Afghanistan Bamiyan Buddha Tour

Bamiyan is a beautiful and peaceful oasis in Afghanistan. Located in the mountainous central region of the country, Bamiyan is quite isolated from the conflict that continues to plague other parts of Afghanistan.

Bamiyan is home to Afghanistan’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site – the gorgeous lakes of Band-e-Amir.

There is so much do see and do in Bamiyan, and in this post, I’ll cover everything that you need to know to plan your trip.

If you’re looking to read about other parts of Afghanistan, check out my detailed Afghanistan travel guide.

Contents [hide]

1 Places to visit in Bamiyan1.1 Band-e-Amir National Park1.2 The Buddhas of Bamiyan1.3 Shahr-e Gholghola1.4 Shahr-e Zohak1.5 Dara-e Ajdahar2 How to get to Bamiyan2.1 By Air2.2 By Road3 Where to stay in Bamiyan4 When to visit Bamiyan5 Safety in Bamiyan6 Getting around Bamiyan7 Other things to know8 Bamiyan Travel Guide Wrap-up

Beautiful autumn views in Band-e-Amir National Park

Places to visit in Bamiyan

You could spend weeks exploring Bamiyan, but there are a few must-see sights that can be seen in a total of 3 or 4 days.

Band-e-Amir National Park

Band-e-Amir is Afghanistan’s crown jewel. It’s located at 3,000 meters above sea level about 1.5 hours outside of Bamiyan Town. Band-e-Amir is home to six deep blue lakes formed by natural dams made of travertine.

The park can be visited in as a day-trip from town, although if you’re up for a real adventure you could even hike and camp in the area.

You can visit Band-e-Amir by hiring a driver for the day. A reasonable price to pay is  2000 Afghani for the driver to take you to all of the lakes. The National Park also has an entrance fee of 250 Afghani for foreigners. For Afghans, the entrance fee is much lower.

During high season, it is also possible to take a shared car from Bamiyan Town to Band-e-Amir for 150 Afghani. Ask at your hotel if these are running when you’re there.

One of the insanely blue lakes in Band-e-Amir National Park

The Buddhas of Bamiyan

Probably the most famous sight in all of Afghanistan. The Buddhas of Bamiyan were tragically destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, but the remains are still a stunning sight to see.

You’ll get your first glimpse of the Buddhas as soon as you drive into Bamiyan. They’re located on the north side of town and can be seen from pretty far away.

The Buddhas were built in the 6th century, and for a long time were one of the most important pilgrimage sights for Buddhists.

In 2001, the Taliban declared them as idols and therefore “un-Islamic”. Artillery and dynamite were used over the multi-week long destruction of the Buddhas.

You can now easily visit the remains of the Buddhas while you’re in Bamiyan. Simply walk towards the largest Buddha, and enter the small building to purchase a 300 Afghani entrance ticket.

With this ticket, you’ll be let into the caves surrounding the medium Buddha for some exploration. The ticket also provides access to Shahr-e-Gholghola and Shahr-e Zohak.

Sunset over the Buddhas of Bamiyan

Shahr-e Gholghola

Right in the center of Bamiyan Town are the ruins of Shahr-e Gholghola. This imposing fortress was the location of the Ghorid Bamiyan’s final battle against the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan.

The fortress was holding up against the siege by Genghis Khan under command of Bamiyan’s ruler, but it fell when the ruler’s own daughter betrayed him in hopes of being married to the Mongol leader.

Genghis Khan and his horde stormed the fortress, slaughtering anyone in their way; including the daughter that had betrayed the ruler of Bamiyan. The brutal attack carried out by the Mongols gave Shahr-e- Gholghola a new nickname – “The City of Screams“.

You can visit the fortress easily. Walk to the base of it, and find the small entrance post. You’ll need to show your ticket here (the one you can purchase at the Buddhas of Bamiyan).

Bamiyan has countless ancient fortresses scattered around

Shahr-e Zohak

Another Ghorid-era set of ruins, Shahr-e Zohak is located about 9 kilometers east of Bamiyan Town.

Perched on cliffs high above the valley, the fortress guards the eastern gateway to Bamiyan. During the Siege of Bamiyan in 1221, Genghis Khan’s grandson was killed by an arrow shot from this hilltop citadel.

Enraged by the death of his grandson, Genghis Khan made his way towards Bamiyan. Shahr-e- Zohak was the first obstacle in his quest to conquer the valley.

In classic Mongol style, the horde obliterated the fortress and slaughtered all of its inhabitants.

Local legend says that the stone ruins remaining here are stained red from the blood that was spilled during the battle. The red stones give Shahr-e Zohak its nickname, “The Red City”.

Taking in beautiful Bamiyan views from Shahr-e Zohak

Dara-e Ajdahar

Slightly west of Bamiyan Town lies Dara-e Ajdahar (translates to Dragon Valley).

It’s said that once upon a time, a dragon terrorized the locals in Bamiyan. Countless attempts were made to slay the dragon, but all failed.

That is, until one day, Ali, the son of Prophet Mohammad, arrived in Bamiyan. Ali sliced the dragon in two, ending the villagers suffering.

Dara-e Ajdahar is a great half-day trip from Bamiyan Town. You can walk here pretty easily or take a taxi.

If you climb onto the top of the “dragon”, you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful views over the Bamiyan Valley.

View of the Bamiyan Valley from Dara-e Ajdahar

How to get to Bamiyan

Bamiyan is located fairly close to Kabul, but due to the security situation flying is recommended for foreign visitors.

By Air

Kam Air currently runs fairly frequent flights from Kabul to Bamiyan.

The flight is typically around $100 USD and takes one hour. Visit Kam Air’s website for the latest schedule and to book a flight.

Flying is a much safer option than travelling overland and is what I recommend for foreigners heading to Bamiyan.