I spent 2 days in Nokhur, a small village in the Kopet Dag Mountains, which form the border between Turkmenistan and Iran. The people of Nokhur claim to be descended from Alexander the Great and some say the name of the village itself was derived from Noah. One of the most interesting aspects of my visit was visiting the village cemetery, where most of the gravestones include ornaments in the shape of goat horns, as shown above.
I’m not a fan of graveyards but I have to say – the Kopet Dag Mountains in the backdrop is stunning!
I also LOVE small villages – you feel a world apart from everything and everyone! 😀 Nokhur seems like a great one – is it a tourist area? Or were you just passing through?
It’s hard to say anywhere in Turkmenistan is really a tourist area. 🙂 But no, Nokhur is pretty secluded and tough to get to. I went with my guide as part of my pre-arranged tour. Stay with a local family who I think is the only family in the village that regularly hosts visitors (they are mentioned in Lonely Planet).
The rest of what I saw of Turkmenistan was desert, so being up in the mountains was a nice change.
Oh wow, staying with a local family sounds amazing – I actually prefer visiting small, local places to big, crowded cities. I probably couldn’t live so remotely but I don’t mind visiting! Will definitely ask you for tips when I finally make it to Turkeministan.
Also, two marathon signups? Haha you’re on a fitness roll!
Maybe it was a cemetery for goats?? 😛
How interesting – why the goat horns, do you know? Really looking forward to going to countries like Turkmenistan one day.