The Bamyan Valley

The Bamyan Valley, cradled in the mountains of central Afghanistan, was for centuries a great crossroads of the Silk Road and a flourishing centre of Buddhist civilisation. Into its sandstone cliffs were carved two colossal standing Buddhas, the largest once over fifty metres tall, surrounded by painted caves and monasteries. The vast niches where the statues stood, the honeycombed cliffs and the valley's other monuments endure, inscribed by UNESCO as the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamyan Valley. Set amid dramatic mountain scenery, it remains one of the most historically resonant and atmospheric places in Afghanistan.

What you actually see

• The great niches - the vast recesses where the Buddhas once stood.
• The painted caves - the surrounding Buddhist caves and monasteries.
• The cliff face - the honeycombed sandstone cliffs above the valley.
• The mountain setting - the dramatic Hindu Kush landscape.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn, around May to September, is mildest in this high valley, ideal for exploring the cliffs, caves and monuments in comfortable weather; winter brings deep cold and snow. The clear light of the warmer months best reveals the honeycombed cliffs and mountain backdrop.

Honest expectations

Bamyan sits high in the mountains and is reached by long roads, so a visit takes time and warm clothing even in summer, and the famous Buddha statues themselves no longer stand, leaving their great empty niches. As an ancient Silk Road crossroads and a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of caves, cliffs and deep history, though, the Bamyan Valley remains profoundly atmospheric and moving.

Nearby

The blue lakes of Band-e Amir lie within reach of the valley.