Bamiyan

Bamiyan is a province in Central Afghanistan with an area of about 6700 sq.m and a population of about 280,00 in 1992. A town of the same name is the administrative center of this province. Bamiyan is counted one of the poorest regions of Afghanistan because of its geographic location and its isolation from other regions.

The village of Bamiyan with its archeological remains is the most conspicuous site of Afghanistan. The village lies about 2500m above sea level and some 240 km west of Kabul. The exquisite beauty of this valley is embraced by the snow-capped Range of Koh-e-Baba Mountains in the south and in the north by the steep cliffs in which images of Buddhas were carved. The pastel colors of its surroundings give visitors an impression of the magnificence and serenity of nature.

The area of Bamiyan developed under Kanishka the Great to become a major commercial and religious center and smaller statue of Buddha (38 m high) was built during his reign. Two centuries later the colossal Buddha statue (55 m high) was curved. Thousands of ornamented caves, inhabited by yellow robed monks, extended into Folladi Pilgrims from the entire Buddhist world poured into Bamiyan to admire its spectacular and sacred sites.

The town was rules in 07^th century by princess but was subject to the Western Turks. The rulers first accepted Islam in the 08^th century. Bamiyan fell to Muslim conquerors when the Saffavid ruler captured Bamiyan in 871. After changing hands several times, Bamiyan was destroyed and its inhabitants exterminated in 1221 by the Genghis Khan. Since that time it has never regained its former glory. In 1840 Bamiyan was the scene of fighting in the First Anglo-Afghan War. A significant number of tourists from all around the world were visiting this site before the Civil War in Afghanistan. Besides the Buddha caves there are various other sites as well in this area including Shahr-e-Gholghola and Shahr-e-Zohak.

Aa) BOT-E-BAMIYAN (Buddhas Statue):
The 02 famous Buddha statues (36 m & 53 m high) dating from 03^rd & 5^th century were located in Bamiyan province. These statues were hewn into solid rock and overlaid with stucco, and although they have suffered from the ravages of time and destruction by man, some of the stucco works and wall paintings are still preserved. The walls of the 90m high cliffs are honeycombed with caves that used to serve as living quarters of Buddhist monks. The sculptures and paintings are “an eclectic hybrid mixing Indian, Central Asia,

Iranian, and classical European styles and ideas. The caves were of various forms and the interiors of many bear traces of fine fresco painting that links them with contemporary caves in Sinkiang, China.

These statues were first mentioned in 5^th century A.D. when these statues were visited by Chinese traveler Hsuan-Tsang in 630 A.D. At that time Bamiyan was a center of commerce and the Buddhist religion. When Hsuan-Tsang saw these statues, they were decorated with gold and fine jewels. The 02 Buddha figures, together with numerous ancient man-made caves in the cliffs north of town, made Bamiyan a major Afghan archaeological site. Taliban officials destroyed these statues in 2001. Clerics interpreted Islamic law to mean that such artifacts were disrespectful to Allah, though the world (including the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia) begged them to reconsider. Now little remains of these shrines are left. The modern town of Bamiyan lies below the caves.

Bb) BANDE AMIR LAKES:
It is the unspoiled natural beauty of Afghanistan that forms the visitor’s first and most enduing impression of the country. But of the entire natural wonders of Afghanistan, the lakes of Bande Amir are perhaps the most outstanding. Situated in the mountainous Hazarajat at an altitude of approx 300m, 75 km from Bamiyan, these majestic blue lakes are of legendary beauty.

A series of five clear blue lakes is formed by the flow of water over a succession of natural dams, running from higher to the next one below. According to local tradition, the dams were the creation of Hazrat Ali (Caliph Ali), and the word “Amir” (King or Commander) refers to the Caliph, not to any Afghan ruler. Bande Amir is also the name of a river which rises in the Bande Amir lakes and runs through Yakowlang valley in a southwest direction until it turns northeast, at that point it is known as the Balkab, finally it turns north and dissipates in the Turkestan plains.

Cc) SHAHR-E-GHOLGOLA (Town of noise):
The cave town of Shahr-e-Gholgola is located in central part of Afghanistan. These are the ruins of a once prosperous city of 05^th to 07^th A.D., which was demolished by Genghis Khan during his invasion in Bamiyan Valley in 1221 A.D. The name is derived from Persian and means the “city of noise”. Others refer to it as “Silent city” or “Screaming city”. The Mongols themselves have called this city “Mao Balegh”, meaning the “Cursed city”. Infact when Genghis Khan brought the defenders of this town to their knees where upon he entered the citadel to fulfill a vow to kill everybody including man, woman, child, bird and animal in the valley. The scream that accompanied the final massacre gave the citadel the name by which it is known today.

Dd) SHAHR-E-ZOHAK (Red Town):
This is another cave town located just near to Shahr-e-Gholgola. This city is built on a steep spur just 15 km east of Bamiyan. These ruins are situated a top 350 ft cliffs of red colour overlooking the Valley of Tagao, Bamiyan. Due to these red colour cliffs, this city is known as “Red Town”. The ruins of this town represent the Buddhism era of 05^th to 07^th century A.D. This mass of impressive ruins was once the principal fortress protecting the entrance of the city of Bamiyan during the reign of the Shansabani King in 12-13^th centuries A.D. Genghis Khan destroyed this town in 1221 A.D. as revenge to his wounded grandson.