Childukhtaron Valley

Childukhtaron means forty girls, and the valley east of Kulob carries a set of rock pillars standing in a line along its floor, which local tradition explains as forty young women turned to stone while fleeing an invading army. Geologically they are harder rock left behind as the softer material around them eroded. The valley is quiet, largely used for grazing, and the pillars can be walked among.

What you'll find

• The stone pillars - a line of rock columns standing along the valley floor.
• The forty girls legend - the tradition attached to the formation.
• The valley - grazing country in the hills east of Kulob.
• The erosion process - harder rock left standing as softer material washed away.

When to go

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable. Spring brings green to the valley. Summer is very hot and dry.

Things to know

There is no infrastructure and no interpretation. The road in is rough and needs high clearance. The pillars are modest in scale and the legend does most of the work.

Nearby

Kulob is west, and Sari Khosor is north.