Saraghs

This article is about the city in Turkmenistan also known as Serakhs. For the twin town across the border in Iran, see Sarakhs.

Saraghs (or Serakhs) is an oasis city in Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It is located at latitude 36°31'44" North; longitude 61°12'41" East and an altitude of 235m above MSL. It is one of the oasis' of the ancient Silk Road lying between Merv to the East and Mashhad to the West.

The town claims to have been founded in 507 BCE. Although this is considered to be a somewhat arbitrary choice of date^[1], the city duly celebrated its 2500th anniversary in 1993. The original city site was a slightly raised area somewhat south of the town's present location. At the original site there's now a few brick fragments of the former citadel (where there was once a famous school of architects in the Seljuk Era) along with a mausoleum commemorating the 11th century sufi Abu Fazl (Serakhs Baba).

Transport

Saraghs is a crossing point on the Iranian-Turkmen border and the place where bogies must be changed on the freight railway line from Tejen to Mashhad in Iran.

See also

• Railway stations in Turkmenistan

References

1. ^ Bradt Guide to Turkmenistan, 1st edition, page 131

Coordinates: 36°32′N 61°13′E / 36.533°N 61.217°E / 36.533; 61.217