Nokhur, Turkmenistan

Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Nokhur

A four-hour drive from Ashgabat in the west of Kopet Dag range there is a region settled by Turkmens of the mountain tribe Nokhur, that have for centuries preserved their unique culture, traditional crafts and architecture. Nokhur (also Nohur) is in the list of 100 the most romantic places of the world. Picturesque villages Old and New Nokhur on the mountain plateau are beauty of two-store houses of unique architecture that are on the mountain cliffs among vines, almond and pomegranate trees.

Deep in the mountains, at height of 1000-1100 meters there lies Nokhur. The way to this “compact world” is long and difficult: grades, slopes, mountainous hairpin curves. But you will forget all travelling difficulties when you see this place, rare in its beauty and protected from four sides with high mountains. According to the legends, its name originates from the Bible prophet Noah, whose Ark after a forty-day’s sailing landed to Manoman Mountain, that is why the words “nokh” or “nukh” are translated as “hit”. The local long-term residents explain the variety of Nokhur flora and fauna by the fact that in the depths of unrecorded time Nukh, a Noah’s son, released all the animals and birds there and planted the seeds which were kept in the Ark. There you can watch the Khur-Khuri waterfall, headed from few small mountainous sources, cascading from the height of 53m.

You can also visit “Dev’s House” cave, a narrow rock crevice going into a deep darkness. They say that mysterious and formidable voices can be heard there at nights. There is also the Kopet Dag highest point which is called “The Three Wells”.

An old sycamore tree is growing in Nokhur with a hollow that can place few people inside. There is a special place for wish making on the outskirts of the village – Giz bibi, narrow crack in the rock that locals take for one of the doors to paradise. Make a wish and it will definitely come true.