QIRQ KIZ THE 40 GIRLS' BUILDING

The vast earthen facade and its 2.5 m thick walls have given rise to one of the most beautiful legends of Termez. In the 40 rooms distributed over two floors of this building were murdered by the troops of Genghis Khan the 40 women of the khan of Termez who gloriously resisted the invader when he attacked the children. In reality, according to archaeologists, it is simply a building built by the rich so that they can take refuge during heavy sandstorms, frequent in the region. The building was originally entirely closed by the roof. Thin windows opened on both floors and, as a result of a clever calculation, the sun's rays reached the center of the building at certain times of the day.

Today it is more of a playground for children coming out of school, but a short walk through the venerable corridors will convince you that the legend is still alive: in the corridor facing the entrance, at its left end, a votive tree proves that it is still alive. In the present state of the building, it is difficult to appreciate the complexity of its architecture, but a better idea can be obtained by comparing it with the model presented by the Termez Archaeology Museum. A part of the walls has been restored, but the interior is more like a field of ruins collapsing on itself a little more each year.