Turkmenabat history

The history of Turkmenabat, one of the oldest cities in Turkmenistan, spans over two millennia. The city has survived numerous eras, changed several names, and has always played a key role in the life of the region due to its strategic location.

Foundation and Name Changes. The first mentions of the city, known then as Amul, date back to the 1st–4th centuries AD. This name was so significant that it also gave its name to the great Amu Darya river. From the end of the 15th century, the city became known as Charjou, which translates from Persian as "four channels." Throughout its history, it also bore the names Leninsk-Turkmen, Chardzhou, and Charjev, until it received its modern name—Turkmenabat—in 1999.

Key Factors of Formation. The city owes its birth and development to the Great Silk Road. Its prosperity was determined by several factors:

• Geographical Location: Amul was a crucial transit point on the left bank of the capricious Amu Darya river, where caravan routes converged. A key crossing was organized here, linking trade routes.
• Trade Hub: The city was not just part of the Great Silk Road, but a point from which roads led to Iran, India, and Eastern Europe. This made it a bustling center of international trade.
• Political Significance: In different eras, Amul was part of the Kushan Empire, the Arab Caliphate, and the Seljuk State, highlighting its strategic importance.

Early Cultural and Economic Features. Since ancient times, Amul was not only a trading center but also a cultural one. Archaeological finds, including coins from the Kushan period, testify to a developed economy. Arab historians noted that many scholars emerged from Amul. Active trade fostered the development of crafts, and life always bustled in the city streets and caravanserais, where diverse languages were spoken, and goods from many countries were sold.

Key Milestones in the History of Turkmenabat

The history of the city, known today as Turkmenabat, spans more than two thousand years. During this time, it changed several names and played an important role in the region as a major center on the Great Silk Road.

• 1st–4th centuries AD — Foundation of the city under the name Amul, which becomes part of the powerful Kushan Empire.
• 7th–8th centuries — After the Arab conquest of Central Asia, Amul becomes part of the Arab Caliphate and transforms into a notable cultural and scientific center.
• 9th–12th centuries — The city reaches its peak as an important trade hub at the intersection of caravan routes, being part of the Samanid and Seljuk states.
• 1221 — Amul is destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan during the Mongol invasion.
• End of the 15th century — The revived city becomes known by the Persian name Charjou, which means "four channels."
• 16th – first half of the 19th century — Charjou serves as an important fortress and trading point within the Bukhara Khanate.
• 1886 — With the arrival of the Trans-Caspian Railway, a new Russian settlement is founded next to the old city, named New Charjou.
• 1918 — Soviet power is established in the city, and it becomes part of the Turkestan ASSR.
• 1924–1940 — The city undergoes a series of renamings: first to Leninsk-Turkmen, then the name Charjou is returned, and in 1940 it becomes Chardzhou.
• 1939–1992 — Chardzhou serves as the administrative center of the Chardzhou Region of the Turkmen SSR and develops as an important industrial and transport hub.
• 1992 — After the proclamation of Turkmenistan's independence, the city is renamed Charjev.
• 1999 — The city receives its modern name — Turkmenabat.

Stages of a Great Journey: How Turkmenabat Developed

The development of Turkmenabat is a story of transformations driven by its unique geographical position and changing historical eras. From a caravan center to a modern industrial city, each stage has left its mark on its economy and appearance.

• Center of the Great Silk Road. Since ancient times, the city, then known as Amul, was a key trade hub. Its location at the crossing of the Amu Darya made it the gateway for caravans traveling from China to the Mediterranean. This laid the economic foundation and defined its multinational character.
• Construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway. In the 1880s, the laying of the railway became a turning point. It connected the city, then called Charjou, with the Caspian Sea and the central regions of the Russian Empire, transforming it from a caravan stop into a major transport hub. This gave a powerful impulse to urban planning and laid the foundation for future industry.
• Industrialization in the Soviet Period. In the 20th century, Chardzhou became one of the leading industrial centers of the Turkmen SSR. Major enterprises were built, including superphosphate, cotton ginning, and silk winding plants, which defined its economic profile as a center of chemical and light industry.
• Creation of a Multimodal Transport Hub. In addition to the railway, a river port on the Amu Darya was developed, and an airport was built in the city. This strengthened its strategic importance as a vital logistics center connecting air, river, and land routes.
• Development of the Chemical Industry. Building on Soviet enterprises, in the modern era, the city has established itself as a center of the chemical industry. Today, projects for the production of phosphate fertilizers are being implemented here, strengthening the economic potential of the region and the country.
• Large-Scale Urban Planning in the Era of Independence. After gaining independence and being renamed Turkmenabat, the city underwent massive reconstruction. New architectural ensembles, wide avenues, parks, fountains, and modern public buildings appeared, radically changing its appearance.
• Revival of the Role in Modern Transit Corridors. Within the framework of national programs to revive the Great Silk Road, Turkmenabat is becoming an important link in new transport projects. The construction of the modern Ashgabat-Turkmenabat highway integrates the city into international routes, opening access to seaports and neighboring countries.

The architectural appearance of Turkmenabat represents a unique combination of various eras, reflecting its rich and complex history. From the remains of an ancient fortress to ultra-modern buildings, the city demonstrates several key stages of its urban development.

Birth of the Modern City (Late 19th — Early 20th Century)

The modern layout of the city began to form in the 1880s with the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway. This event was a turning point: next to the old fortress of Charjou, which was a traditional Central Asian settlement with adobe structures, a new city arose—New Charjou. Its development was linked to the appearance of the railway station, the bridge across the Amu Darya, and the influx of capital. This period is characterized by the appearance of the first buildings in European, specifically Russian colonial, style. The layout of the new settlement was more regular compared to the old city. One of the iconic buildings of that era that has survived to this day is the historic railway station building, opened in 1886.

Soviet Era: Functionalism and Standard Development

In the 20th century, especially after the 1940s, Chardzhou (the city's name at the time) actively developed as an industrial center of the Turkmen SSR. This period brought features of Soviet modernism and functionalism to the city's architecture. Urban planning was carried out according to master plans that provided for the creation of micro-districts with standard apartment buildings. Streets became straighter and wider, and much greenery appeared. Emphasis was placed on the construction of public buildings: houses of culture, administrative institutions, schools, and industrial enterprises, such as superphosphate and cotton ginning plants. The architecture of this time was devoid of decorative excesses and adhered to the principles of practicality and standardization, which was characteristic of the entire Soviet Union.

Independence Period: Monumentality and National Style

After Turkmenistan gained independence in 1991 and the city was renamed Turkmenabat, a new stage of urban planning began. It is characterized by a striving for monumentality and the creation of a new architectural language combining modern technologies with elements of national architecture. As in other cities of the country, large-scale projects began to appear in Turkmenabat: wide avenues, new parks, fountains, and large public buildings, many of which are clad in white marble. Among the iconic structures of this period are the "Bagt Koshgi" Wedding Palace, the new regional library, a modern multidisciplinary hospital, and other social infrastructure facilities that form the new, ceremonial look of modern Turkmenabat.

Distinguished Figures Associated with the City

The city of Turkmenabat (formerly Chardzhou) has been the birthplace of many talented people who have made significant contributions to science, culture, and sports. Here are some of them:

• Oleg Kononenko (born 1964) — Russian cosmonaut, Hero of the Russian Federation and Hero of Turkmenistan. Born in Chardzhou, he is the world record holder for the total duration of time spent in space.
• Bulat Mansurov (1937–2011) — Soviet, Russian, and Turkmen film director, screenwriter, and producer. People's Artist of the Russian Federation, known for his work on films reflecting the culture and history of the peoples of Central Asia and Russia.
• Muhammetnazar Gapurov (1922–1999) — Soviet and Turkmen state and party figure. Born in the Chardzhou district, he served as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR and made a significant contribution to the development of the republic during the Soviet period.
• Sergo Kotrikadze (1936–2011) — Famous Soviet footballer and goalkeeper. Born in Chardzhou, he spent most of his career at Dynamo Tbilisi and was one of the best goalkeepers in the USSR of his time.
• Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (born 1989) — Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter competing in the light heavyweight division. Born in Chardzhou, he became the first representative of Turkmenistan in history to compete in the prestigious American organization Bellator MMA.
• Roza Bazarova (1933–2000) — Soviet and Turkmen state figure. A native of Chardzhou, she held high posts in the government of the Turkmen SSR, including serving as Deputy Chairwoman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen SSR.