Nisa - Capital of the Parthian Empire and Crossroads of Ancient Civilizations
Nisa, also known as Parthaunisa, is an ancient city located near Bagyr village, just 18 km west of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and close to the Iranian border. Nisa, the capital of the Parthian Empire, was a dominant force in Central Asia from the mid-3rd century BCE to the early 3rd century CE. In Turkmen this site is called Nusay.
Strategically located, the city served as a barrier against Roman expansion while also becoming a key communications and trading hub at the crossroads of vital north-south and east-west routes. The archaeological remains of Nisa showcase the significant cultural exchange between Central Asian and Mediterranean civilizations, reflecting the region’s political, economic, and strategic prominence during antiquity. Nisa is included in many of our Central Asia Tours and Turkmenistan Tours.
Nisa at a glance
- UNESCO: World Heritage Site since 2007, as the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa.
- Where: 18 km west of central Ashgabat, by the village of Bagyr.
- What: the royal fortress of the Parthian Empire (mid-3rd century BC to early 3rd century AD), with mud-brick walls and more than 40 towers.
- Time needed: about an hour on site; a half-day trip from Ashgabat.
- Visiting: with a guide, usually as part of a Turkmenistan tour.
Tours visiting Nisa
Nisa is on the Turkmenistan Nature and Culture Tour, which visits Old Nisa and the Akhal-Teke horses after returning from the Darvaza gas crater, and on the Turkmenistan culture tour, which starts with Nisa on its first morning before the Ashgabat city tour.
Turkmenistan Nature and Culture Tour
The Yangykala Canyons, Moon Mountain, Nokhur village, the Carpet Museum, the Darvaza Gas Crater and Old Nisa.
Turkmenistan culture tour
Ancient Merv, a camp at the Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenbashi, Yangykala, Nokhur and the Akhal-Teke horses.
Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan tour
Samarkand's Registan and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, then the ruins of Merv and white-marble Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.
5 Stan Quick Tour
All five Stans overland: the Darvaza crater, Merv, Bukhara, Samarkand, the Seven Lakes, Kokand, Issyk-Kul and Charyn.
Five Stans tour from Bishkek to Ashgabat
All five Stans: a boat trip on Issyk-Kul, Charyn Canyon, Samarkand, Bukhara, Merv, the Darvaza gas crater and Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan 4 days tour
UNESCO-listed Konye-Urgench, a night in a yurt at the Darvaza Gas Crater, white-marble Ashgabat and Old Nisa.
Turkmenistan 6 days tour
White-marble Ashgabat, a night at the Darvaza Gas Crater, ancient Merv, the Nisa fortress and the Akhal-Teke horses.
How to visit Nisa
Nisa is a half-day trip from Ashgabat, and it is easy to combine with the city tour, the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in Gypjak or the Gokdepe fortress. If you can, visit the National Museum in Ashgabat first: ivory drinking horns (rhytons) and other finds from Nisa are shown there, and they help you picture what the ruins once looked like. On site, a guide explains what the mud-brick walls once were.
In practice, travel outside Ashgabat is with a licensed guide, so visitors come on a tour.
What you’ll see at Nisa
Old Nisa stands on a natural hill, ringed by mud-brick walls with more than 40 towers. Inside are the remains of the Square Hall, the great reception hall of the royal residence, and the Round Hall, whose purpose archaeologists still debate, as well as the treasury where the ivory rhytons were found and the wine store. These are mud-brick ruins, best understood with a guide.
Excavations at Nisa have unearthed remarkable structures, including large buildings, mausoleums, and shrines, along with a wealth of artefacts that highlight its cultural and historical significance. Among the treasures found are Hellenistic artworks, ivory rhytons adorned with Iranian themes and classical mythological scenes, and a trove of recorded documents that offer insights into the Parthian era. The site was renamed Mithradatkirt, or “Fortress of Mithradates,” by Mithridates I of Parthia (r. circa 171–138 BC). Unfortunately, much of Nisa was devastated by a powerful earthquake in the first century BC, but its ruins remain a testament to the Parthian Empire’s rich legacy.
In 2007, the fortress ruins of Nisa were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing their outstanding cultural and historical value. Visitors to Nisa can explore this ancient archaeological treasure, a must-see for history enthusiasts and those seeking to experience Turkmenistan’s fascinating heritage.
Old Nisa
Old Nisa, also known as Mithradatkirt, was the royal and ceremonial centre of the Parthian Empire. Believed to have been founded by Arsaces I (250–211 BCE) and later renamed by Mithridates I (171–138 BCE), it served as a royal fortress and necropolis for Parthian kings.
The site contained palaces, temples, treasury buildings, and administrative offices, making it a hub for cultural and political activities. Archaeological excavations at Old Nisa have revealed monumental structures, including mausoleums and storage rooms, as well as Hellenistic-inspired ivory rhytons and artefacts.
Perched on a fortified natural hill about 18 km west of modern Ashgabat near Bagyr village, Old Nisa exemplifies a blend of Hellenistic and Iranian art and architecture, symbolizing the cosmopolitan nature of the Parthian Empire.
New Nisa
New Nisa, on the plain next to the royal fortress, was the town where most people lived. It stayed inhabited long after the Parthians, into the Middle Ages. Only small parts of it have been excavated, so much less is known about it than about Old Nisa, and what most of its buildings were used for is still unclear.
Unlike the royal and ceremonial Old Nisa, New Nisa was a working town, and its position on the plain made it easier to reach than the fortified hill of Old Nisa.
Importance of Nisa
Nisa symbolized the strength of the Parthian Empire, a rival to Rome that successfully halted Roman attempts to expand eastward. Furthermore, as a trading and communication center, Nisa thrived at the intersection of major commercial and strategic routes, facilitating an exchange of ideas, goods, and cultural influences between Asia and the Mediterranean.
Surviving remains at Nisa, including its two prominent tells, highlight its political and economic power. These remnants reveal the interaction of Central Asian and Mediterranean cultures through Parthian architecture and urban planning.
Nisa Wine Store
The Nisa wine store lies on the east of the treasury building. It contains large clay vessels which possibly held the wine. This building proved particularly valuable to archaeologists because each of the vessels was accompanied by little clay shards, ostraca, on which mundane information was written about the origin and date of purchase of the wine. Thanks to this data, researchers studied more about the economy and human geography of the region in Parthian times, as well as established the Parthian name of the fortress itself.
Bagyr Village
If you have time, head to Bagyr village to see some more monuments worth a glance. To the west side of the access road leading to the Old Nisa site, you will see crumbling mud-brick walls. These rectangular 19th century ruins are what is left of the Kulmergeen Kala. Turkmen families would have lived in yurts and mud buildings within the courtyard protected by them. At the far western side of the village is a mausoleum known as Shaikhalov which in fact is a restored octagonal building with a domed roof. The tomb is said to be that of the 10th century Sheikh Abu Ali Dakkak. A brick gate stands next to the mausoleum and pilgrims say a prayer as they walk through it.
Preservation and visiting Nisa today
At the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains, the ruins of Nisa have kept their authenticity despite erosion. Neither Old Nisa nor New Nisa shows much of the original splendour of the Parthian capital, but both have kept their archaeological integrity. Nisa is one of about 1,300 protected historical and cultural monuments in Turkmenistan and part of one of the country’s eight State Historical and Cultural Parks.
A management plan for 2006–2010 covered a buffer zone, a plan for the surrounding area and a balance between new excavations and conservation.
For visitors, Nisa shows the greatness of the Parthian Empire, whose influence was so decisive for this region. Its position, rich archaeology and history make this UNESCO World Heritage Site one of the places in Turkmenistan you should not miss.
Sights near Nisa
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated