The Panjob Gorge, renowned for its extraordinary beauty, is located in the foothills of the Kugitangtau mountain range in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan, 125 km northwest of Termez.
Here, in the Karishot mountain massif, a small river called Gazak has carved its way through limestone, gypsum, and rock salt, creating a magnificent scenic canyon with vertical cliffs rising over 200 meters high. In some places, the width of the gorge is no more than two meters.
The only access to the gorge is through the colossal 300-meter rocky gates of Panjob and then onward to the mountain village of Yukary-Panjob.
A good trail to the gorge begins above the village—from a small spring and continues upstream along the Gazak River. Near the trail, in a small grotto, there is a shrine dedicated to the saint Khodja Chakhchakan. The shrine itself is completely covered with the horns of mountain goats. This site is still revered by local residents; it is always kept clean, and below the shrine, there are several hearths and a chest with dishes for pilgrims. A little higher up from the shrine is a spring that also bears the name Khodja Chakhchakan. We continue further upstream along the Gazak River. The river is fed by underground waters from the meteorite lake Kanbeshbulak. As it flows through the rock salt massif, the water in the river becomes bitterly salty while remaining completely transparent.
The most beautiful spot in the gorge is a 30-meter section on the orographically right side of the canyon. Here, water bursts forth from a cliff covered with bright green moss, sometimes as a waterfall and other times as separate streams, creating numerous rainbows in the sunlight. Typically, tourists reach what are known as the "gates," a place where a massive boulder is wedged between the walls. Beyond this point, there is a 5-meter step that is challenging to climb without climbing gear.