Bamyan

The picturesque Bamiyan Province also known as "Bamikan" (which means bright and light) is located in central Afghanistan surrounded by Hindukush and Baba mountain ranges. Kuh-i-Baba in Bamiyan Province People in Bamiyan Province usually reside in valleys surrounded by mountains or in central plateau. Major valleys in this province include Bamiyan Valley in east and Band-e-Amir Valley in west. A view of Bamiyan Province Bamiyan consists of seven administrative units including Bamiyan, Yakkawlang, Panjab, Waras, Kahmard, Sayghan and Shibar districts. Also, it shares border with Daikundi, Ghor, Maidan Wardak, Parwan, Samangan and Sar-i-Pol provinces. Authorities in Bamiyan estimate the population of this province around 454,000 people; 224,000 women and 230,000 men. It covers an area of 18,029 km2. Also, Hazara, Tajik and Pashtun ethnicities reside in this province; 90% of the population in this province are from Hazara ethnicity and are Shias. Artefact Markets in Bamiyan Dambora Festival in Bamiyan Province Bamiyan is connected to Kabul crossing Maidan Wardak Province Hajigak pass and through Maidan Wardak Province. It is also connected to Kabul through Shibir pass crossing Ghorband Valley in Parwan Province. Bamiyan is a mountainous area along the Silk Road and connects south to north. Bamiyan`s Resources and Historical Monuments Bamiyan Province has numerous iron, coal, chalk, marble stone, and other precious stone resources. Hajigak Iron Mine is one of the most famous resources in this province. Furthermore, it is one of the biggest potato producers in the country and exports thousands tons of potato to other provinces and countries annually. "Potato Flower Festival" is one of the most important festivals in Bamiyan Province. Potato Flower Festival This province has many significant and famous historical locations such as Shahr-e-Gholgola, Shahr-e-Zahak (Red City), Kafar Qala, Qala Qami and …which draw large numbers of international tourists to Bamiyan Province every year. Band-e-Amir that is situated in Yakawlang District is one of tourism attractions in this province, recently registered as a national resource. The Buddhas of Bamiyan date back to 1600 years ago and are the marvels from Buddhism era. The bigger male statue Salsal "light shines through the universe" 53m high and the smaller female statue Shamama "Queen Mother" 35m high are carved into a cliff in Bamiyan Valley along the ancient Silk Road, 3 km to the north of Bamiyan City. Buddhism people lived in this province around second to fifth centuries. The two statues are registered as world wonders by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Bamiyan Statues Band-e-Amir National Park is another tourism attraction in Bamiyan Province and Afghanistan`s first national park. Ski Tournament in Bamiyan Province

For much of the first millennium CE, Bamyan was a centre of Buddhism on the trade and pilgrim routes that crossed the Hindu Kush between Central Asia and the plains of South Asia. Besides the great cliff of the main valley, monks cut caves and shrines into the side valleys of Kakrak and Foladi, some of them decorated with paintings. Islam spread through the region over the following centuries, and in the 12th century Bamyan was ruled by a branch of the Ghurid dynasty. Shahr-e Zuhak, the fortified ridge at the eastern entrance to the valley, guarded the approach from the east. In 1221 the Mongol armies of Genghis Khan devastated the valley, and its towns never fully recovered. In later centuries the area became part of the Hazarajat, the highland homeland of the Hazara people. In 2003 the valley's cultural landscape and archaeological remains were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2009 Band-e Amir became the country's first national park.

Dari is the main language of the province, spoken by most people in the Hazaragi dialect. Most residents are Hazaras, and Tajik communities live mainly in the northern and eastern districts. Most people are Shia Muslims, and there are Sunni and Ismaili communities as well; mosques and local shrines are at the centre of village life. Music is closely tied to the dambura, a long-necked, two-stringed lute that accompanies songs about love, separation and the mountains. Nowruz, the new year at the spring equinox, is widely celebrated, though spring comes late at this altitude, and weddings and religious occasions bring families together throughout the year. Local tradition links several landmarks with Hazrat Ali. One legend tells how he created the lakes of Band-e Amir, and the long rock ridge of Dragon Valley is said to be the body of a dragon he slew. A small shrine stands beside Band-e Haibat, one of the lakes. Football, volleyball and, more recently, winter skiing are popular with young people.

Bamyan is a land of high valleys cut into bare mountains. The Koh-e Baba range runs along the south of the province with peaks above 5,000 metres, and its snowmelt feeds the streams that water the valley floors. The Bamyan River runs east through the main valley past the town, flanked by fields of potatoes, wheat and barley and by lines of tall poplars. In the west, Band-e Amir is a chain of six lakes whose deep blue colour comes from their clear, mineral-rich water. Natural dams of travertine, built up over a very long time, hold the lakes in steps one above another. The surrounding plateau is open and dry, with wildlife that includes ibex, wild sheep, wolves, foxes and many birds. The northern districts of Kahmard and Saighan lie lower, in narrower valleys that open towards the north. In winter, snow covers most of the province, often for several months.

Bamyan is known across Afghanistan for its potatoes, which grow well in the cool valleys and appear in almost every meal: boiled, fried, cooked in stews or folded into bolani flatbreads. Wheat and barley are the other main crops, and bread is baked daily in clay tandoor ovens. Dairy is central to the highland diet. Families make yoghurt, butter and qurut, balls of dried, salted yoghurt that keep through the winter and are softened in water for dishes such as kichri qurut. Shorwa, a broth of meat and vegetables eaten with bread, is a staple, and qabuli palaw, rice with carrots and raisins, is cooked for guests and celebrations. For weddings and festivals, households prepare fried breads and sweets, and strong green or black tea is served with almost every meal.

The best-known craft of the region is barak, a dense, hand-woven woollen cloth made in the Hazarajat and traditionally used for coats, waistcoats and blankets. Weaving it is slow work, and good barak is valued well beyond the province. Women in many villages also weave kilims and rugs, press felt from sheep's wool, and knit warm socks, gloves and hats for the long winters. Embroidered bags, caps and cushion covers are made at home and sold in the Bamyan bazaar alongside other local handwork. Wool from the province's flocks is spun and often dyed by hand, and woven pieces commonly carry simple geometric patterns. Buying directly from the makers supports households in the surrounding valleys.

Late spring to early autumn is the main season. From May to October the roads are usually open, days are mild to warm and the valleys are green, although nights stay cool even in summer. Band-e Amir is at its best from June to September, when the lakes are clear and the approach is free of snow. Winter is long and severe. Snow usually lies from November or December until March, temperatures fall well below freezing, and the high passes on the routes from Kabul can be closed or difficult for days at a time. Skiing on the Koh-e Baba is usually possible from about January to March. September and October bring the potato and grain harvest and golden poplars, and are good months for walking. Nowruz in March often falls in cold weather here, and the valleys turn green in April and May.

Two main roads link Bamyan with Kabul. The southern route runs through Wardak via Maidan Shahr and over the Unai and Hajigak passes, roughly 180 km. The northern route follows the Ghorband valley from Charikar in Parwan and crosses the Shibar Pass, a longer drive of about 230 to 240 km. Either route usually takes between five and eight hours, depending on the road and the season. From the north, roads follow the valleys down towards Doshi in Baghlan, on the highway between Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif. Roads also run west through Yakawlang towards Ghor and south through Panjab and Waras towards Daykundi; both are rough and slow. Bamyan has an airport near the provincial capital, and domestic flights from Kabul have served it. Road conditions and local circumstances change, so travellers should check current conditions before setting out.

Most visitors base themselves in Bamyan town, which has the widest range of hotels and guesthouses in the province, from simple rooms to more comfortable places. It is the most practical base for the valley's sites and for day trips to Band-e Amir and Dragon Valley. At Band-e Amir there are a few simple guesthouses and places with basic rooms near the lakes, and Yakawlang and the other district centres have only limited, basic accommodation. In the more remote valleys, travellers depend on village hospitality, family homestays or simple rooms in tea houses, with shared bathrooms and heating from a wood or dung stove in the cold months. Facilities everywhere outside the capital are modest, and options are few.

Shared taxis and minibuses link Bamyan town with the district centres, leaving when full. Services to the more remote districts may run only once a day or less, and their timing depends on the season and the state of the roads. For Band-e Amir, Dragon Valley, Shahr-e Zuhak and other sites, most visitors hire a private car with a driver for the day, which is the most practical way to combine several stops. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are useful on unpaved roads and in spring mud or winter snow. In the villages people still walk long distances, and donkeys and horses carry loads along tracks that vehicles cannot use. Walking between villages and up the side valleys, ideally with a local guide, is a rewarding way to see the province.