Termez is the most southern city of Uzbekistan,situated on the bank of Amudarya River, near the border with Afghanistan. The city was named by Greeks who came with Alexander the Great. Termez means in Greek “hot” or “hot place” (Thermo or Thermos). The city was found in the 3rd c. B.C. on the junction of trade routes to India and China.By 1st-2nd c.c. A.D. under Kushan power Termez became a center of Buddhizm and reached the peak of prosperity.
Already in that time the city occupied the area of 500 hectars.It is still the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the administrative centre of Surxondaryo Province. Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi, born in its suburb Bugh and buried in 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod. He is locally know as Iso At Termezi or Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). Al Khakim At Termizi, one of the famous Sufi leaders is buried in the suburbs of Termez. He is also know as Termez Ota (Father of Termez City).
When Arabs came (in the 7th -8th c.) the city became the center of Islam. Said Baraka, Amir Temur’s teacher was from old Termiz. Said Baraka was philosopher, war strategic and religious nobleman. During Amir Timur’s time Termez continued to prosper, however it was destroyed at the end of 17th century.
For a long time the city was closed for tourists because of war in Afghanistan.But for the last years the tourists can explore fascinating monuments of Greek,Buddhizm and Muslim cultures.
