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Southern Uzbekistan is the southern, Tajik-dominated, mountainous portion of Uzbekistan to the south of Samarkand. Parts of it are in the region historically known as Bactria.

Regions

  • Kashkadarya — The northern region on the western slopes of the Pamir-Alay mountains.
  • Surkhandarya — The southern region. It embraces the valleys of the Sherabad and Surkhan rivers which flow into the Amu-darya from the north

The Hissar (Gissar) Mountain Range ​marks an ancient frontier between ​the two regions: Kashkadarya was part of Sogdiana while Surkhandarya was part of Bactria.

Cities

  • 1 Boysun — In 2001 the city of Boysun was proclaimed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO along with its surrounding countryside.
  • 2 Denov — rural town with a circular fortress and a Kushan archaeological site dated to the mid-1st century BC.
  • 3 Derbent — Archaeological excavations in the area have revealed the existence of defensive system consisted of fortresses and massive walls.
  • 4 Qarshi — meaning "Palace" in Uzbek, the city is famous for its production of woven carpets.
  • 5 Sairob — picturesque village in a narrow valley
  • 6 Shakhrizabz —Timur birthplace and a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • 7 Termez — The southernmost city of Uzbekistan and an important border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan

Other destinations

  • 1 Airtam — ruins of an important caravan resting place on the Great Silk Road.
  • 2 Dalverzin Tepe — ruins of an ancient city of the Kushan Empire developed around an earlier Hellenistic fortress.
  • 3 Gora Karakamar — cave complex carved into the Sherabad ridge on the border with Turkmenistan.
  • 4 Iron Gates (Timur Darvaza) — in ancient times this narrow valley across the Hissar Mountain Range was used as a strategic passage between Bactria and Sogdia and was of great importance to any power in the region.
  • 5 Kampyrtepa — ruins of an ancient city on the steep bank of the Amu Darya.
  • 6 Kurganzol Fortress — ruins of a round fortress dated to the time of Alexander the Great.

Understand

Winters are the mildest in southern Uzbekistan, spring and autumn are bearable and summer are unbearable. In May-Augustus temperatures can reach an extreme 50° (122°F)

Talk

Get in

The 7 Termez International Airport (TMJ IATA), ICAO: UTST), is linked with Moscow-Domodedovo, St Petersburg and Tashkent by direct flights of Uzbekistan Airways and VIM Airlines.

Buses from Mazar-e Sharif, Dushanbe, Kerki are infrequent and rarely carry foreigners

Termez is linked to Dushanbe and Mary by rail lines.

Get around

See

Itineraries

Do

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

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This region travel guide to Southern Uzbekistan is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

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