Tepe-i Rustam is one of the clearest reminders that ancient Balkh was not only an Islamic and Timurid city. UNESCO's tentative World Heritage description for Balkh notes the remains of Buddhist-period sites outside the walled city, including the Tepe Rustam stupa and the nearby Nau Bahar monastery ruins.
The surviving mound is austere, but the historical range is large: Bactra, Buddhism, caravan routes, and the later Islamic city all occupying the same plain. Visiting depends heavily on current security and local permission, so treat it as a serious field stop rather than casual sightseeing.