BAMIYAN, AFGHANISTAN

SIGN NORTHSCHOOL OF PLANNING AND
ARCHITECTURE DELHI (SPA D)
Environmental Planning Studio
BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
BAMIYAN CITY,
AFGHANISTAN
BAMIYAN, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2003, was perhaps best known for the two giant statues of
Buddhist deities carved during the third and fourth centuries AD, when Afghanistan was an important junction
on the Silk Road.
Area 14,175 km
Population 125500
• Density 8.5/km2

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
CONDITION OF TOURISM
More than 250,000 tourists have visited Bamiyan in 2018, more than double the
100,000 who came in 2017. 715 foreign citizens were also among the visitors
according ministry of information and culture.
Visitors still flock to see the porches and some remaining fragments, while other
historic sites in the province include a number of ruined ancient settlements.
Bamiyan tourist demographic
during taliban 2001-2014 2017 2018

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURES IN BAMIYAN
Islamic art and architecture were introduced to Bamiyan in the
11th century CE. The town of Bamiyan followed the model of
cities from the Khorassan region. Under the rule of the Ghurids
(1155-1212), the development of the city included the fortified
settlements of Shahr-i Ghulghulah, Shahr-i-Zuhak and Shahr-i-
Sarkhoshak.
SHAHR-I GHULGHULAH
remains of the fortress of Shahr-i Ghulghulah. Dating from the 6th to
10th centuries CE, this marks the original settlement of Bamiyan as
stopping place on the branch of the Silk Route, which linked China
and India via ancient Bactria.
SHAHR-I-ZUHAK
the remains of fortification walls and settlements, dating from
the 6th to 8th centuries, called Shahr-i-Zuhak (the “Red City”).
The earlier remains of the site are overlaid by later
constructions from the 10th to 13th centuries erected under the
rule of the Islamic Ghaznavid and Ghorid dynasties.

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
SITE OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE
SCULPTURE OF BUDDHISM
The famous Giant Buddhas were carved into the cliffs of
Bamiyan between the 3rd and the 6th centuries CE.
the Western “Big” Buddha, a 55 meter-high “Salsal Buddha,”
and the Eastern “Small” Buddha, a 38 meter-high
Although the statues were destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, the
site is a historical complex with outstanding universal value,
Stairways that lead to the head of the Buddhas, presumably
used by the pilgrims to pray and bring their offerings, and over
500 caves with traces of murals and carved decorations from
over a thousand years await visitors.

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
BAND-E-AMIR
The series of six lakes known as Band-e-Amir is one of Afghanistan’s best known natural sites. Located in Bamiyan,
the country’s first national park. Separated by natural dams, each lake is several meters lower than the one above it.
The largest lake, Zulfiqar, measures 490 hectares.
The dams separating the lakes are formed of travertine, a form of calcium carbonate.
Waterfalls form where water pours over the lip of the dams, freezing into dramatic ice formations in winter. Shrubs and marshland
around the lakes make them an important habitat for migratory birds.
The site plays an important role in local tradition. A lakeside shrine, visited by thousands of faithful in the summer, marks the place
where Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, is said to have prayed.

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
LANDSCAPES OF BAMIYAN
PROVINCE
1: Aerial view of Bamiyan
2: Chasht Valley
3: Winter in Bamiyan Valley
4: Terraced mud houses on mountain
side
5: Potato fields in late summer
6: Hindu Kush Mountains
7: Band-i-Amir during winter
8: Potato fields in early summer

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
LANDSCAPES OF BAMIYAN PROVINCE
9: Piemuri valley 10: Western Buddha niche 11: Waterfall at Band-i-Amir 12: Bamiyan Valley 13: Bamiyan Valley 14: Band-i-Haibat at
Band-i-Amir 15: Foladi River 16: Baba Mountain 17: Shahr-i-Zuhak, World Heritage property 18: Bamiyan Valley 19: Wild horses in
Bamiyan province 20: Bamiyan city from Buddha cliff 21: A view of Baba mountain 22: Remaining structure at Shahr-i-Ghulghulah

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
CULTURE
1: Tanbura instrument played by a
Bamiyan musician
2: Wool spinning
3: Art exhibition in Bamiyan city
4: Music concert infront of Buddha
site
5: Girls in Bamiyan
6: Local bread baking
7: Wrestling contest
8: Traditional carpet
9: Barak weaving in Bamiyan
10: Carpet weaving
11: Buddha cave painting
12: Traditional carpet
13: Spices sold at local market
14: Musicians at Silk Road festival
15: Buzkashi game
16: Girl in traditional wedding dress

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
AFGHANISTAN
Bamiyan Province
Date of Inscription: 2003
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Property : 158.9265 ha
Buffer zone: 341.95 ha
INTEGRITY
Major loss to the integrity of the site was the destruction of the large Buddha statues in
2001.
However, a significant proportion of all the attributes that express the Outstanding
Universal Value of the site, such as Buddhist and Islamic architectural forms and their
setting in the Bamiyan landscape, remain intact at all 8 sites within the boundaries,
including the vast Buddhist monastery in the Bamiyan Cliffs which contained the two
colossal sculptures of the Buddha.

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
BAMIYAN Is part of tourist triangle
circuit which comprise Kabul,
Ghazni and Bamiyan
• GHAZNI was officially declared
the Asian Capital of Islamic
Culture in 2013 by UNAMA
• KABUL capital city which most
known for Islamic architecture
Kabul to bamiyan 180km
Bamiyan to ghazni 240km

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
INFRASTRUCTURE
The city of Bamiyan is dominated by agriculture at 54% with only 18% of total land classified as built-up
Physical infra
New airport has been completed in 2015 with an asphalt runway.
Bamiyan city with total of 16.5km asphalt road is in poor condition of basic infrastructure.
Solar / wind turbine system of electricity and No sewage and drainage system
SOCIAL INFRA
Hotels and guest houses
Total of 5 hotel with 720 G
capacity

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
In March 2011, it was concluded by Afghan officials and international hosted by UNESCO that the World
Heritage site is potentially ready to be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger by 2013, pending
continued progress in addressing security risks, the structural stability of the remains of the two giant Buddha
sculptures and their niches, the conservation of the archaeological remains and mural paintings and
implementation of the Management Plan
Interpretation center
In 2015 government proposed to construct an interpretation center which was a part of UNESCO agreement
on 2011 and the construction is started on 2018
Objectives
• To enrich community life through programs and cultural events
• To provide a venue and organize a variety of cultural, educational and recreational programs for the
public to learn and appreciate different facets of Afghanistan’s heritage
Work progress December 2018

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN
REFERENCES
https://unesdoc.unesco.org
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
https://bamiyanculturalcentre.org/visit-bamiyan

BAMIYAN, AFGHANISTAN

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