Termez
Encyclopedia
Termez is a city in southern Uzbekistan
near the border with Afghanistan
.
Some link the name of the city to thermos, "hot" in Greek, tracing its name back to Alexander the Great. Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato, meaning "on the river bank". It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the capital of Surxondaryo Province
.
Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi
, born in its suburb Bugh and buried 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod. He is locally known as Iso At Termezi or Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). Hakim-e-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi leaders, is buried in the suburbs of Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). It was once a great center of Buddhism and Islam.
divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan
and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge
crosses the river to Hairatan
in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport
, with flights to Tashkent
.
It was the center of Buddhism
at the period of the Kushans (1st-2nd c. AD). With the arrival of the Arabs, in the 7th-8th century, the city became a center of Islam
. Said Baraka was from old Termiz. He was a philosopher, war strategist and religious nobleman, and Amir Temur
’s teacher. During Amir Temur's time Termez continued to prosper, but it was destroyed at the end of the 17th century.
In 1897 the modern city emerged, with a Russian fortress and garrison. Termez was a primary transit point during the Soviet invasion (1979–89) of Afghanistan.
, the former 360th Rifle Division, was based in the town.
During the war in Afghanistan
(1979–89) over 100,000 Soviet troops were based in Termez. The airbase
is currently the main support base for German
and Dutch
forces operating with the ISAF
in Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
near the border with Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Some link the name of the city to thermos, "hot" in Greek, tracing its name back to Alexander the Great. Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato, meaning "on the river bank". It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the capital of Surxondaryo Province
Surxondaryo Province
Surxondaryo Province , old spelling Surkhandarya Province is a viloyat of Uzbekistan, located in the extreme south-east of the country. Established on March 6, 1941, it borders on Turkmenistan, Tajikstan, Afghanistan and Qashqadaryo Province. It covers an area of 20,100 km²...
.
Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi
Al-Tirmidhi
Tirmidhī , also transliterated as Tirmizi, full name Abū ‛Īsá Muḥammad ibn ‛Īsá ibn Sawrah ibn Mūsá ibn al Ḍaḥḥāk al-Sulamī al-Sulamī al-Tirmidhī Tirmidhī , also transliterated as Tirmizi, full name Abū ‛Īsá Muḥammad ibn ‛Īsá ibn Sawrah ibn Mūsá ibn al Ḍaḥḥāk al-Sulamī al-Sulamī al-Tirmidhī...
, born in its suburb Bugh and buried 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod. He is locally known as Iso At Termezi or Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). Hakim-e-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi leaders, is buried in the suburbs of Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). It was once a great center of Buddhism and Islam.
Transportation
The river Amu DaryaAmu Darya
The Amu Darya , also called Oxus and Amu River, is a major river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers...
divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge
Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge
The Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge is a road and rail bridge across the river Amu Darya in the northern Balkh province of Afghanistan, which connects the town of Hairatan with Termez in Uzbekistan...
crosses the river to Hairatan
Hairatan
Hairatan is a border town in the north of Balkh province, Afghanistan, on the Amu Darya river. The river forms the border with Uzbekistan, and the two nations are connected by the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge. The city of Termez in Uzbekistan is close to Hairatan...
in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport
Termez Airport
Termez Airport is an airport serving Termez, a city in southern Uzbekistan. It is used as a base for German C-160 "Transalls" who are part of the German ISAF-contingent.-Airlines and destinations:...
, with flights to Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
.
History
An ancient settlement was discovered near Termez, which was populated in the times of the Greco-Bactrian rule (3rd - 2nd centuries BC).It was the center of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
at the period of the Kushans (1st-2nd c. AD). With the arrival of the Arabs, in the 7th-8th century, the city became a center of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Said Baraka was from old Termiz. He was a philosopher, war strategist and religious nobleman, and Amir Temur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
’s teacher. During Amir Temur's time Termez continued to prosper, but it was destroyed at the end of the 17th century.
Climate
Termez has an arid climate with extremely hot, long summers and short, cold and bitter winters.Main sights
- Kyrk-Kyz (out-of-town Palace Country Estate) (9th - 14th century)
- Palace of Termez rulers (11th-12th century)
- Architectural Complex of Al Khakim At-TermiziAl Khakim At TermiziTirmidhī , also transliterated as Tirmizi, was a Muslim scholar. His full name is: Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ali bin Hasan bin Bashir Al Khakim At-Termizi...
(10th - 15th century) - Architectural Ensemble Sultan Saodat (10th - 18th centuries)
- Kokildora Mausoleum Khanaka (16th century)
- Kara-Tepe Monastery (2nd-4th century)
- Fayaz-Tepe Monastery (1st-3rd century)
- Zurmala Tower (1st-2nd century AD)
- Tirmidhi MausoleumAl-TirmidhiTirmidhī , also transliterated as Tirmizi, full name Abū ‛Īsá Muḥammad ibn ‛Īsá ibn Sawrah ibn Mūsá ibn al Ḍaḥḥāk al-Sulamī al-Sulamī al-Tirmidhī Tirmidhī , also transliterated as Tirmizi, full name Abū ‛Īsá Muḥammad ibn ‛Īsá ibn Sawrah ibn Mūsá ibn al Ḍaḥḥāk al-Sulamī al-Sulamī al-Tirmidhī...
(9th c. AD), in the suburb of Sherobod, 60 kilometers north of Termez.
Wars
For many years after the Second World War the 108th Motor Rifle Division108th Motor Rifle Division
The 108th Nevelskaya Twice Red Banner Motor Rifle Division was a military formation of the Soviet Ground Forces. During the Great Patriotic War, the 360th Rifle Division Nevelskaya Order of the Red Banner, the predecessor to the 108th MRD, was created...
, the former 360th Rifle Division, was based in the town.
During the war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
(1979–89) over 100,000 Soviet troops were based in Termez. The airbase
Airbase
An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....
is currently the main support base for German
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
and Dutch
Military of the Netherlands
The Armed forces of the Netherlands consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.The service branches consist of:* Koninklijke Landmacht , Royal Netherlands Army....
forces operating with the ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
in Afghanistan.