Ayrtam Buddhist Monastery
Ayritom
A Kushan-period Buddhist monastery site on the Amu Darya about 15 km east of Termez, famous for the musician friezes unearthed there.
Ayrtam was a Kushan-era (1st to 2nd century CE) Buddhist monastery and town. In 1932, border guards came across a set of limestone frieze panels on the bank of the Amu Darya, carved with musicians holding instruments and garlands. They are considered masterpieces of Kushan art, and are now held in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and in Tashkent. Today the site consists mostly of mounds and excavation pits, with limited things to see, and it lies in a border zone. It suits visitors with a strong interest in Buddhist archaeology. Check with a travel agency first to confirm whether access is possible.
Opening hours
Check whether open before visiting
Nearby sights
- Sultan Saodat Complex
- Kokildor Ota Khanaqah
- Kyrk Kyz Fortress
- Termez Archaeological Museum
- Zurmala Stupa
- Old Termez
- Al-Hakim at-Termizi Memorial Complex
- Jarkurgan Minaret