Merv is one of the very early centres of civilisation, a huge archaeological site covering 125 square kilometres where one call see the ruins of five walled cities dating from different periods, the latest being from the 18th century. No other abandoned city shows its history as well as Merv, starting with Erk Kala, the earliest structure, dating to the early Persian period (sixth to fifth century BC). This is followed by ruins from Alexander the Great’s time and later the Parthians. In 651 Merv fell to the Arabs and became the capital of Khurasan, the easternmost province of Islam.

By the 11th century Merv had become the capital of the Seljuk Empire and was the greatest city of the Muslim world after Baghdad and was known as the “Pearl of the East”. Its merchants roamed far and wide and many great scholars flocked here including the renowned poet and mathematician Omar Khayyam and the celebrated geographer Yaqut Al-Hamavi. The most important of the ancient cities in Merv is the Seljuk city of Sultan Kala and the best preserved of its monuments is the Sanjar Mausoleum with a huge double dome. Also worth a visit is visit Kys Kala, an unusual windowless castle, nicknamed “The House of Maiden’s Tears”

In 1221 the Mongols, led by Ghengis Khan’s youngest son Tolui invaded Merv and the entire popultion of the city was massacred. Merv did revive during the reign of Tamerlaine by the 16th century it had started to decline due to the dwindling of Silk Road traffic.