Historic Site · Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan
Konye-Urgench
Konye-Urgench, also known as Köneürgenç, Old Urgench or Urganj, is a city in north Turkmenistan, just south from its border with Uzbekistan.
Photo: Doron via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Coordinates | 42.3261° N, 59.1531° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Konye-Urgench is known for
Konye-Urgench, also known as Köneürgenç, Old Urgench or Urganj, is a city in north Turkmenistan, just south from its border with Uzbekistan.
About Konye-Urgench
Konye-Urgench, also known as Köneürgenç, Old Urgench or Urganj, is a city in north Turkmenistan, just south from its border with Uzbekistan. It is the site of the ancient town of Gurgānj, which contains the ruins of the capital of Khwarazm. The inhabitants of the ancient city deserted it in the early eighteenth century in order to develop a new settlement, and Konye-Urgench has remained undisturbed ever since.
History
The exact dates when Konye-Urgench was founded remain uncertain, but archaeological finds at the Kyrkmolla Hill (one of the main fortresses at the site) reveal that the town already had a strong structure in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Some of the earliest records show that Khwarezm was conquered by the Arabs in 712, who took the capital city of Kath of the Iranic Khwarazmian Afrighid dynasty. The city rose to prominence between the 10th and 14th centuries as the Khwarezmian capital, replacing Kath. Gurjanu served as an important trading center, competing in fame and population with many other Central Asian cities, such as Bukhara.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Konye-Urgench |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Dashoguz Airport (TAZ) |
| Distance from the airport | 53.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Nukus International Airport (NCU) · Nukus, Uzbekistan · 26.5 miles away
- Dashoguz International Airport (TAZ) · Daşoguz, Turkmenistan · 52.5 miles away
- Urgench International Airport (UGC) · Urgench, Uzbekistan · 92.2 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Turkmenistan
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Konye-Urgench?
Konye-Urgench, also known as Köneürgenç, Old Urgench or Urganj, is a city in north Turkmenistan, just south from its border with Uzbekistan.
Where is Konye-Urgench located?
Konye-Urgench is in Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan. Its coordinates are 42.3261° N, 59.1531° E.
How do I get to Konye-Urgench?
The nearest town is Konye-Urgench, and the nearest airport is Dashoguz Airport (TAZ), about 53.9 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Konye-Urgench?
The exact dates when Konye-Urgench was founded remain uncertain, but archaeological finds at the Kyrkmolla Hill (one of the main fortresses at the site) reveal that the town already had a strong structure in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Some of the earliest records show that Khwarezm was conquered by the Arabs in 712, who took the capital city of Kath of the Iranic Khwarazmian Afrighid dynasty.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konye-Urgench — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48472 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.