Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Ruins of the Bamiyan Valley - (World Heritage in Afghanistan)

Brief Report

The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious developments from the 1st to the 13th century was marked antique Bakhtria, which various cultural influences in the Gandhara Buddhist art school. The area contains numerous buddhist a monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as reinforced buildings from the Islamic period. The site is also witness to the tragic destruction by the Taliban of the two standing Buddha statues, which shook the world in march 2001.

Wonderful Universal Importance

Brief synthesis

Embedded between the high mountains of the Hindu Kush in the central highlands of Afghanistan, the Bamiyan Valley opens out into a large basin is bordered in the north by a long, high stretch of rocky cliffs. The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley consists of a serial accommodation consists of eight different locations within the Valley and its tributaries. Carved in the Bamiyan Cliffs are the two niches of the giant Buddha statues (55m and 38m high) destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. And the many caves which a large ensemble of Buddhist monasteries, chapels and sanctuaries along the foothills of the valley dating from the 3rd to 5th century C. E. In various caves and niches, often connected by galleries there are remains of wall paintings and seated Buddha figures. In the valleys of the Bamiyan the tributaries are other groups caves including the Kakrak Valley Caves, approximately 3 km south-east of the Bamiyan Cliffs under the more than a hundred caves dating from the 6th to the 13th century are fragments of a 10m high standing Buddha figure and a sanctuary with painted decorations from the Sasanian period. Along the Fuladi valley about 2km south-west of the Bamiyan Cliffs are the caves of Qoul-i Akram Has Been and Lalai Ghami, also with decorative elements.

Punctuating the center of the valley south of the large rock, there are the remains of the fortress of Shahr-i Ghulghulah. Dating from the 6th to 10th century CE, this marks the original establishment of Bamiyan as a stopover on the branch of the Silk Road, China and India through ancient Bactria. Further to the east along the Bamiyan Valley are the remains of fortress walls and settlements, dating from the 6th to 8th century at Qallai Kaphari A and B and still further to the east (about 15 km east of the Bamiyan Cliffs) Shahr-i Zuhak. Where the former remains are joined by developments from the 10th to the 13th century under the reign of the Islamic Ghaznavid and Ghorid dynasties.

The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious developments from the 1st to the 13th century characterised ancient Bactria, which various cultural influences in the Gandharan school of Buddhist art. The numerous buddhist a monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as reinforced structures in the Islamic period, witnesses of the exchange of Indian, Hellenistic, Roman, Sasanian and islamic influences. The site is also witness of recurring reactions to infectious, the most recent of which the international protest deliberate destruction of the two standing Buddha statues in march 2001.

Wide Report

The Bamiyan Valley is located approximately 264 km by road west of Kabul, closed in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush, in the central highlands of Afghanistan. The valley, at an altitude of 2,500 m, follows the Bamiyan River. They made one of the branches of the Silk Road and the beautiful landscape is associated with legendary figures. These factors have contributed to its development as an important religious and cultural center. It was occupied and partly urbanized from the 3rd century BC. The designated site consists of eight separate core areas, each with a buffer zone:

The Bamiyan cliffs on the north side of the valley are the two colossal niches which the large standing Buddha figures. The Kakrak Valley caves, approximately 3 km south-east of the Bamiyan rocks dating from the 6th to the 13th century. 

The Bamiyan cliffs on the north side of the valley are the two colossal niches which the large standing Buddha figures.

The Kakrak Valley caves, approximately 3 km south-east of the Bamiyan rocks dating from the 6th to the 13th century. • The main two important groups of the Fuladi Valley caves are the Qoul-i Akram Has Been and Kalai Ghamai caves, that important decorative elements.

Shahr-i Zuhak and Qallai Kaphari existence of fortress walls, towers, fortifications and earthen structures dating from the 6th to 8th century.

Shahr-i Ghulghulah is a fortified castle on a hill in the middle of the valley and dating from the 6th to 10th century AD.

The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious developments from the 1st to the 13th century was marked antique Bactria, where different cultural influences in the Gandhara Buddhist art school. The area contains numerous buddhist a monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as reinforced structures in the Islamic period. The site is also witness to the tragic destruction by the Taliban of the two standing Buddha statues, which shook the world in march 2001.

Historical Data

The Sasanians controlled Afghanistan in the mid 3RD century, Central Asian nomads ruled in the 5th century; a coalition of Sasanians and Western Turks names the power in mid 6th century. The Silk road through Afghanistan, and has contributed to the spread of Buddhism from India in this region in the 1st century CE. The Kushans were patrons of the arts and religion, and were responsible for the introduction of Buddhist art in the Bactrian style which was influenced by Hellenistic art and Sasanians.

Islamic art and architecture were to Bamiyan in the 11th century CE, when the central part of Afghanistan was under the reign of Sultan Mahmud of Chazna (998- 1030).  The city Bamiyan was designed on the model of the Khorassan region of Iran. Under the regime of the Ghurids (1155-1212) the development including the reinforced settlements of Shahr-i Bamiyan (later Ghulghulah), Shahr-i Zuhak and Shahr-i Khoshak. The army of Genghis Khan ruined the city Bamiyan and looted the Buddhist monasteries in the beginning of the 13th century. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) ordered his army jumps out the legs of the big Buddha. The valley was abandoned for a long period, but at the end of the 19th century, the caves are inhabited and used as shelters for domestic. In 1979 there were more than 7,000 people in the city Bamiyan. From 1970, the area was used by the army. In 1990 was exposed to armed conflict. In 2001, the large Buddha statues were destroyed by the Taliban.

Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam - (World Heritage Site in Afghanistan)

Brief Report

The 65m high Minaret of Jam is a graceful, soaring in structure, dating back to the 12th century. In extensive masonry with a blue tiled caption on the top, it is remarkable for the quality of the architecture and decoration, which is the culmination of an architectural and artistic tradition in this region. The effect is reinforced by the dramatic, a deep river valley between towering mountains in the heart of the Ghur province

Brief synthesis

At 1,900 m above sea level, and far from the city, the Minaret of Jam rises in a rugged valley along the Hari-rud feature then River at the confluence with the Jam approximately 215km east of Herat. Ascending to 65m of a 9m diameter octagonal basis, are four projected, pointed cylindrical shafts are made from baked stone.

The Minaret of Jam is one of the few well-preserved monuments of the exceptional artistic creativity and control of structural manipulation of the time. The architecture and decorations are excellent from the point of view of art history, fusing elements from previous developments in the region with an exceptional way exercise and a strong influence on later architecture in the region. This graceful soaring in structure is an excellent example of the architecture and ornamentation of the Islamic period in Central Asia and played a significant role in the further spread as far as India, as demonstrated by the Qutb Minar, Delhi, started in 1202 and completed in the early 14th century.

Wide Report

The architecture and ornamentation of the minaret still from the point of view of art history, fusing elements from previous developments in the region in an extraordinary way and exercise a strong influence on later architecture in the region. It is an excellent example of Islamic architecture and decorations in this region and played a significant role in the further spread. At 1,900 m above sea level, and far from the city, the minaret rises in a rugged valley in the heart of Ghur Province. It is a graceful, soaring in structure, dating back to the 12th century, believed to have been built to commemorate a great victory of the sultans of the Ghurid dynasty. Jam is believed to have been the summer residence of the Ghurid emperors and probably marks the site of the ancient city of Firuzkuh, the capital of the Ghurid dynasty. A message indicates the date of construction in 1194.

The minaret is one of the few well-preserved monuments of the exceptional artistic creativity and control of structural manipulation of the time. It is built on the southern shore of the Hari River at the intersection of two canyon-like river valleys. Rising to 65 m from a 9 m diameter octagonal basis, are four converging cylindrical shafts are built of baked stone pasted with lime cement. The exterior of the minaret is fully covered with geometric decoration in relief on the plain structural bricks. The first cylinder is the most decorated: it is divided into eight vertical segments correspond to those of the base. Each main vertical zone is a narrow band of inscriptions in a continuous line around each panel.

A group stone with Hebrew inscriptions on the Kushkak hill between the minaret and the village of jams, supposed to date from the 11th to the 12th century, probably came from a nearby Jewish cemetery. The remains of castles and towers of the Ghurid arrangements are to be found on the opposite bank of the Hari River, north of the minaret and high on the cliff. There are also the remains of fortifications visible on the east side of the minaret, which give the impression that the minaret was surrounded by a settlement but by a military camp.

From the minaret was built no major alterations or refurbishment has taken place, apart from consolidation around the base. The archaeological remains are examined and recorded in the 20th century, but without any attempt to repair or reconstruction, while the only excavation is illegal and uncontrolled.

Wonderful Universal Importance

The Minaret of Jam probably marks the site of the ancient city of Firuzkuh, the capital of the dynasty Ghurid considered that Afghanistan and northern parts of India, from Kashgar to the Persian Gulf, in the 12th and 13th century. A message indicates the date of construction in 1194, and another indicates the name of the mighty Ghurid reigning emperor, Sultan Ghiyas ud-Din (1157-1202).  It is likely that the Minaret was built in memory of his victory in New Delhi in 1192 on the Ghaznavid Empire, hence the name sometimes given, Victory Tower.

The site of jams is believed to have been the summer residence of the Ghurid Emperors. There are indications that the mosque the minaret was confirmed was of moderate size, and proportion to the dimensions of the minaret, in contrast to the basic principles of the Islamic architecture. After the death of Ghiyas ud-Din his brother Muiz ud-Din succeeded him. 

The Ghurid Empire came under heavy pressure from its neighbors, the Kharizm, south of the Aral Sea, and gradually gave its areas. Only on the mountain retreat of Bamiyan has the dynasty survive, until the last ruler was imprisoned and put to death in 1215. The city was destroyed by the Mongols Firuzkuh Ogodaï in 1222.