Things to do & places to visit in Balkan Province, Turkmenistan

Balkan Province #4 destination in Turkmenistan 2023. The average rating score is 4.24 based on 38 traveler reviews, of 15 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Ashgabat, current date and time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 11:57.

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Top things to do (14)

• Religious Sites
• Beaches
• Flea & Street Markets
• Churches & Cathedrals
• Monuments & Statues
• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• History Museums
• Architectural Buildings
• Farmers Markets
• Ancient Ruins
• Bodies of Water
• Historic Sites
• Canyons
• Geologic Formations

Top destinations in Balkan Province 4

• Hazar
• Serdar
• Turkmenbashi
• Balkanabat

Top places to visit (15 attractions)

1. 5.0 Gateway to Asia (1 review)
   - The only port gates in Central Asia
   Open now - 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Architectural Buildings
   
   
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2. 5.0 Passenger Railway Station Turkmenbashi (1 review)
   - The most impressive building in town
   Architectural Buildings
   
   
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3. 4.5 Yangykala Canyon (18 reviews)
   - Probably Turkmenistan's most beautiful natural attraction
   Spent 2-3 hours Canyons • Geologic Formations
   
   
   Gorgeous shades of ochre and pink in bands stretch across canyon walls which rise from the desert plateau. Remote and peaceful with probably no one there but yourselves and the passing camels and horses. The stillness, quiet and stunning scenery are worth the approximately 100 miles drive from either Balkanabat or Türkmenbaşy, on a mainly reasonable road for most of the way, best travelled in 4x4's. We went on route from Balkanabat to Türkmenbaşy with an overnight stop at the basic Gozli Ata pilgrim site. However camping would have been my preferred option, as the pilgrim site was very busy on our visit. The limited very basic bathroom facilities could not cope with the number of people staying there and privacy was almost non existent. See more..
   
4. 4.5 Ruins of Ancient Dehistan (3 reviews)
   - Dehistan; an interesting location on the UNESCO Heritage Tentative List.
   Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
   
   
   After leaving our hotel in Serdar in the morning and a drive over large moonlike plains of Western Turkmenistan, we arrived around 14.00 hours on the site of Dehistan. From far away we saw the ruins dating from the 14th century on the horizon. The former city on the silkroad, destroyed by Chingizkhan, is surrounded by large walls of dry mud. After driving inside, we saw the mausoleum Shir-Kabir, two minarets of about 25 meters high, remains of town blocks and ruins of caravanserais. Very impressive when you think this was a lively city about 600 years ago. On the site are signs with images and text of the buildings. A pity is, that texts are only in Turkmen. In addition of Merv and Konya Urgench, it is very worthwhile to visit this not often visited remains on the silkroad. In a house about a 10 minute drive lives the guard of this complex. See more..
   
5. 4.0 Kenar Bazaar (1 review)
   - Area with multiple shopping options
   Spent < 1 hour Flea & Street Markets • Farmers Markets
   
   
   We visited the bazaar as part of a tour of Turkmenbashi. It was stated by our guide, that no photos were allowed in the bazaar and we forgot to take a photo of the entrance, as we put away the camera. The bazaar had a mix of multiple products, as there were many small kiosks with a wide variety of goods. The fish market was the main attraction, as dried sturgeon, sprat and caviar were the main items on display. The meat and produce area was clean and well organised. We had lunch at a small cafe towards the rear of the market, and it was reasonably priced and tasty. We had visited a few bazaars in Ashgabat so were familiar with the layout and offerings of the bazaar. It was a good local experience and is recommended when visiting Turkmenbashi. The fisherman with sturgeon monument is at the round-a-bout intersection of Magtymguly and Shagadam Streets, approximately 2km west of this site. See more..
   
6. 4.0 Old Church of Archangel Michael (1 review)
   - A Church with a long history
   Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
   
   
   This church is a short walk east from the town center. It was a little difficult to find, as it is on a narrow street that runs between Azatlyk Street and the M37 main street which runs past the port. Whilst walking east on Azatlyk Street, after leaving central park, we saw the two gold plated onion domes shining in the distance, and we cut through an open area to the right to reach the church. The colours of the church are a bright blue with white borders. Much of the structure seemed to be constructed in wood. The bell tower was probably it's most attractive feature with multiple gold plated bells of varying sizes within the wooden tower. The tower had a grey roof, and was topped by a gold orthodox cross on a gold plated onion dome. Another gold plated dome and cross were on the main roof of the church. To the left of the church, was a hand wash area, which had five grey tiled sides and a grey roof. The roof had a grey onion dome with a small gold orthodox cross atop. The church was closed when we visited. It was great to see this historical church still standing and being so well maintained. The church was temporarily moved to this location in 1895. It became a part of the Krasnovodsk Fortress, which stretched from the area next to the library to the eastern end of the street which the church is on. It suffered the fate of many other religious institutions in Soviet times, as it was closed in the 1930's. It was returned to the community after WW2, and has been functioning since. There are few Russian structures remaining in the city, so this is a must see. The Ymam Agzam Ebu Hanife mosque is a short walk north east of the church on G Ezizow Street, and the busy port area, war memorial and railway station are a short walk south west. See more..
   
7. 4.0 Ethnographic Museum (1 review)
   Spent < 1 hour History Museums
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8. 4.0 100 years of Krasnovodsk Monument (1 review)
   - 100 years of Krasnovodsk
   Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
   
   
   The Centenary monument is located at the southern end of Magtymova Street. This area is easily reached by walking from the town center, past Magtymguly Square, and the monument will be seen to the left of the local museum, in a small park which was once a part of Krasnovodsk fortress. The tall columnar shaped monument is grey with yellow vertical stripes. It is mounted on a stone base, which has the number 100 in white. There are two brown sculptures of faces near to the top of the structure. We assumed that one was Russian and the other Turkmen. On the left side of the base, was a grey plaque with Russian characters. The plaque made reference to the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the city i.e. 1869-1969. To the left of the plaque is the old coat of arms of the city. The exact date of the founding of the city is in dispute, as Nikolay Stoletov led an expedition here with three ships in October 1869. They were met with a fierce storm prior to landing, and the lead ship landed first at the port on 31 October, which was previously named Kyzyl-Su (Red Waters). The other ships didn't land until the 3rd and 6th of November. The first Russian wooden fort was actually built here in 1717 by the expedition of Prince Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky, but his troops were routed at Khiva, and the fort abandoned. In 1819, Captain Nikolai Muraviev temporarily occupied this area while leading an expedition to Khiva to reopen dialogue with the Khan. We thought that it was great that this piece of Russian history remained in a town where most Russian monuments have been removed. Other Russian related monuments include the gates to Central Asia, which is a short walk south of the museum and used to be the main gates of the fortress and the orthodox church in the town center. See more..
   
9. 4.0 Makhtumkuli monument (1 review)
   - Magtymguly Square
   Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
   
   
   The Magtymguly monument is located in the center of what locals refer to as Magtymguly Square. The Square is approximately 1 km west of the town center. If you approach the town from Shagadam Street, which is the main bus route, the Magtymguly monument will be seen just before turning right towards the town center. Magtymguly is a popular monument throughout all cities in Turkmenistan. His statue is atop a grey tiled base which has a white plaque on the front with his name and the years of his life i.e. 1724-1807. His statue shows him standing with a long coat draped over his shoulders. Magtymguly wrote poems about the suffering of his people and sought to gain their independence. On his death, he was buried in north eastern Iran, where there is a mausoleum built in his honour. His most famous poem was Türkmeniň. Unfortunately none of the original copies of his written work survived , as they were destroyed by the Soviets. In 1842, three of his poems were published in London, and Europeans first learned of Magtymguly. The 18th May is a National Holiday which honours the contributions of Magtymguly. Earlier this year, there was a celebration of the 295th anniversary of his birth. The street which runs west to east through the interior of Turkmenbashi is named in his honour. Another Magtymguly monument can be viewed on Azadi Street, just past the Shagdam Stadium. Other nearby attractions, a short walk in a westerly direction, include the local museum, gates of central asia and the centenary monument. See more..
   
10. 4.0 Garabogazkol Basin (1 review)
    - One of the Saltiest Lakes in the world
    Open now - 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bodies of Water
    
    
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11. 4.0 Awaza Beach (1 review)
    - The highlight of Turkmenbashi
    Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Beaches
    
    
    The Awaza Beach area is located 8km to the west of the Turkmenbashi town centre. The trip to Awaza Beach can be done by bus 6 from the town center at a cost of 1.5 manat. A taxi to the Beach area will cost approximately 2 manat. Private cars are not allowed in the Awaza Beach area, so the bus or taxi are the only options. Our driver dropped us at the main parking garage, which is located at the entrance to the Awaza area. From here we took a local taxi which drove us around on a sightseeing tour of the area, until we asked him to stop at the northern end of the complex, just past the yacht club. On the way through the Beach complex, our guide pointed out the many hotels and meeting facilities that were in the complex. A tall flagpole is also a much photographed item. We also stopped at the yacht club and took a few photos. All the pools that we saw were salt water pools. The area beyond the yacht club is open beach without any development, and we were interested in walking along the beach towards the Tarta Lighthouse. As we were about to start our walk along the beach, a security guard approached us and stated that it was a restricted area. He allowed us to walk a short distance along the beach and take photos with the lighthouse in the background. This was disappointing to us, as the Tarta Lighthouse, which was built in 1963, is one of the few Russian structures remaining in Turkmenbashi. It has been long abandoned but we thought would have been an interesting visit. Many locals were on holiday and enjoying the beach facilities. This area is the only quality strip of beach in Turkmenbashi, as the shores are usually rocky or there are signs of the pollution caused by the oil industry, which is the major industry in this region. See more..
    
12. 4.0 Anchor Monument (1 review)
    - Monument dedicated to Caspian shipping
    Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
    
    
    On leaving the airport, the anchor monument is the first of the many that you will see in Turkmenbashi. The monument is in the shape of anchor, which is white coloured with a gold trim. There is a clock at the midpoint of the anchor, which is designed as the helm of a sailing ship. Below the clock, are emblems representing the five (5) regions of Turkmenistan. On the right and left sections of the anchor was a gold Turkmen star. At the top of the monument was a compass design, which was smaller than the clock below. This monument is in tribute to the Turkmenbashi Port and the sailing vessels of the Caspian Sea. Another Caspian Sea related monument is the fisherman and sturgeon monument on Shagadam Street, which also has an anchor at it's base. A small cemetery is a short distance away, on the road which leads to the left of the Anchor monument. This cemetery has a monument to Japanese POW's who died while labouring in Turkmenistan after WW2. See more..
    
13. 3.5 The Monument to the Desert Explorers (3 reviews)
    - One of the Few Things to See in Balkanabat
    Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
    
    
    This monument, sculpted from concrete, commemorates the Turkmen and Russian explorers who discovered oil in the region, which ultimately led to the birth of Balkanabat. The sculpture depicts several explorers huddling around a camel, taking shelter from an apparent sandstorm as they make their way across the desert. It is located a short distance outside the city center and worth a stop if you are in the area. Just be careful parking in front of the monument as the local police, seemingly bored from lack of action, will chase you away for parking there! See more..
    
14. 3.5 Gozli Ata Mausoleum (3 reviews)
    - Out of the Way and Not Very Interesting for Tourists
    Sunday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
    
    
    Gozli Ata was an important Sufi teacher from the 14th century and his mausoleum lies here, in the middle of the desert, roughly 135 km north of Balkanabat. If you are on a tour to visit the Yangykala Canyon, your guide will likely include a detour to the mausoleum on the way. The mausoleum is reached by a rough road through the desert, branching off the main road that heads to the canyon. The drive through the desert is somewhat interesting with hints of the geology that you will see at Yangykala. You will likely also see a variety of animals in the along the way including camels, wild horses, and herds of goats. Once you arrive at the mausoleum, there is really not much off interest for the general tourist to see. There are two mausoleums on the site: one for Gozli Ata and one for his wife. Both appear to be modern concrete structures. You can look through the barred door to see the interior of each, but there is not much to see inside. Adjacent to the mausoleums is a cemetary holding the graves of pilgrims - many recent, but some dating back at least 75-100 years. There is nothing particularly compelling about the grave markers, but the surrounding desert is pretty. The detour to the Gozli Ata Mausoleum site will add about an hour to your trip to/from Yangykala Canyon. If you are a tourist and have a choice on your itinerary, my recommendation would be to skip the detour to this mausoleum and spend more time at the Yangykala Canyon. If you are a pilgrim visiting for religious reasons, you will likely find this site to be of more interest. See more..
    
15. 3.0 Ymam Agzam Ebu Hanife Mosque (1 review)
    - The main mosque in Turkmenbashi
    Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites
    
    
    The Ymam Agzam Ebu Hanife mosque is the main mosque in Turkmenbashi. It is better known as the The Great Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque. It is located in the eastern section of town on G Ezizow Street. We thought that it was simple structure and much preferred it to the modern gigantic mosques which we had visited in other cities in Turkmenistan. The main entrance is shaped as a portal, but with green glass in a house design with the name of the mosque above. The windows had the same shape as the door. The main colour of the mosque was cream, but there were white highlights used throughout. The mosque was topped by two grey domes. The larger of which was to the left of the entrance. Both domes had gold crescent shapes at the peak. To the right of the entrance, and above the box where offerings are accepted, was a picture of a proposed mosque to be constructed. The picture was of a huge mosque with four minarets which was just the type that we didn't appreciate. We assumed that it would be built at another site, as this area had many residential houses around the mosque. The call to prayer was made from a low minaret to the right rear of the mosque. The minaret had many speakers for amplifying sound at the lower area of the grey dome. The hand washing area was to the right of the mosque and was grey tiled with a roof and had sitting areas. We thought that this was a unique design. Abu Hanif lived in Iraq between 699 – 767, and became a famous Imam. He was buried in Baghdad, and a mausoleum built over his tomb 300 years after his death. A nearby attraction is the Orthodox Church which is a short walk south west of this site. See more..