Karatepa Buddhist Temple

The peak of Karatepa’s prominence occurred during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. However, by the 4th and 5th centuries, many of the shrines had ceased operations. During this period, the caves were repurposed as burial sites, with entranceways often being sealed off. Despite this decline, it is possible that some shrines or at least parts of their surface structures continued to function as Buddhist worship sites until the 6th century.

It remains unclear whether these Buddhist monasteries were directly destroyed by the Arab invaders. The Arabs, upon their conquest, often imposed special taxes on non-Islamic religious structures in an effort to eradicate pagan practices in Central Asia. This taxation likely contributed to the cessation of Buddhist activities in Termez and the surrounding regions. It is believed that many Buddhist monks from Termez relocated to Kashmir, where the Karkota dynasty, known for its support of Buddhism, was in power at the time.

During the 8th and 9th centuries, the majority of the population in Tokharistan converted to Islam, influenced by the Arab expansion. One factor driving this conversion was the heavy taxation imposed on non-Muslims. By the 9th to 12th centuries, the area saw the arrival of Sufi hermits who settled in the partially ruined caves, continuing the site’s religious significance in a different form.

The walls of the Karatepa caves are still covered with a variety of graffiti and inscriptions in languages such as Bactrian, Middle Persian, Brahmi, Soghdian, Syrian, and Arabic. These inscriptions provide a glimpse into both the active period of the Buddhist center and its later decline when the caves remained accessible.

For tourists interested in exploring Karatepa, it is necessary to obtain a special permit from the National Company Uzbektourism, as the site is located within a border patrol base.