Lebap

Türkmenabat is Turkmenistan's second-largest city and the administrative centre of Lebap Region, sitting on the left bank of the Amu Darya near the border with Uzbekistan. Known in earlier periods as Chardzhou and, in ancient times, as Amul, the city grew from a Silk Road river crossing into a major railway and trading hub of eastern Turkmenistan.

Its history reaches back around two thousand years to the fortified settlement of Amul, which stood at a crossroads linking Bukhara, Khiva and Merv. Russian settlers founded the modern quarter in 1886 during construction of the Trans-Caspian railway, and the city later became an industrial and transport centre. Today, the ruins of Amul Fortress and the Lebap Regional History Museum preserve that layered past, including antique Turkmen carpets and regional artefacts.

Central Türkmenabat is compact and practical, with lively bazaars such as the Green Bazaar, the modern Wedding Palace known as Bagt Köşgi, the White Yurt and riverside areas along the Amu Darya. These everyday landmarks sit alongside Soviet-era avenues and newer buildings, giving the city a distinctive mix of old Silk Road memory and contemporary Turkmen life.

The city remains an important junction on the M37 highway between Ashgabat and Türkmenbaşy and a rail link toward Uzbekistan, with food processing and textiles among its traditional industries. Its position near the Farap border makes it a natural entry point for travellers moving between Turkmenistan and Bukhara, while Türkmenabat International Airport connects the city to Ashgabat and other domestic destinations.

For leisure visitors, Türkmenabat offers a quieter, authentic alternative to the capital, with easy access to Silk Road sites and the desert landscapes of Repetek Nature Reserve. For business travellers, it serves as the administrative and commercial centre of Lebap Region and a practical base for travel across eastern Turkmenistan.