Archaeology · Amudaryo District
Chilpik (Shylpyk)
A Zoroastrian “tower of silence”
district · Republic of Karakalpakstan
Amudaryo District
A populous district in southern Karakalpakstan centred on the town of Mangit, home to the Chilpik dakhma pictured on the republic’s coat of arms and the Jumurtau ridge.
Photo: Raf24~commonswiki · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Setting and history
Amudaryo District was formed on 18 December 1957, the year Xorazm Region’s Mangit District passed to Karakalpakstan. It borders Nukus District to the north, Gurlan District of Xorazm to the east and Turkmenistan to the south and west, covering 1,020 km² of mostly flat land, with the Jumurtau ridge along the Amu Darya.
It contains the town of Mangit and the urban settlements of Jumurtau and Kipchak, and with 218,700 residents in 2026 it is one of Karakalpakstan’s largest districts.
What to see
The district’s best-known monument is the Zoroastrian dakhma of Chilpik, built around the turn of the 1st century BCE and CE — a colossal ring wall on a 35-metre hill. It stands by the Nukus–Turtkul road and is a regular stop on the way to the Ellikqala fortresses.
Amudaryo District
Places here
Amudaryo District
Getting there
Airport, railway station and bus stations — addresses, timetables and the live board.
All transportNukus Nearest point: Nukus, 54 km
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Weather: MET Norway
Amudaryo District
Government offices
Khokimiyat, public service centre and other offices: addresses, phones, hours.
All offices (4)Khokimiyat
Amudarya District Khokimiyat
36 Gurlan St, Mangit, Amudarya District
Read morePublic Service Centre
Amudarya District Public Services Centre
106 Gurlan St, Amudarya District
Read moreAmudaryo District
Postal codes
Codes of the post offices in this city or district.
All postcodes (9)Cities and districts
Other cities and districts in Republic of Karakalpakstan
Republic of Karakalpakstan
Nukus
city · Capital of Karakalpakstan and a treasure house of art
Beruniy District
district · Al-Biruni’s birthplace — ancient Kath
Bozatau District
district · The delta’s smallest district
Chimboy District
district · An old market town on the Kegeyli canal
Ellikqala District
district · The oasis of “fifty fortresses”
Kegeyli District
district · A canal shaded by kegay trees
Moynaq District
district · The former shore of the Aral Sea
Nukus District
district · Ancient mounds around the capital
Qo‘ng‘irot District
district · The largest district, covering the Ustyurt
Qanlikol District
district · Among the dry channels of the Amu Darya
Qoraozak District
district · The Beltau sands and the channels of the Amu Darya
Shumanay District
district · A farming oasis at the foot of the Ustyurt
Taxiatosh District
district · A power town on the Amu Darya
Taxtakopir District
district · Between the Kyzylkum and the Akpetki lakes
Turtkul District
district · Karakalpakstan’s first capital
Khojeyli District
district · Beside the hills of Mizdahkan