Turkmenistan: Ancient Merv

30km north from Mary lies the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient city of Merv, one of the world’s oldest and best-preserved urban centers along the ancient Silk Road. Merv spans over 4,000 years of history, from the Bronze Age to the medieval period. Known as the “Pearl of the East,” Merv was a major hub for trade, culture, and religion, hosting Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam at various times. Founded around 2500 BC in the Murgab River oasis, Merv thrived as a capital under the Seleucids, Parthians, Sassanids, and Seljuks. It peaked in the 11th-12th centuries as a Seljuk metropolis with a population of up to 200,000, renowned for its libraries and scholars like Omar Khayyam. Devastated by the Mongols in 1221, it never fully recovered. Major attractions here in include Great Kyz Kala (6th-7th century mud-brick fortress), Askhab Mausoleum, Hoja Yusup Hemedany Mosque, and the incredible Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar