Tejen

Where is Tejen located?

Tejen is an oasis city situated in the Karakum Desert within the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. Positioned at coordinates 37.38338 latitude and 60.50545 longitude, the settlement sits along the M37 highway between Duşak and Mary, resting 223 kilometres southeast of Ashgabat by road. The locality supports an approximate population of 67,488 residents.

What is the history behind its name?

The precise meaning of the ancient name Tejen remains unclear. Scholars such as Barthold noted historical spellings like Tuzhen during the X-XI centuries, while Vambery derived the term from words meaning downstream of the village or city, or foot of the city, potentially interpreting it as a city in the desert. The nearby river transitions from the Herat-rud in its upper reaches to the Khushk-rud below Sarahs, a Persian designation meaning waterless river due to summer water cutoffs.

How does cultural exchange intersect with its history and economy?

Historically connected through trade routes and transport networks, Tejen serves as a stop on the Trans-Caspian railway. In 1996, a new rail line opened via Sarahs to Mashhad in Iran, facilitating regional connectivity. The P-7 highway also leads south from Tejen to Sarahs and onward to Iran.

Culturally and historically, Khlopin suggests that Tejen may have been the birthplace of Zoroaster. The city has experienced significant events, including occupation by General Komarov in 1883 during the Russian conquest of Turkestan and serving as a hotbed of activity during the 1916 Turkmen revolt against the Russians.

Today, the local economy blends agriculture and industry, featuring melon production alongside numerous textile factories and the $240 million Tejen Carbamide Plant, which was inaugurated on March 18, 2005. Local landmarks include the Charman Ahun Mosque and the Hotel Tejen, while the broader geography connects the oasis to neighbouring countries via the country's 970 km motorway network.