Buddhas of Bamiyan

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental standing Buddha statues carved directly into the sandstone cliff faces of the Bamiyan Valley in central Afghanistan. The larger statue occupied a northern niche of about 55 metres and the smaller a southern niche of around 38 metres.

These carved figures were accompanied by extensive cave monasteries, painted stucco decoration and devotional architecture and represented a major Buddhist centre on the Silk Road. The statues remained in place for over a millennium until deliberate demolition in March 2001; today the niches, fragments and surrounding archaeological remains are the central features.

The Buddhas were carved during the early medieval period when Bamiyan was an important religious and trading hub. The site has since been the focus of documentation, stabilization, memorialization and limited conservation work.

The carved niches and associated cave complexes are located on the cliffs above the Bamiyan Valley near the town of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan.

• Destruction and surviving evidence: Both monumental standing Buddha statues were carved into sandstone cliffs in the early medieval period and were deliberately destroyed in March 2001; the niches and surrounding cave complexes remain the primary tangible traces.

What to See #

• Northern Buddha niche (larger): The northern cliff niche that held the larger Buddha, approximately 55 metres in height, now visible as a carved recess with surviving traces of polychrome and architectural framing.
• Southern Buddha niche (smaller): The southern cliff niche that held the smaller Buddha, roughly 38 metres tall, which survives as a carved chamber and surrounding archaeological features.