Archman is a village in

Baherden District Baherden District is a district of Ahal Province, Turkmenistan. From 2003 to 2018 it was named Baharly ("spring-like") District. History It was formed in January 1926 as the Bakharden District of the Poltoratsk District of the Turkmen SSR. Its ...

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

, famed for the eponymous hot springs located about 11 km away.

Etymology

Legend has it that the hot springs (and the village) were named after a shepherd who had discovered its healing properties, after getting cured of a

skin rash A rash is a change of the skin that affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked ...

Medical Tourism

The spa, Archman Sanitorium (), was opened in 1915. Reputed for the healing properties of its water, different alternative treatment regimens— mineral spa,

gastric lavage Gastric lavage, also commonly called stomach pumping or gastric irrigation or gastric suction, is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach using a tube. Since its first recorded use in the early 19th century, it has become one of the ...

balneotherapy Balneotherapy ( "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas. Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects. While ...

, drinking therapy, and others—are available, in combination with medical imaging services and

physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

. In 2001, President Niyazov opened a marble resort, replacing previous Soviet facilities; this was further expanded in 2009 into a 920-bed center. Primarily aimed at those patients who had to visit the sanatorium for about a week, the project has been fairly successful. There is one small mausoleum, devoted to Gochgar Ata, near the resort.

Limnology

The water is slightly alkaline with low sulfide levels; it is classified as potable water. It is rich in minerals like chlorine, sodium, calcium, and magnesium.

Transportation

In 2003, an Iranian company was contracted to connect the M37 highway with the sanitorium. It is also served by an eponymous station on the

Trans-Caspian Railway The Trans-Caspian Railway (also called the Central Asian Railway, ) is a railway that follows the path of the Silk Road through much of western Central Asia. It was built by the Russian Empire during its expansion into Central Asia in the 19t ...

, about 9 km away.

Notes

References

Populated places in Ahal Region {{Turkmenistan-geo-stub