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Situated in central Afghanistan along the ancient silk road, at the crossroads between the East and West, Bamyan has historically been an important town. It is famous as the location where 3 giant Buddhas that were carved into the cliffs were destroyed by the Taliban, for its extensive cave system in which some of the world's earliest oil paintings were discovered, and for the nearby stunning mountain scenery.
Bamyan is about 240 kilometres south of Kabul.
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Travel Tips from people who've been to Bamyan
050232I went to sit on the buddas heads in 1975 I crwled on my tummy to lokk at their toes! Love the walk up in the caves. I cried when they were distroyed!! Today,the Bamiyan cliffs are still as impressive as ever despite the abscence of the Buddhas. The Niches containing the two giant Buddhas lie vacant with a sign written by UNESCO proudly declaring the site is protected. We were unsure if this notice was put up before or after the destruction of the Buddhas. Nevertheless, the mounds of rubble which lie where two magnificent carvings once stood, are a sorry sight. This however does not mean that there is nothing to see in Bamiyan. Approaching the town, one is astounded by the sight of the cliffs across the green fields. Lit orange and baked by the hot Afghan sunset, the cliffs are a giant honeycomb of caves and grottoes which were once the home of a Buddhist society. No tourist infrastructures are in place, and visitors are free to wander where they wish without the usual hassle of postcard hawkers, overly big tour groups, and overly protective security guards which grace most tourist sites of this size elsewhere in the world. Wandering around the top of the cliffs means that you must watch where you tread, as live ammunition litters the whole area from the cliffs use as a defensive outpost recently. A true wonder of a Buddhist society's legacy. Glorious photo of the view surrounding the Buddhist cliffs around sunset.It was quite a unique experience to wander freely around such an amazing tourist sight without any hawkers, attendants or any of the other annoyances which can lessen the impact of such sights. Truly a rare opportunity.
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03618About 5-7 hours drive from Kabul, Afganistan. It's a beautiful sopt with gorgeous blue water lakes and the famou Budha of Bamian (blown up by Taliban, but being restored) It's not easy to get there, but I think y can still flight to a airport near by. Guide will take you around, once being on your own might not be the best choise
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05130Roof of Bamiyan is the place to stay!
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