In 2004, at a distance of 15 kms from the capital of Turkmenistan in the village of Kipchak, the birthplace of the first president Saparmurat Niyazov, the world’s largest domed mosque opened. The white marble building with a gold dome has a height of 55 meters. In the corners there are four 91-meter towers-minarets. The number 91 symbolizes the year of the declaration of sovereignty. The total area of the complex exceeds 18 thousand square meters. The main contractor, a French company was paid $ 100 million for the execution of the construction and finishing works.
Like in other similar structures, on the walls, you can see the quotations from the Koran. Along with them there are excerpts from the book of the first president of Turkmenistan “Rukhnama.”
The eight arched gate provides entrance to the mosque. Before the prayer the faithful can perform the ritual ablutions here. For this purpose there is a special hall. The mosque can house for prayer three thousand women and seven thousand men.
The area around the mosque is paved with stone and decorated with fountains. Not far from the mosque an underground parking lot was built. It is designed to accommodate about 100 buses and 400 passenger cars.
According to the plan, besides the Turkmenbashi Ruhi Mosque,a mausoleum for the family of President Niyazov was to be built After it was opened the remains of his parents and brothers who died in the 1948 earthquake were transferred to this mausoleum. Saparmurat Niyazov took the centerpiece of the tomb in 2006.