Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan is one of the most bizarre places I’ve visited. Here are some of the weirdest buildings and monuments this city has.
Visiting Ashgabat felt like stepping into another world—one that’s polished, grandiose, and, at times, downright bizarre. As I explored Turkmenistan’s capital, I couldn’t shake the feeling of strangeness that comes with driving through a city covered almost entirely in white marble. The streets are pristine, the buildings towering and immaculate, and the skyline is dotted with some of the weirdest structures I’ve ever seen. It was a mix of awe and disbelief: how could a city so orderly and clean also be so surreal? – Let’s not forget the fact that only white cars are allowed.
Now the question remains, Which Are the Weirdest Buildings and Monuments in Ashgabat? For this article, I’ve put together a list of some of the most extraordinary, eccentric, and just plain weird buildings and monuments I came across in Ashgabat.
1. Palace of Happiness (Bagt Köşgi)
One of the first buildings that caught my eye was the Palace of Happiness, or Bagt Köşgi. It’s a wedding palace, but calling it that feels like an understatement. The building is a massive white structure with a 32-meter-tall cube that houses a gigantic glass globe in the middle, topped with a golden star. It looks more like something from a futuristic space movie than a place where people get married.
What’s unique about the Palace of Happiness isn’t just its bold design—it’s the symbolism. The cube is said to represent the stability of marriage, and the glass globe inside reflects the eternal union of the couple. Inside, the space is just as opulent, with marble floors, grand staircases, and extravagant chandeliers. The idea of getting married in such a surreal environment is both romantic and, let’s face it, a little over the top.
Read more: How to plan a trip to Turkmenistan
2. Golden Statue of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov
When you think you’ve seen it all, Ashgabat throws another surprise your way. In the middle of the city stands a 21-meter-tall golden statue of Turkmenistan’s former president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, riding a horse. The statue, officially known as the “Monument to the Glory of the People,” is entirely covered in 24-karat gold, and the sight of it is both mesmerizing and strange.
The statue is meant to symbolize Berdymukhammedov’s leadership and vision for the country. But the sheer extravagance of it—gleaming in the desert sun, with the president atop a galloping horse—seems surreal. It’s not every day you see a giant gold statue of a modern leader on horseback.
Read more: What is the best itinerary in Turkmenistan?
3. Indoor Ferris Wheel (Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center)
Ashgabat’s Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center is home to the world’s largest indoor Ferris wheel, an oddity in itself. Known as the “Alem Ferris Wheel,” this 47.6-meter-tall structure is enclosed in a massive white and gold framework, which gives it a sleek, futuristic appearance.
The Ferris wheel is entirely indoors, housed within a circular building that looks like a spacecraft, and it’s one of the most unexpected sights you’ll come across in Ashgabat. Riding it offers panoramic views of the city, but the weirdness of being inside a glass pod while spinning around inside a building can’t be overstated. It’s an experience unlike any other.
Read more: Why travel to Turkmenistan
4. Ruhnama Monument
Turkmenistan’s national identity is closely tied to the Ruhnama, a book written by former president/dictator/god-like-figure Saparmurat Niyazov. The book, which blends history, philosophy, and spirituality, holds a central place in the country’s culture, and there’s even a monument dedicated to it in Ashgabat.
The Ruhnama Monument is a towering, pink-colored book made of steel, standing upright as though someone had propped it open for the world to read. The monument is bizarre not just because it immortalizes a book, but because the design makes it look like a giant literary artifact dropped into the middle of a public square. At night, the monument lights up, and the “pages” of the book glow with neon colors, making it an even stranger sight.
5. Yyldyz Hotel
The Yyldyz Hotel is one of the most luxurious and visually striking buildings in Ashgabat. Shaped like a futuristic pyramid, this five-star hotel looks like the Flame Towers in Baku, Azerbaijan. Its sleek, angular design stands in stark contrast to the rest of the city’s marble buildings, making it a real standout on the skyline.
What makes the Yyldyz Hotel so unique is not just its shape but its extravagance. Inside, it’s all about luxury—lavish rooms, high-end restaurants, and top-tier service.
6. Giant Gold Dog Statue
In 2020, another strange and monumental structure was added to Ashgabat’s urban landscape: a giant gold statue of a dog. The statue, which stands over six meters tall, honors the Alabay breed, a type of shepherd dog that is highly valued in Turkmenistan.
The Alabay dog is seen as a symbol of national pride, and this statue, gleaming in gold, is a reflection of that. Located in a large square, the dog looks out over the city with an air of calm authority.
7. Monument to Akhal-Teke Horses
Turkmenistan is famous for its Akhal-Teke horses, one of the oldest and most beautiful horse breeds in the world. To honor this national treasure, Ashgabat features the Monument to Akhal-Teke Horses, a grand statue of these golden-coated horses in mid-gallop, mounted on a white marble pedestal.
The monument’s grandeur is undeniable, but it’s the setting—among the marble and gold monuments of Ashgabat—that makes it stand out. The horses are positioned as though racing into the future, symbolizing the speed and strength of the Turkmen people. This is to be honest, the most normal monument from this list and curiously, one of my favorite ones.
8. Turkmenistan TV Tower
Perched on the Kopet Dag mountains overlooking Ashgabat, the Turkmenistan TV Tower is one of the tallest structures in the country. But the design of the tower is striking—it’s a sleek, futuristic structure topped with a giant star, the emblem of Turkmenistan. The star alone is 91 meters in diameter, making it one of the largest architectural stars in the world.
This building holds the Guiness World Record for the largest star-shaped building, but if we are honest. How many star-shaped buildings are in the world.
9. Turkmenistan Independence Monument
Located in the center of Independence Park, the Turkmenistan Independence Monument is one of the most iconic structures in Ashgabat. Standing 118 meters tall, it’s shaped like a giant white pillar topped with a golden crescent and star. The monument celebrates Turkmenistan’s independence from the Soviet Union and is surrounded by a sprawling park filled with fountains, statues, and beautifully manicured gardens.
The park itself is worth a visit, as it’s full of peculiar statues and monuments, each one adding to the overall strangeness of the space.
10. Monument to the Constitution
The Monument to the Constitution is another grandiose structure that stands out in Ashgabat’s landscape. This massive white and gold tower reaches 185 meters into the sky and is topped with a golden crescent and star. The monument celebrates the adoption of Turkmenistan’s constitution, and its size alone is enough to make you stop and stare.
Surrounding the monument are statues of prominent Turkmen leaders, and the whole area has a ceremonial feel to it. The park areas surrounding the monument are also popular spots to see local life. This is the place where young people come for a picnic or families come by to relax after work.
11. Arch of Neutrality
The Arch of Neutrality is one of Ashgabat’s most famous landmarks, and it’s as strange as it is impressive. The monument is a 75-meter-tall structure topped with a golden statue of former president Niyazov, who used to rotate to always face the sun. While the statue no longer rotates, the arch still stands as a symbol of Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality in international politics.
The design of the arch is futuristic, with three white legs rising to meet the golden statue at the top. It’s a striking structure that looks both grand and slightly bizarre, embodying the contradictions of Ashgabat. These two photos also show the massive size of this monument.
