Zurmala - the Budda's stupa in Termez, Uzbekistan

Another small road sketch from the cycle of essays "Directly to the South!", which I devoted to my trip to this very southern region of Uzbekistan.
This building belongs to the I-II centuries AD. in the period when Buddhism was spread on the territory of modern Uzbekistan. Previously, it was a Buddhist building, for almost twenty centuries of its existence turned into a clay mound, in which it is difficult to recognize the cult structure. After the death of the Buddha, in the lands where Buddhism was confessed, stupas were built - "Umbrellas of the Good", which symbolized the protection of the local population from various troubles and adversities.

But then, almost two thousand years ago this building was very important for local residents. It symbolized the burial of the Buddha. In this building (built, among other things, from 1.2 million bricks!), Ritual activities were held and valuable Buddhist relics were kept. It is possible that the hair or tooth of the Buddha was stored here

http://storage1.static.itmages.ru/i/17/1123/ h_1511433858_9678449_a8d44ba7fa.jpg

Previously, it towered almost 18 meters and was a cylindrical building standing on a rectangular pedestal. The top of the building was crowned with a spherical roof. At the top of the building was a repository of relics. The building itself was painted red and lined with burnt bricks, and the pedestal was lined with limestone.

Zurmala was the first Buddhist monument opened on the territory of Central Asia. But unfortunately, it is still unknown - whether Zurmala was a separate structure, or was part of the architectural ensemble.