Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan. It’s known for its white marble buildings and grandiose national monuments. To the northwest, the sprawling Ruhy Mosque has a vast gilt dome. The central Artogrul Gazi Mosque is modeled on Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. Examples of traditional weaving are displayed at Turkmen Carpet Museum. The Wedding Palace is a series of star-shaped tiers topped by a giant golden globe.

To the south, Independence Park is home to the Independence Monument, a soaring gilded column surrounded by statues of prominent national heroes. Southwest of the center, there are panoramic views from the observation deck atop the tripod-shaped Neutrality Monument. Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center is crowned by a massive enclosed Ferris wheel. Rising against a backdrop of the Kopet Dag mountains, Turkmenistan Tower is built into a giant blue star. The Walk of Health is a concrete trail of steps leading into the foothills. A nearby cable car runs up the mountains, almost to the border with neighboring Iran.

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