At southernmost tip of Uzbekistan, on the border with Afghanistan, lies Termez, an ancient city with deep Buddhist roots and a history stretching back more than two millennia. Once a thriving Silk Road hub linking India, China, and Persia, Termez flourished under the Kushan Empire (1st–4th centuries CE), when Buddhism spread across Central Asia.
A short drive from the city, the Kara Tepe site reveals this rich legacy. Here, archaeologists from the Uzbek Academy of Sciences and Japan’s Rissho University uncovered a vividly colored second or third century mural, thought to portray scenes from the Buddha’s life. Blending Hellenistic, Persian, and Indian artistic traditions, the work highlights how Buddhist art evolved at this crossroads of East and West.
Travellers to Termez can explore the Buddhist monasteries of Kara Tepe and Fayaz Tepe, the Sultan Saodat and Kyrk Kyz complexes, and the Termez Archaeological Museum, one of Central Asia’s finest. The city’s location places it remarkably close to Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley, once home to the monumental Buddha statues destroyed in 2001, reminding visitors of the region’s shared spiritual past.
For those seeking a journey across layers of history and culture, Termez offers a profound glimpse into the early spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road.
