Makhtumkuli Avenue

When it was originally created, Makhtumkuli Avenue (then Mervsky Prospect) ran through the entire city and then merged with the road leading to Merv. Later during the Soviet period under the Turkmen SSR, the avenue was known as Liberty Avenue, which 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). In 1971, a monument which was designed by architects V. Vysotin and V. Kutumov to the 16th century Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy (who would later become the namesake avenue), was installed on the avenue.[1] Following the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991, the avenue was immediately renamed to Makhtumkuli Avenue by order of President Saparmurat Niyazov (also known as Türkmenbaşy). Over the next 2 to 3 years, a large fountain was installed on the avenue and maple and acacia trees also appeared along its path. It was on this avenue in October 1992 where 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 saluting base that President Niyazov was watching the parade from.[2][3]

• State Russian Drama Theatre named after Pushkin
• Turkmen State Institute of Transport and Communications
• Main Drama Theater (Ashgabat)
• Ashgabat cinema
• Hotel Ashgabat
• Inspiration Alley
• Ashgabat (park)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs[4]

• Archabil Avenue
• Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue
• Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Avenue
• Independence Square
• Galkynysh Square