Chilpik Dakhma
Shılpıq
A round Zoroastrian “Tower of Silence” on a solitary hill beside the Amu Darya, used for sky burial. It is a rare relic in Central Asia.
Chilpik is a circular mud-brick enclosure built on a natural hill about 40 meters high, with a diameter of roughly 65 meters. It dates to around the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. Zoroastrians once exposed the dead here to birds and animals before gathering the bones. The steep climb to the top takes about 10 minutes, and from the summit you can overlook the Amu Darya and the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert. Admission is free. There is no shade, so wear non-slip shoes. It is about 43 km from Nukus, on the road to Khiva or the Ellik-Qala fortress complex, and is often a convenient stop along the way.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Berdakh Museum
- Karakalpakstan State Museum of History and Culture
- Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum
- Nukus Central Bazaar
- Mizdakhan Necropolis
- Gyaur Kala (Khodjeyli)
- Aral Sea Museum (Moynaq)
- Moynaq Ship Cemetery