Chilpik, The Zoroastrian Tower of Silence

Sounds ominous. Looks ominous. And inviting, let's climb up and see what's what.

Chilpik is located about 45 minutes east of Nukus and is thought to be a place of ritual funerals, dated around 1st century BC. Or AD, pick which side of the Roman calendar you like. The Zoroastrians believed dead bodies needed to be purified in order to avoid demon possession. The process? Leave the body on a high mound and let birds munch away.

Base camp. The climb takes about 15 minutes.

The old way up, a cursory identification sign, fuzzy path and an opening sliver to the top.

Summit arrival. Plenty of room for fresh bodies.

Tibetan-like, flag wrapped pole. Some sort of telecom tower, now collapsed. Sarah, giving it a wide berth.

The site is impressive, especially during a perimeter walk around. Circular, good from all angles.