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Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum — The Crown of Ancient Merv

Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum — The Crown of Ancient Merv

23.10.2025

About This Destination

The Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, located at the center of Ancient Merv near Mary, is one of the most outstanding monuments of medieval Islamic architecture and the symbol of Turkmenistan’s cultural heritage. It was built around 1157 CE as the resting place of Sultan Ahmad Sanjar, the last great ruler of the Seljuk Empire (r. 1118–1157), who governed a realm stretching from the Amu Darya to the Mediterranean Sea.

History

Under Sultan Sanjar, Merv became the capital of the Great Seljuks, a brilliant center of science, art, and theology. He ruled wisely but faced immense challenges — internal revolts and the devastating Oghuz rebellion of 1153, during which he was briefly captured. Sanjar’s death in 1157 marked the decline of the Seljuk state, yet his legacy as a scholar-king and patron of architecture endures. When the Mongols invaded in 1221, they destroyed Merv, massacring its people and leaving only ruins — but Sanjar’s mausoleum survived, standing as a silent witness to the city’s lost splendor. Architecture The mausoleum is remarkable for its monumental simplicity and harmony. It features a square base (27 × 27 m) crowned with a massive double dome — the inner dome in turquoise once gleamed above the desert horizon. The building’s brickwork and structural precision reflect the height of Seljuk engineering. Inside, light filters through twelve arched windows, symbolizing the twelve months of the year, and the walls are adorned with Kufic inscriptions extolling God’s greatness. The dome’s height and geometry create a perfect balance between earth and heaven, embodying the Seljuk vision of divine unity through architecture. Even in ruin, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar remains one of the most majestic and spiritually powerful monuments of Central Asia — a timeless crown upon the sands of Merv.

Tours Available

Tour 2
Tour 2
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights Route: Ashgabat – Mary – Lebap – Farap border Day 1 Meeting at Ashgabat Airport and transfer to the guest house. Visit Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, the main mosque in Turkmenistan and the largest single-domed mosque in Central Asia, accommodating up to 20,000 worshippers. Visit Ancient Nisa – a former capital of the Parthian Empire (3rd century BC – 3rd century AD), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch at a local restaurant. Ashgabat city tour: Park of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, Berkarar Shopping Mall, and Wedding Palace. Accommodation and overnight at the guest house. Day 2 Breakfast. Visit Kov-Ata Underground Lake (Father of Caves), 100 km from Ashgabat. The lake’s water temperature remains +33°C to +38°C year-round. Lunch. Return to Ashgabat, check in at 4★ “Grand Turkmen” hotel. Visit Russian Market (Gulistan Bazaar) for shopping. Dinner at the restaurant and overnight at the guest house. Day 3 Breakfast. Drive to Mary (350 km). Lunch upon arrival. Visit Ancient Merv, one of the oldest and most important cities of Central Asia (UNESCO). Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum (XII century) Small and Big Gyz-Kala fortresses (VI century) Ibn Zeid Mausoleum, Sardoba (XII century) Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala ruins (VI century BC) Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Day 4 Breakfast. Drive to Gonurdepe archaeological site, excursion. Lunch and visit the State Museum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lebap province (4 hours). Transfer to Farap border.
Tour 1
Tour 1
7 days from Ashgabat covering Mary & Ancient Merv (UNESCO), Kopetdag cable car, Old Nisa (UNESCO), Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, Gokdepe horse farm, Kov-Ata underground lake, Darvaza gas crater (camping), and Koneurgench (UNESCO), ending in Ashgabat.
Tour 4
Tour 4
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights Itinerary: Ashgabat – Darvaza gas crater – Mary – Farab border Meeting at the international airport in Ashgabat Day 1 Meeting at the international airport of Ashgabat. Transfer and check-in to the hotel Have a breakfast at the hotel. Have an excursion to Old Nisa - included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire (III century BC - III century AD), which is among the largest state entities of the ancient world. On the way back visit the Mosque of Turkmenbashi Ruhy - main mosque in Turkmenistan, the largest single-domed mosque in the world and the largest in Central Asia, where 20,000 people can pray at one time. Have a lunch Drive to Underground lake Kov-ata - a natural underground lake. The name translated from Turkmen means “father of caves”. Located 100 kilometers from Ashgabat. The water temperature is from +33 to +38 ° C all year round. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel Day 2 Have a breakfast at the hotel. Visit local market “Gulistan” (Russian bazaar) Have lunch at local restaurant Drive through the Karakum desert to Darvaza gas crater (280 km) Arriving in Darvaza Darvaza - the most famous place in Turkmenistan (280 km from Ashgabat). Gas crater burning in the Karakum desert Sightseeing tour and a walk around the Spark of Karakum Traditional dinner in Darvaza Overnight in tents. Day 3 Breakfast at the Gas crater on the open air. Drive from Darvaza Gas crater back to Ashgabat Lunch at the local restaurant Visit the biggest shopping mall in Ashgabat “Berkarar” Dinner at the local restaurant Overnight in hotel Day 4 Have a breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Ashgabat to Gonurdepe Excursion at the site Lunch at the local restaurant in Mary Drive to Merv Sightseeing of Merv Ancient Merv - Oasis Merv (40 km east of the city of Mary) is one of the most ancient regions of Central Asia. - Soltan Sanzhar Mausoleum - the mausoleum of one of the most famous Seljuk Soltan (XII century) - Small and Big Gyz-Kala - From the 6th century, the manor-fortress was one of the important trading points on the Great Silk Road. - Ibn Zeid Mausoleum, Sardoba - place of pilgrimage (XII century) - Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala Dinner at a local restaurant Overnight at the hotel Day 5 Have a breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ashgabat 350 km.. Arrive in Ashgabat transfer to Airport

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23.10.2025
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