Independence Monument & Park

Turkmenistan achieved independence on 27 October 1991	The Independence Monument in Ashgabat is 91m tall	Turkmenistan Independence Monument is the main feature of a vast park 800m x 1700m	Sometimes disrespectfully referred to as "the plunger"
Türkmenbaşy Şaýoly Garaşsyzlyk Binasy	Dozens of Turkmenistan flags	Turkmenistan flags against the blue sky at the Independence Monument	Plaza around the base of the Independence Monument with fountains and statues of the 27 heroes of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	Gorkut Ata Türkmen (6th C.)	Gorkut Ata Türkmen (6th C.)	Gara Ýusup Beg Türkmen (died 1420)
Gara Ýusup Beg Türkmen (15th C.)	Gara Ýusup Beg Türkmen (15th C.)	Muhammet Togrulbeg Türkmen (993-1063)	Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat
Muhammet Togrulbeg Türkmen (993-1063)	Muhammet Togrulbeg Türkmen (993-1063)	Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	Muhammet Togrulbeg Türkmen (993-1063)
Statue of a sentry in traditional clothing of a Turkmen spearman	Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	The poets Mollanepes (1810-1862) and Mätäji (1824-1884)	The poet Mätäji (1824-1884)
Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	Turkmen warrior statue guarding the Independence Monument	Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	The five-headed eagle represents the provinces of modern Turkmenistan
Uzyn Hasn Beg Türkmen (1424-1478)	Uzyn Hasn Beg Türkmen (1424-1478)	Uzyn Hasn Beg Türkmen (1424-1478)	Uzyn Hasn Beg Türkmen (1424-1478)
Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	Baýram Han Türkmen (1498-1561)	Baýram Han Türkmen (1498-1561)	Baýram Han Türkmen (1498-1561)
Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)	Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)	Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)	Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)
Turkmenistan Independence Monument, Ashgabat	Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)	Ärtogrul Gazy Türkmen (1191-1281)	Keýmir Kör Türkmen (18th C.)
Keýmir Kör Türkmen (18th C.)	Soltan Sanjar Türkmen (1086-1157)	Soltan Sanjar Türkmen (1086-1157)	Alp Arslan Türkmen (r. 1063-1072) and Mälik Şa Türkmen (1072-1092)
Alp Arslan Türkmen (r. 1063-1072) and Mälik Şa Türkmen (1072-1092)	Alp Arslan Türkmen (r. 1063-1072) and Mälik Şa Türkmen (1072-1092)	Alp Arslan Türkmen (r. 1063-1072) and Mälik Şa Türkmen (1072-1092)	Görogly Beg Türkmen (16th-17th C.)
Magtmguly (1733-1783)	Magtmguly (1733-1783)	Magtmguly (1733-1783)	"Türkmenistan - demokratik, hukuk we dünýewi döwlet..." - Turkmenistan Constitution
Honor guard in front of the Turkmenistan Independence Monument	Turkmenistan Honor Guard	Turkmenistan Honor Guard	Oguz Han Türkmen
Oguz Han Türkmen	Oguz Han Türkmen	Türkmen Seljuk Baý (900-1007 ýý)	Walkway from the Independence Monument to the Turkmenbashy statue
Walkway from the Independence Monument to the Turkmenbashy statue	Lampposts around the Independence Monument Park, Ashgabat	Turkmenbashy from behind	Five-headed Eagle of Turkmenistan
Five-headed Eagle of Turkmenistan	Turkmenbashi, leader of the Turkmen - the First President, Saparmurat Niyazov	Saparmurat Niyazov was an orphan appointed by Moscow as First Secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party	Statue of a guard at the Turkmenbashy statue
Statue of a Turkmen guard	Statue of a Turkmen guard	Türkmenbaşy and the Independence Monument	Saparmurat Niyazov was an orphan appointed by Moscow as First Secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party in 1985
Türkmenbashy statue, Ashgabat	Five-headed Eagle of Turkmenistan	Walkway to the Independence Monument	Turkmenistan Independence Monument
The guide said the museum and observation gallery were closed	Structure at the northern end of Independence Park - Five-Leg Fountain - also said to be closed	The Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Cultural Centre - just across the highway from the Independence Monument	The Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Cultural Centre, Ashgabat
National Library of Turkmenistan	Reflection of the National Library in the opposite glass façade	Mirrored entrance, National Cultural Center, Ashgabat	The National Library, part of the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Cultural Centre
Presidential Museum, the center piece of the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Cultural Centre	The monumental entrance to the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Cultural Centre, Ashgabat	Lion in front of the National Library, Ashgabat	Lions on the steps of the National Library of Turkmenistan
Lions on the steps of the National Library of Turkmenistan	The Independence Monument from the National Cultural Center	Lions of the National Library, Ashgabat	The National Library of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
One of the lions in front of the National Library	National Library of Turkmenistan	President Niyazov, in the spirit of Great Leaders around the world, wrote his own book, the Ruhnama	Ruhnama Monument - the cover opens each evening
The central tower of the Paytagt Shopping Center at the NE corner of the Independence Monument Park	State Trade Center "Paytagt", Ashgabat	State Trade Center "Paytagt", Ashgabat	"Paytagt" Söwda Merkezi, Ashgabat
View looking south from the restaurant on top of the Paytagt Tower	The Independence Monument, a mile away on the other end of the park	Turkmenistan Independence Monument and National Cultural Center from Paytagt Tower	A sequence of fountains forms a continuous waterway around the gently sloping Independence Park
View to the northwest of the Paytagt Tower	View north towards the city center of Ashgabat	The Olympic Stadium in the distance	The new construction continues, Ashgabat 2011
The older Soviet-era apartment blocks of Ashgabat's pre-marble days	The north end of Independence Monument Park, 800m wide, from Paytagt Tower