Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque

The Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, commonly known as the Gypjak Mosque, is a monumental structure located in Gypjak, the native village of the first Turkmen President, Saparmurat Nyýazow, near Ashgabat. Opened in 2004 and built by the French company Bouygues, it is one of the largest single-domed mosques in Central Asia, with a capacity of 10,000 worshippers. The mosque is distinguished by its pristine white marble exterior, a massive golden dome, and four minarets towering at 91 meters—a height symbolizing Turkmenistan's independence in 1991. The complex also houses Nyýazow's mausoleum. Its interior features traditional Turkmen carpet motifs and is controversially inscribed with verses from both the Quran and Nyýazow's book, the Ruhnama. Despite its grandeur, the mosque often remains empty due to this inclusion, which many devout Muslims consider blasphemous.