Termez: Uzbekistan's Ancient Buddhist Monasteries on the Silk Road

Long before Islam arrived in Central Asia, the city of Termez on the Amu Darya was a thriving center of Buddhism under the Kushan Empire. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ruins of Kara Tepe and Fayaz Tepe—monasteries carved into the desert hills, adorned with stupas and murals. They uncover the story of how Kushan rulers like Kanishka spread the Dharma along the Silk Road, how the Arab conquest ended Buddhist practice, and how Soviet archaeologists in the 20th century rediscovered these lost sites. From the giant Zurmala Stupa to the cave chambers of wandering monks, this is a forgotten chapter of Uzbekistan's rich religious past. The episode also touches on the recent threats from the Afghan border and industrialization.

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