Bamiyan

On the road to Bamiyan, the rugged, snow-dappled mountains of the Hindu Kush give way to bucolic scenes in the valley below. Caves, hewn into the cliffside, where Buddhist monks once retreated to mediate, resemble honeycomb when viewed from a distance.

In the central highlands of Afghanistan, Bamiyan province boasts a rich cultural heritage and an array of archeological wonders. Roughly 240 kilometers west of Kabul, Bamiyan city sits at lofty 2,550 meters above sea level, deserving its moniker, “roof of the world” or “place of shining light.