Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan and the countrys largest city.
Konjikala flourished until its destruction by Mongols in the 13th century.
After that it survived as a small village until Russians took over in the 19th century.
Ashgabat suffered from another destructive earthquake in 1948, that killed two-thirds of its population.
The Alem Entertainment Center in Ashgabat.
The most striking feature of Ashgabat is the marble.
Hundreds of soaring government buildings and apartment blocks are clad in imported Italian marble.
A city that attempts to impress with a ridiculous display of opulence, Ashgabat is hardly prosperous.
There is widespread internal poverty, poor educational system, and an oppressive and corrupt government.
Photo credit
The Constitution Monument in Ashgabat.Photo credit
Left: Ashgabat Tele-radio Center, in the hills overlooking Ashgabat.
