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Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar in ancient Merv

Queen of the world · Turkmenistan

Ancient Merv

Layers of cities spanning two thousand years.

Merv was one of the great cities of the Silk Road; in the 12th century, as the Seljuk capital, it may have been the largest city in the world. It was destroyed by the Mongols in 1221.

Today its ruins cover a vast area near the town of Mary: walled cities from different eras sit side by side, crowned by the restored Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar.

Time needed
1 day
Best time
April–May and October–November
Getting there
Fly or drive from Ashgabat to Mary (about 5–6 hours by road), or continue to Bukhara via Turkmenabat.
UNESCO World Heritage
Inscribed 1999
UZBEKISTAN Ancient MervAshgabatBukharaDarvaza gas craterKhivaNavoiKarshiGijduvan

Don’t miss

Highlights

  1. 01

    Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum

    A 12th-century mausoleum with a double dome.

  2. 02

    Great and Little Kyz Kala

    Corrugated mud-brick fortress-houses.

  3. 03

    Erk Kala

    The oldest citadel, from the Achaemenid period.

  4. 04

    Gyaur Kala

    The walled city of the Sasanian era.

Tours

Tours that include Ancient Merv

Nearby

Continue your journey

All of Turkmenistan
Golden-domed white marble palace in Ashgabat TurkmenistanAshgabatMarble, gold and monuments, below the Kopetdag mountains. 1–2 days Kalyan minaret and the domed bazaars of BukharaUNESCO UzbekistanBukharaTwo thousand years of merchants, madrasahs and domed bazaars. 2–3 days UzbekistanGijduvanA small town near Bukhara with a famous ceramics school and one of Ulugbek’s three madrasahs. Half a day UzbekistanKarshiThe capital of Kashkadarya, with a 16th-century brick bridge and mosques from the age of Abdullah Khan. Half a day

Tour to Uzbekistan · Koshona street 75/1, Khiva, Uzbekistan · WhatsApp +998 91 920 94 20 · tours.uzbekistan@gmail.com · tourtouzbekistan.com/destinations/turkmenistan/merv/

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