Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Bamyan

Enclosed by Hindu Kush at 2,500 m (8,200 ft), Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley once hosted huge statues of Buddha carved in a cliff, and now forms part of a World Heritage Site preserving Buddhist heritage along the Silk Road. Some 264 km (164 mi) west of Kabul, the giant Bamiyan Buddha statues--which stood 53 m (175 ft), 55 m (180 ft), and 37 m (121 ft) high respectively--were sadly destroyed, with only a barrel vault made of baked bricks from the sixth and seventh centuries remaining. With the Bamiyan River flowing through the valley, this cultural landscape houses artifacts dating from the first to the 13th centuries. Spanning 342 ha (845 ac), the area features numerous Buddhist monastic sanctuaries. To visit Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley on your holiday in Bamyan, and find out what else Bamyan has to offer, use our Bamyan.