A high valley (2500 metres) in the Hindu Kush, which formed a corridor for the caravan route from Begram and the east to Balkh and the west. In the early centuries ad it was an important Buddist centre, and pilgrims such as Hiuen-Tsang (7th century) described the numerous rock-cut monasteries, which extend for several kilometres along the cliffs on the north side of the valley. Dominating the scene are two standing Buddhas, carved in the face of the cliff. The smaller (35 metre) Buddha may date from the 3rd century, while the larger (53 metre) statue belongs to the 5 th or 6th century. Details of drapery etc were added in plaster, and both the statues and the niches in which they stand were painted. The paintings are in a hybrid style, containing Sassanian, Gandharan and Indian elements. Bamiyan remained a Buddhist enclave until its conquest by the Muslim ruler of Sistan, Yaqub b. Layth Saffari, in 870. The citadel of the Islamic town, known today as Shahr-i Gholghola, overlooks the valley from the south. The town and the fortress guarding the eastern approaches to the valley, Shahr-i Zohak, were destroyed by Genghiz Khan in 1221.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied