Fayaz-Tepe Buddhist Monastery

Fayaz-Tepe lies just north of the walls of ancient Termez. It was excavated between 1968 and 1976 by the archaeologist Lazar Albaum, who uncovered a complete Buddhist monastery of the Kushan period, built in the 1st century AD and abandoned around the 3rd or 4th century.

Layout of the monastery

The plan is clear on the ground: a central sanctuary with a courtyard, a monastic quarter with cells and a refectory, and a service area with kitchens and storerooms, all built of mud brick. Outside the south gate stands the stupa. Its original domed core was later encased in a larger shell, a common practice that turned one monument into two; today a protective dome shelters it, and a small museum pavilion explains the site.

The famous sculpture

The most celebrated find is a limestone relief of the Buddha seated under the bodhi tree between two monks, carved in the Gandharan manner. It is now one of the treasures of the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Wall paintings with figures of the Buddha and donors were also recovered here, together with inscriptions and pottery.

Visiting

Fayaz-Tepe is usually seen on the same morning as Kara-Tepe and the al-Hakim at-Termizi complex, all a few minutes apart. The site is open and unshaded, so bring a hat and water. Seeing the Termez Archaeological Museum the same day helps to bring the walls back to life.