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Parks, squares, and alleys create a unique image of the Turkmen capital, giving it shades of green and prospects of open landscapes. The presence of such a "green" infrastructure made us think about which parks in the Turkmen capital are the most visited and, therefore, popular.

There are a lot of park areas both in the center and on the outskirts of the city, but the popularity of some of them is so great that their fame goes beyond urban and even national boundaries. We decided to make a rating of the ten most popular parks in Ashgabat, which may be associated with the most reverent memories of our readers.

10th place: Yenish Park

Yenish Park (Victory Park) is one of the largest outdoor recreation areas in Ashgabat. There is everything you need for sports: endless running tracks, outdoor exercise equipment and access to a large sports complex — Bagtyyarlyk.

The park's attendance is explained by its location — residents of areas near the park flock here for active pastime. The coverage of the park area is impressive — it starts along Azadi Street and ends near the Ak Altyn Hotel. A fairly simple design and perennial vegetation create a sense of comfort here.

9th place: 100 fountains Alley

The alley, laid out in 1981 in honor of the celebration of the centenary of the city of Ashgabat and those famous 100 fountains are a favorite place of the eastern part of the city's residents.

The park area stretches from Oguz-han Street to Atamurat Niyazov Avenue. Along the way there are various retail outlets — cozy cafes and shops. There are especially a lot of cyclists here, which is explained by the minimum number of obstacles, as well as ordinary pedestrians walking either to the "15 years of Independence" shopping center or to nearby banks and offices.

8th place: Ashgabat River Hydropark

The grandiose Ashgabat project of the 2000s is a long artificial river that divides the capital into two conditional parts. Along the river, stretching from east to west and fed by the waters of the Garagum River, paths were laid and forest belts were recreated, parks and playgrounds were built in residential areas.

11 kilometers of the embankment with small pedestrian and massive transport bridges attract many residents of the capital here. The eternal search for free benches along the way is a pleasant quest and an invaluable bonus for health. A 20-step system and fountains make it possible to enjoy the play of water.

It should also be noted that the project itself is high—tech, since each element performs a specific function: fountains supply oxygen to water for fish and cool the internal walls from overheating, which is why most of them are installed near road bridges. And the bottom of this channel is waterproof, and this was the first such project in the country.

7th place: Independence Park

The size of Independence Park is impressive — it is located near the 10 Years of Prosperity Street and Archabil highway, thus being located at the intersection of the most important southern arteries of the city.

This huge park or even forest is a haven for lovers of long walks. At any time of the day, someone is always walking here - let it be a sultry day or a winter night. The relatively young park has grown to fame, because huge coniferous trees already stand along the paths of the inner part of the park.

The park's borders are cordoned off by trestles of fountains and double paths, along which athletes like to climb (most often trying to get to the Monument of Independence, located at a conditional height). It is also interesting that there are few shops in this vast territory. The only point is the Altyn Asyr shopping center.

6th place: Bayram Han the Turkmen Alley

This small park with a monument to the great military and statesman is the most "bird-like" in our rating. The thing is that every autumn and spring season flocks of migratory birds stop on the high trees of the park. Therefore, bird noise here is a common phenomenon, to which the locals have long been accustomed.

Coffee shops and restaurants are located inside the park, and the "warm" light used gives a feeling of comfort on cloudy days.

5th place: Botanical Garden

The park of national and exotic flora of Turkmenistan opens the top five of the rating. One of the oldest, repeatedly restored places in Ashgabat is one of the most visited — it is not for nothing that this place has become a center of attraction for graduates from all over the capital who want to capture themselves in vignette photos in the bosom of wildlife.

The object itself celebrated the 93rd anniversary of its foundation on October 1, and if we take the organization of the botanical station in 1892 as the basis for sowing the park, then the age of the ruby zone will be 130 years.

This park, being the greenest, simply shocks guests and residents of the city: an unusual combination of wild plant nature right in urban conditions. There are also tall greenhouses and foreign palm trees hidden behind them, and, of course, numerous flowers of various shades.

Note that this is the only paid park area in our rating. Despite its age, the park is very clean and tidy, and the safety of the local vegetation is beyond the slightest doubt.

4th place: Tashkent Park

The newly created Tashkent Park is gradually becoming one of the most visited, adapting to the tastes of Ashgabat residents. In our top, he is one of the most promising — at the current level of popularity for several years, he will certainly enter the top three. Now it is a new eco—zone, the most modern in the city.

There is literally everything here: playgrounds, attractions, an Uzbek cuisine restaurant and even a banquet hall. The design of the park — "colorful East" and "streets of Tashkent", taking into the world of the ethnic culture of ancient Samarkand or a modern metropolis, attract all lovers of such themed places.

3rd place: Ylham Alley

Ylham alley, which translates as "inspiration", opens the top three of our rating. Art Park, Poetry and Literature Park, art presentation park of the city - you can call it whatever you want, but the fact remains that this is one of the most visited places in Ashgabat.

It is located between Magtymguly and Gerogly Avenues — one of the busiest streets of the capital. There is everything for a memorable holiday here — restaurants do not interfere with a quiet walk, and fountains dividing the park into two parts with miniature glass bridges are harmoniously combined with arches and columns, which on New Year's Eve are dressed according to the latest squeak of New Year's decor.

And, of course, the main highlight is the sculptural compositions: numerous monuments and elegant sculptures of famous writers and poets, outstanding figures of the Turkmen land.

2nd place: Atamurat Niyazov Alley

The alley named after Atamurat Niyazov receives a well-deserved silver for its many years of work in presenting the most beautiful landscapes for lovers of photo studies. This is a place of real pilgrimage for tourists and amateur photographers from all over the country.

Located right next to the government quarter and stretching for many hundreds of meters, this place attracts residents of the capital with its regularity and tranquility.

If some of the previous parks were quite lively, then this one is quiet - everyone here enjoys the absence of city bustle and noise, despite the nearby streets full of shops and restaurants. Unusual vegetation can often be found here: there are a lot of unusual spreading trees and willows.

1st place: Park of Culture and recreation "Ashgabat"

The Ashgabat Park wins a decent gold in our rating. The park, popularly known as the "First", has been the first for residents for many years. One of the oldest parks in Ashgabat is the most visited in the city, as evidenced by the numerous crowds of guests of the capital and Ashgabat residents.

Modern attractions, majestic trees and the heads of dinosaur statues flashing through their branches, playgrounds and courts, as well as cafes and retail outlets — all this is open to hundreds, and sometimes it seems thousands of visitors.

The park, located at the intersection of busy streets — Turkmenbashi and Magtymguly Avenues — is immediately visible: the green cap of trees, the screams of fans of steep slides and, of course, the ringing laughter of children. The Ashgabat Park has been a constant favorite for all citizens and tourists for many decades.

Arslan MAMEDOV
Photo: ORIENT editors, interlink.spb.ru, tdh.gov.tm, tripadvisor.ru, keeptravel.com, livejournal.com, locals.md, yandex.ru