Magtymguly Avenue (Turkmen: Magtymguly şaýoly) is an avenue in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It is considered to be the longest and most prominent avenue in the capital.
| Native name | Magtymguly şaýoly (Turkmen) |
|---|---|
| Former name(s) |
|
| Namesake | Magtymguly Pyragy |
| Maintained by | City of Ashgabat |
| Location | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |
Origins and description
editWhen it was originally created in the early 1880s, Magtymguly Avenue, then named Merv Prospect (Russian: Мервский проспект), ran through the entire city and then merged with the road leading to Merv. It was subsequently renamed Kuropatkin Prospect (Russian: Куропаткинский проспект) in honor of General Aleksey Kuropatkin.[1] Later, during the Soviet period, the avenue was known as Freedom Prospect (Russian: проспект Свободы), on which were hosted military and civilian parades on the occasion of many holidays, with most being held on Revolution Day (November 7), Victory Day (May 9), and International Workers Day (May 1). From 1953 to 1961, following Joseph Stalin's death, the street was named Stalin Prospect (Russian: проспект Сталина).[2][3] During the period of Niyazov's rule when Ashgabat streets were assigned four-digit numbers, Magtymguly was given the number 2033.[3]
In 1971, a monument designed by architects V. Vysotin and V. Kutumov to the 16th century Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy (who would later become the avenue's namesake), was installed on the avenue on the site of the demolished Bahá'í temple.[4] Following the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991, the thoroughfare was immediately renamed Magtymguly Avenue in honor of Magtymguly Pyragy by order of President Saparmurat Niyazov. Over the next two to three years, a large fountain was installed on the avenue, and maple and acacia trees also appeared along its path. On this avenue in October 1992 the first Turkmen Independence Day Parade took place, which saw troops of the Ashgabat Garrison of the newly formed Armed Forces of Turkmenistan march past the reviewing stand from which President Niyazov observed the parade.[5][6]
Landmarks and Buildings along the avenue
edit- State Russian Drama Theatre named after Pushkin
- Turkmen State Institute of Transport and Communications
- Main Drama Theater named by Saparmurat Turkmenbashi
- State Circus of Turkmenistan[7][8]
- Ashgabat Cinema[9]
- Inspiration Alley
- Ashgabat Park
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Ministry of National Security
- State Border Service
- "Gul Zemin" Mall
- "Tashkent" Park
- Turkmen-Turkish Commercial Bank
- Ashgabat Vine Facility
- Cultural Center of Iran
- Central State Archive of Turkmenistan
- Institute of the Caspian Sea
- U.S Embassy
- Ashgabat Brewery
- Central Physiology Scientific and Clinical Hospital
- Bayram Han Park
Monuments
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ План города Асхабада [Plan goroda Askhabada] (Map). "100 sazhen to one English inch" (1:8,400) (in Russian). c. 1890.
- ^ "State of the Map keynote, State of the Map 2016". YouTube. October 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gazetteer of Ashgabat Street Names". OpenStreetMap Wiki.
- ^ "Excursion tours on Ashgabad monuments". silkadv.com. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ V@DIM. "Золотой век". turkmenistan.gov.tm. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ V@DIM. "Золотой век". turkmenistan.gov.tm. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ "Turkmenistan state circus established by presidential decree | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ "Turkmenistan to reconstruct state circus building | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ "Modern cinema to be built in Ashgabat | Turkmenistan.ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 2020-12-24.