Termez

Termez Termiz / Термиз
Sultan Saodat Ensemble
Termez Location in Uzbekistan
Coordinates: 37°13′N 67°17′E / 37.217°N 67.283°E / 37.217; 67.283Coordinates: 37°13′N 67°17′E / 37.217°N 67.283°E / 37.217; 67.283
Country	Uzbekistan
Region	Surxondaryo Region
Government
• Type	City Administration
Population (2005)
• Total	140,404

Termez (Uzbek: Termiz/Термиз; Russian: Термез; Tajik: Тирмиз; Persian: ترمذ‎‎ Termez, Tirmiz; Arabic: ترمذ‎‎ Tirmidh) is a city in the southernmost part of Uzbekistan near the Hairatan border crossing of Afghanistan. It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the capital of Surxondaryo Region.

Etymology

The modern name of the city came through the Sogdian Tarmiδ dating back to Old Iranian tara-maiθa , which means "a place of transition" (tara-crossing, crossing; maiθa-place). In ancient times there was an important crossing on the Amu Darya river.

Some link the name of the city to Greek thermos "hot", tracing its name back to Alexander the Great.^[1] Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato , meaning "on the river bank".^[2]

History

In ancient times

The date of the founding of the city of Old Termez, located a few kilometers west of the modern city, is not known. In April 2002 there was a celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the city of Termez.[2]

The city was known to Achaemenids in the 6th century BC. In 329 BC Alexander the Great conquered Termez. Later Demetrius, the founder of Greco-Bactrian kingdom named it Demetris. As part of the Kushan Empire (1st to 3rd century BC) The city was called Ta-li-mi (in the Chinese Tu-mi, Tami. During this period, the city became an important center of Buddhism.

In the 5th and 6th centuries the city was ruled by Hephthalites and Sassanids.

In the 7th century the city was ruled by the native Termez shah dynasty. It was a vassal of Gokturks.

In 705 the city was captured by the Arabs and it became one of the centres of Islam during the Abbadids and Samanids Empire.

From the 9th to the 12th centuries Termez was a big city and a cultural centre and was popular for shopping and crafts. At this time the length of the fortifications of the city was 10 miles long with nine gates. During this period Termez was a part of the Ghaznavids, Seljuk and Karakhanids. In 1206 the town became part of the state Khorezmshahs.

In 1220 after a two-day siege, the city was destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan.

In the second half of the 13th century Termez was restored to the east, on the right bank of Surxondaryo River, as part of the Timurid empire, then Shaybanids. By the second half of the 18th century the city was abandoned. The only inhabited villages were Salavat and Pattakesar (Pattagissar) in the vicinity of the ancient city.

In the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

In January 1893 the emirate of Bukhara gave the land of the village Pattakesar to the Russian government to build a Russian fortress and garrison and a military border fortification, where the Amu Darya river port was built.

In 1928 as part of the Soviet Union, Pattakesar was renamed and took the city's ancient name Termez. In 1929, the village became a town.

During the years of Soviet rule industrial enterprises were built and a Pedagogical Institute and a theatre were opened.

During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979–89), Termez was an important military base, a military airfield and a road-rail bridge across the Amu Darya ("Bridge of Friendship") were built.

Independent Uzbekistan

In 1992 the Pedagogical Institute was upgraded to Termez State University.

The military airfield in Termez is used by the air forces of Germany for transiting goods to Afghanistan.

In July 2009 It was decided to establish a "Termez regional railway junction" which will be one of the main places in the planned transit of non-lethal NATO supplies to Afghanistan. The transit will be through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan bypassing Turkmenistan through the railway in 2009 Tashguzar-Boysun-Kumkurgan. [3]

In June 2015, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif announced the construction of the Gwadar-Termez Highway, which would connect Uzbekistan via a road network to the Arabian sea at Gwadar Port in Pakistan.^[3]

Transportation

The river Amu Darya 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 and Moscow. Termez is connected with Uzbek Railways to other cities of the countries and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Tashkent-Termez (No: 379) and Termez-Tashkent (No: 380) train runs every day.^[4] Also Dushanbe-Kanibadam (No: 367) and Kanibadam-Dushanbe (No: 368) trains passes from Termez.

Demographics

The officially registered population of Termez in 2005 was 140,404. Tajiks and Uzbeks are the largest ethnic groups.

Climate

Termez has an arid climate with extremely hot, long summers and short, cool winters.

Notable people of ancient Termez

• 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, Uzbekistan. He is one of the six canonical hadith collectors of Sunni Islam. He is locally known as Abu Isa At Termezi.
• Hakim-at-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi theologians, is buried in old Termez which is in the suburbs of modern Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota (a patron saint of Termez).
• Said Baraka was from old Termez. He was a philosopher, war strategist and religious nobleman, and Amir Temur's teacher.
• Ali Termezi known as " Pir Baba " was a Tajik born in Termez, (1502-1583 CE), his mausoleum is in a village named Pir Baba after him in Buner District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
• Valery Khalilov (1952-2016) was born in Termez. He was a Russian general and a composer.

Main historical sights

Stallholders in Termez Market

• Kyrk-Kyz Fortress (out-of-town Palace Country Estate) (9th–14th centuries)
• Palace of Termez rulers (11th–12th centuries)
• Architectural Complex of Al Hakim At-Termizi (10th–15th centuries)
• Architectural Ensemble Sultan Saodat (10th–18th centuries)
• Kokildora Khanaka (16th century)
• Kara-Tepe Buddhist Monastery (2nd–4th centuries)
• Fayaz-Tepe Buddhist Monastery (1st–3rd centuries)
• Zurmala Tower (1st–2nd century AD)
• Abu Isa At-Tirmidhi Mausoleum (9th century AD), in the suburb of Sherobod, 60 kilometers north of Termez.
• Zul Kifl Mausoleum in the island Aral-Paygambar on the Amu Darya river. It is not possible to access it at the moment since it is in the military zone and the restricted nature reserve.

Wars

Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge

For many years after the Second World War the 108th Motor Rifle Division, 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.

See also

• List of cities in Uzbekistan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Termez.

• Archaeological Museum Termez (Uzbek, Russian, English)
• Termez Photos
• History of ancient Termez
• Karvon Saroy travel to Uzbekistan
• Travel tips to visit Termez
• local information, guide and interpreter in Termez