Some cities stun tourists with impressive skyscrapers, while others attract crowds with their history and culture.
But there is one city that’s unique for a different reason.
Dubbed the ‘marble city’ because of its impressive, record-breaking amount of white marble buildings, Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, requires an invitation to visit.
Located in Central Asia, the country is surrounded by Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Unlike most destinations, British tourists can’t simply jet over and explore Turkmenistan or its capital.
Instead, it’s a much more complex process.
Brits are required to have a visa to visit the country, according to the UK Foreign Office.
‘If you have the wrong visa or if you overstay your visa, you could be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned,’ the site warns.
Dubbed the ‘marble city’ because of its impressive, record-breaking amount of white marble buildings, Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, requires an invitation to visit
Unlike most destinations, British tourists can’t simply jet over and explore Turkmenistan or its capital
What’s more, visitors need a letter of invitation to support their visa application.
The letter can be obtained from a travel agent, if the visit is for tourist purposes. Meanwhile, a business trip requires letters from ‘relevant government ministries or companies you want to do business with,’ according to the UK Government.
After obtaining the letter of invitation, travellers can apply for the visa at the Embassy of Turkmenistan or buy one when they arrive in the country from some borders and Ashgabat International Airport.
Ashgabat is known for its jaw-dropping monuments and architecture, and boasts impressive fountains and sculptures.
In the city, there are a range of markets and museums, and visitors may notice that there are only white cars driving around, with any other colour banned from the area back in 2018.
One keen traveller, Pandhu Waskitha, went to Ashgabat and shared footage from his trip to the mysterious destination on his TikTok, @backpackertampan.
In the video caption, he described the ‘surreal white marble, golden monuments, and almost empty streets’.
The video showed huge, white buildings and seemingly deserted areas, despite having an estimated population of around 941,130.
In the city, there are a range of markets and museums, and visitors may notice that there are only white cars driving around, with any other colour banned from the area back in 2018
Pandhu wrote how the area is ‘often called one of the world’s most unique and mysterious cities’.
He penned: ‘Designed with grand scale and symmetry, Ashgabat feels like it belongs in a movie — futuristic, elegant, and unlike anywhere else.’
Footage showed how the city boasts immaculately clean roads and perfectly pruned gardens.
The traveller gushed: ‘It’s a place where reality feels cinematic, and every corner sparks curiosity.’
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