Turkmenistan: Ashgabat – National Turkmen Carpet Museum

Turkmen carpets are world famous and the country even has a Ministry of Carpets. And to truly appreciate the art of Turkmen carpets, one must come to the grand National Turkmen Carpet Museum in Ashgabat. The museum showcases over 2,000 handwoven carpets, including antique pieces from the 17-19th centuries as well as modern designs. Its centerpiece is the world’s largest handwoven carpet, a 301-square-meter carpet woven in 2001 to commemorate Turkmenistan’s independence, recognized by the Guinness World Records. The museum features carpets from various Turkmen ethnic groups and regions, such as Tekke, Yomut, Salyr, Ersary, and Chovdur – each with different intricate geometric patterns and bright red and yellow and blue and green hues. We got super lucky to see a local carpet weaver work on a carpet at the backside service entrance of the museum – totally amazing!