate in Turkmenistan is sharply continental, with cold winters and very hot summers. For most of the country, the average daily temperature in January ranges from -6° to 5°C (21° to 41°F), while in July it is 27° to 32°C (81° to 90°F). Temperature in the desert in summer can reach 50°C (122°F) during the day before falling rapidly at night. During the winter it can reach 10° - 15°C below zero (5°-14°F). Most precipitation occurs between January and May. Average annual precipitation ranges from 80 to 400 mm, although two-thirds of the country receives 150 mm or less.

When to Go:
As summers are ferociously hot and winters bitterly cold, spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons to visit Turkmenistan. In April the desert blooms briefly and the monotonous ochre landscapes explode in reds, oranges and yellows. Autumn is harvest time, when market tables heave with freshly picked fruit.

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Clothing     Light-coloured cotton garments are the best for summer travel. A hat is a necessary accessory. Heat and dust make thick-soled walking shoes a better choice. In colder weather, bring warm boots and woollen layers. If you leave lowland for the mountains, prepare for intense cold, strong winds and heavy snows.

Shorts are rarely seen in Turkmenistan and, worn by females, are likely to provoke unwelcome attention from the local male population. There are no special clothing requirements for visiting Islamic religious site except that you should take care to cover most parts of your body including arms and legs. It is normal to take shoes off, but not socks, when entering someone's house.

A lavish display of jewellery, bulging handbags and wallets and a neck full of cameras will make you stand out in a crowd. Be discreet, respectful of local culture and traditions and carry the minimum of valuable.     top

Communications Communication system is ensured via a system of line and station facilities of post, telephone, telegraph, and tele-and-radio communication. Long-distance communication within the country is based on landline and microwave radio-relay lines. International communication with CIS countries is based on cable and microwave radio relay. Communication with other countries is linked by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch. A new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat.

CraftsThe Turkmen folk applied art is rich and diverse. It includes many kinds of carpets and carpet articles, felts, embroideries and robes, head-dress, the jeweller and women's decorations, decorations for a horse, leather products and others.

Peculiarities of the people's system and life are reflected in their crafts. Among diverse forms of folk applied arts Turkmen carpet weaving is the most developed and rich one, which has won worldwide fame and still is a success. For Turkmen nomads, the carpets were extremely important, covering wagon floors and forming collapsible walls, protecting them from the cold.

The applied arts of Turkmenistan embrace a wide range of materials used and methods of ornamentation. These include ceramics, metal chasing & embossing, woodcarving, jewellery making, silk & gold embroidery, silk weaving, carpet making and leatherwork. top

Cuisine Turkmen food to some extent is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia.

Plov is the staple food for everyday and celebrations too. It consists of chunks of fried mutton with onions, thinly shredded yellow turnip or carrot and rice steamed in a large iron pot.

Shashlyk, known also as kebabs, is skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal served with sliced raw onions and non (rounds of unleavened bread).
Manty are large dumplings stuffed with finely chopped meat, seasoned with various spices and a large amount of onion, and then steamed in a special pot.
Shurpa is meat and vegetable soup.

There are, however, a number of dishes that are particularly characteristic of Turkmenistan:
Ka'urma is mutton deep-fried in its own fat.
Churban churpa is mutton fat dissolved in green tea.
Ishkiykli are dough balls filled with meat and onion which are traditionally cooked in sand that has been heated by a fire.

On the shores of the Caspian Sea, seafood is often substituted for mutton in traditional dishes such as plov. In the west of Turkmenistan there is a speciality in which mutton is roasted in a clay and oven fired with aromatic woods.
Green tea is very popular and can be obtained almost anywhere.

Culture Turkmenistan is a country of priceless archaeological finds left over by dozens of different tribes and peoples that lived here during many past centuries. Objects found during archaeological excavations show the deep historical roots of the Turkmen culture.

 One of the most sensational finds in recent years is a small stone bearing unknown inscriptions, dating back to the 2^nd millennium BC. The find was a miniature stone-seal (its sides are barely longer than one centimetre) with engraved inscriptions unlike any writing known to modern experts. The archaeologists also discovered here the ruins of a large palace, which proves that about 2,000 BC, this area was the place of an unknown, well developed, civilisation with its own writing.

The Turkmens have an oral literary tradition that dates from ancient times. The oral epics are sung to this day by revered poets and composers called bakhshi. The father of Turkmen literature is poet and thinker Fragi Makhtumkuli (1770-1840), whose words are held in great reverence. In his writing, Makhtumkuli spurned classical forms for homespun wisdom and simplicity of language that contributed greatly to his popularity with the travelling bards. Such was his influence that Turkmen literature became a compendium of mere copyists. Of those who managed to struggle out of the shadow of the great scribe, the most noted are the 19^th century writers Kemine, whose satirical rhymes castigated the ruling circles, and Molapenes, the author of popular lyrical poems.

The Turkmen musical culture is very rich and varied. Rapid and various musical life is reflected in monuments of material culture. In early Middle Ages in the East there was a famous singer, instrumentalist and composer Barbad Mervezy (i.e. from Merv), who was honoured to be at the head of musicians at the court of Husrova Perviza (590-628 years). Turkmens are one of successors of his musical legacy, for they have direct connection with the culture created on the territory they live. Classical musical compositions, called mukams, have been the most common and favourite among Turkmens for centuries.

In the year 2001 the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Theatre for Young Audiences, the National Variety and Circus House, and the State Philharmonic Hall were closed by order of the President of Turkmenistan. A National Drama Theatre that will stage Turkmen historical epics should replace opera and Ballet Theatre.     top

Customs  On entering the country, tourists should complete a customs declaration form that must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop, which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities.

Duty Free: The following goods may be imported into Turkmenistan by tourists aged 17 and older without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 200g of tobacco products; 1.5 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine (passengers aged 21 and over); a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.

Prohibited imports: Military weapons and ammunition, narcotics, pornography, poisons, printed, audio and video materials and other information sources containing information that can do harm and damage to economic and political interests of Turkmenistan, its national security, health and morality of population.
Prohibited exports: Same as prohibited imports, as well as lottery tickets, carpets, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture) and furs.

Import regulations in Turkmenistan are subject to change at short notice, and travellers should contact the embassy before departure for up-to-date information. top

Ecology    Turkmenistan suffers from a number of serious environmental problems. Excessive irrigation has severely degraded soil and water quality in Turkmenistan. Irrigation of the naturally saline soil has brought underground salts to the surface, making the soil even more saline while also making irrigation more necessary. Thus, excessive irrigation has contributed to desertification (a process whereby arable land becomes desert, or arid salt flats). In addition, Turkmenistan s soil has become heavily contaminated with agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides that are applied in large doses to cotton crops. These agricultural chemicals also contaminate the water supply, mainly through irrigation runoff.

Turkmenistan is also involved in a regional effort to address the problem of the Aral Sea. The greatest single contributor to the drying of the Aral is Turkmenistan s Karakum Canal, which receives more water from the Amu Darya (one of two inflow sources for the Aral) than any other irrigation structure in the Aral Sea basin. The drying of the Aral Sea is considered one of the worst ecological disasters in the world.     top

Economy   Turkmenistan's economy is predominantly agricultural, with cotton as its primary crop. Cotton alone is responsible for nearly one-fifth of GDP, and Turkmenistan is among the world s top producers of the fiber. In recent years, Turkmenistan s government has encouraged some shift away from cotton cultivation, with the goal of diversifying crops and achieving self-sufficiency in food production. Other crops grown in the country include wheat, vegetables, and fruit. Livestock raising is also important, especially Karakul sheep, horses, and camels.

The principal industry in Turkmenistan is the extraction of natural gas and oil. The gas deposits are located along the Caspian Sea coast and in the northern and eastern sections of the country. Energy products, primarily natural gas, are the largest export item. The country also produces important industrial minerals, including gypsum, iodine, bromine, sulfur, and salt.
Aside from the production of fuels, industry in Turkmenistan is limited mainly to food processing and textile production. top

Education Education is compulsory until the age of fourteen. Most students also complete secondary school, which lasts until the age of seventeen. After completing secondary school, students may continue their education at the at Turkmenistan State University in Ashgabat or one of specialised institutes training for careers in agriculture, economics, medicine, and fine arts.

Emblem Turkmenistan emblem is composed of three concentric circles divided by white stripes. The first circle is coloured purple and contains images of open cotton bulbs with green leaves and golden wheatears. The wheatears allude to the custom of greeting guests with bread and salt. A crescent moon and five white stars are located in the upper portion of the circle. The second circle is yellow and contains five carpet patterns. A white akhalteke horse, a breed indigenous to Turkmenistan and the pride of its people, graces the central blue circle. top

Flag The state flag of Turkmenistan is emerald green with a vertical red stripe on the left, at the flagstaff. The stripe contains five basic Turkmen carpet patterns, or guls, and two crossed olive branches reflecting Turkmenistan s policy of permanent neutrality. In the upper left-hand corner of the green background there is a white crescent moon and five white stars. The crescent moon signifies hope to the Turkmen people and each of the stars represents one of the five Turkmen regions or velayats: Ahal, Balkan, Dashkhovuz, Lebap and Mary.

Geography   Turkmenistan is situated in Central Asia. To the north is Kazakhstan, east and northeast lies Uzbekistan, in the south are Iran and Afghanistan and in the west are Azerbaijan and Russia via the Caspian Sea.

Turkmenistan occupies more than 488,100 square kilometres. About 80 % of the territory are plains with dominating deserts and 20% is occupied with mountains. The entire central part of the country is occupied by one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Karakum Desert. About four-fifths of the country is steppe that is part of the southern portion of the vast Turan lowland. The Kopetdag Mountains fringe the Karakum Desert along the country s southern border with Iran.

The mountain streams of Turkmenistan dissipate upon reaching the arid sands and parched clay of the Karakum, so Turkmenistan s only significant water sources are rivers that originate in other countries. The Amu Darya, which originates in the Pamirs region of Tajikistan east of Turkmenistan and forms part of the country s border with Uzbekistan, and the Murgab, which originates in Afghanistan, are the two largest permanent rivers. The Caspian Sea, a landlocked saltwater lake, forms Turkmenistan s entire western border.

Turkmenistan has substantial reserves of oil and natural gas in the Caspian Sea area and in the Karakum desert. Other natural resources include deposits of coal, sulfur, magnesium, and salt.    top

Health  Medical care in Turkmenistan is limited. There are about 78,000 people in medical sector. There is a shortage of basic supplies, including disposable needles, anaesthetics and antibiotics. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Important telephone numbers in Ashgabat:
·   City Ambulance: 03
·   VIP Hospital: 29-08-77
·   Red Cross Hospital: 25-32-43
·   Central Hospital: 45-03-03

Holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day (according to Gregorian calendar). 
January 12 - Memory Day of heroes of 1881 battle with the Russians at Goektepe. February 19 - The Turkmen State Flag Day.
March 8 - International Women's Day. 
March 21 - Navruz-Bairam. A New Day or New Year Navruz is widely celebrated everywhere in Central Asia as the day of peace and charity. Navruz is also a holiday of traditional games, music & drama festivals and lavish colourful fairs.
May 9 - Victory Day. A day to honour veterans and martyrs of the World War II. 
October 6 - Memorial Day of victims of earthquake of 1948.
October 27 & 28 - Independence Day.
November 17 - Students Day.
December 12 - Neutrality Day.

Annually three days are devoted to celebrate Muslim holidays Khait  and Kurban-Bairam - the date  changes  each year in correspondence with Lunar Calendar. Khait - celebration at the end of Ramadan (the month of daytime fasting). These  are the days of family visits, gifts and donations to the poor. About 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan the Kurban Bairam (The Feast of Sacrifice) is celebrated. During these several days locals visit the graves of relatives. Some of them slaughter an animal and share the meat with the family and the poor.

Festivals:  Besides these holidays Turkmen love festivals, which provide an interesting spectacle for visitors. The following are a selection of events celebrated annually:
First Sunday of April is  "The drop of water is the grain of gold" festival.
Last Sunday of April is a day to celebrate the Turkmen horse.
May 19 is Makhtumkuli poetry festival.
Last Sunday of May is Turkmen carpet day.
Second Sunday of August is a day to celebrate the Turkmen melon.
Last Sunday of September is bakhshy day to celebrate the Turkmen folk singers.
Last Sunday of November is the harvest festival.
First Sunday of December is the neighbourhood day.       top

Language Turkmen belongs to the Oghuz division of Turkic group of tongues.  Beginning in the 18^th century, Turkmen poets and chroniclers used the classical Chaghatai language, which was written in Arabic script and reflected only occasional Turkmen linguistic features. Between 1913-17, periodicals were published in Chaghatai. Two reforms of this script undertaken in 1922 and 1925 were designed to reflect features of the spoken Turkmen language. From 1928 to 1940 Latin alphabet was used. Since 1940 Turkmen has been written in the Cyrillic script.

From the mid-1990s, language policy in independent Turkmenistan has been to establish Turkmen as the official language. The 1992 constitution proclaimed Turkmen the "official language of inter-ethnic communication." In 1993 President Niyazov issued a decree on the replacement of the Cyrillic-based alphabet with a Latin-based script. The new alphabet has several unique letters that distinguish it not only from those of Turkey's Latin alphabet but also from the newly adopted Latin scripts of other Central Asian Republics whose dominant language is also of Turkic group.

MoneyTurkmenistan currency is called Manat. Currency code: TMM. One Turkmen Manat = 100 tenge. There are banknotes of 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 manat.

Currency exchange: The preferred hard currency is US Dollars and visitors carrying other currencies may find it hard to change them. It is advisable to take new, clean US Dollar notes in small denominations. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and major hotels. Foreigners are expected to pay all travel and hotel bills in hard currency, and prices bear little relation to what locals are expected to pay.
Credit cards: Generally not accepted as yet.
Travellers "cheques: Only travellers cheques drawn on banks with reciprocal arrangements with the Turkmen National Bank are accepted.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is prohibited for foreigners. Import of foreign currency is unlimited, and export is limited to the amount declared at the time of import.
Banking hours: 09.30-17.30 Monday to Friday.      top

Political system Under the 1992 Constitution Turkmenistan is a secular and democratic republic. Under the terms of the constitution an executive president who is also Chairman of the Council of Ministers heads the Turkmen government. The Council of Ministers carries out the day-to-day running of the country. The supreme legislative body is the Majlis (Parliament), which is directly elected for five years. The supreme body of power in Turkmenistan Khalk Maslahaty (People's Council) is headed by the president. The president of Turkmenistan is head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the armed forces. Under the constitution, the president is directly elected to a five-year term and may be elected for no more than two consecutive terms. The current President is Saparmurad Niyazov, who has been given the honorific title Turkmenbashy - leader of all Turkmens. He was elected President in 1992, having been Chairman of the Supreme Soviet since 1990, standing as the sole candidate. In a referendum in 1994 he was confirmed as President. In 1993, the Majlis approved a motion to extend Niyazov's term of office beyond 1997 until 2002. Then, in 1999, it was decided to make him president for life. The judicial system of Turkmenistan includes a Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the nation, and a Supreme Economic Court. Under the 1992 constitution, the president of Turkmenistan appoints and removes all judges.

The republic has a one party system. The Communist Party of Turkmenistan was renamed the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) in 1991. The party retained its position, as the republic's only legal party. President Niyazov is head of the DPT.

PopulationThe population of Turkmenistan is 4.6 million; the growth rate is 1.85% and population density is made up of 9 persons per square kilometre. The population of Turkmenistan involves more than 100 nationalities such as Turkmens, Uzbeks, Russians, Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Armenians and others. 77% of the population are Turkmens, 7% are Russians, 9% are Uzbeks and 7% - other nationalities.

45% of the population is urban and 55% is rural. top

Religion Predominantly the Turkmens are Sunni Muslims (85% of the population). Some of the country's ethnic minorities - notably are Russians, Ukrainians and Armenians - are Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Azerbaijani minority is Turkmenistan's only Shiite Muslim community.

ShoppingIn Ashgabat the Sunday Market or commonly known, as Talkuchka is the best place to buy the misleadingly named Bukhara rugs, which are actually made in Turkmenistan. There is a shop in the Art Gallery, which sells traditional Turkmen handicrafts, silver and costumes including the distinctive Turkmen sheepskin hats. The central bazaars in Ashgabat and other cities are also a good place to buy curios. Shopping hours: 09.00-18.00 Monday to Friday. Bazaars open at dawn.top

State systemOn October 27, 1991 Turkmenistan proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union. The Republic of Turkmenistan is the member of the United Nations Organisation, the Economic Co-operation Organisation, the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Traditions  A great number of customs and traditions accompany the Turkmen family life. For example the marriage celebration possesses great importance in Turkmen society. In rural areas especially, special matchmakers often arrange marriages. One important custom still practised is the ransom for bride (kalom). Depending on the region and a family's wealth, the bride's family may demand huge sums of money from the groom in return for the bride's hand in marriage.

Of all Central Asian peoples the Turkmens have kept the most traditional dress. It is still common to see men in baggy blue pantaloons tucked into clumping knee-high boots, a white shirt under a cherry-red and gold-striped heavy silk jacket, and topped by a shaggy wool hat. Women are less showy and wear heavy, ankle-length silk dresses of wine red and maroon hiding spangled, striped trousers beneath. A woman's hair is always tied back and concealed under a kerchief or scarf.

Carpet making is one of the ancient traditions. For the nomadic Turkmens the carpet was the only piece of furniture worth having. Easily transportable, the carpets served not just as floor coverings, but as wall linings for the yurt, providing a highly decorative form of insulation. The art of carpet weaving traditionally was passed from generation to generation. top

Transport    Air, rail and road connect the various regions of the country.

Air: The national airline is Turkmenistan Airlines. It currently flies to Abu-Dhabi, Birmingham, Delhi, Karachi, Kiev, London, Moscow and Tashkent. And uses the most modern aircraft like Boeing 737, Boeing 757. Turkmenistan is also served by other international carriers such as Iran Air, Lufthansa, Pakistan International, Turkish Airlines, Ukrainian Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. Turkmenistan Airlines also flies regularly to major towns and cities within Turkmenistan, such as Mary, Turkmenbashy, Dashkhovuz, Charjou, Kerki (far east) and Balkanabat.

Rail: The Trans-Caspian Railway connects Turkmenistan with the rest of the Central Asian republics and other parts of the CIS all the way to Moscow. The terminus is in Turkmenbashy on the Caspian Sea, from where it runs through Ashgabat before it crosses into Uzbekistan near the city of Charjou. A rail link to the Iranian network, enables train travel from Turkmenistan to Turkey (Istanbul), was completed in 1996.

Sea: There are ferries to Turkmenbashy (formerly Krasnovodsk) from Baku (Azerbaijan) and an irregular service to Astrakhan (Russian Federation).

Road: Turkmenistan is connected by road to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran. The crossing into Iran is only open to nationals of the CIS and Iran. Bus services are available to the capitals of all the neighbouring republics, and north across the Karakum Desert to Kunya-Urgench with connections to Urgench and Khiva in Uzbekistan. A service also runs between Ashgabat and Mashhad in eastern Iran.

Urban transport: Public transport is bus, tram, trolleys and taxi.         top