The UNESCO has sounded an alarm after the Taliban's quick takeover of Afghanistan, as memories of the terrorists blowing up of the world's tallest Buddhas returned. 20 years ago, in an act of cultural genocide that shocked the world, the Taliban destroyed two monumental 600-CE statues of Buddha carved into the cliff of Bamiyan - figures that have been revered by Afghans for generations. UNESCO's Director General Audrey Azoulay seeks the protection of what remains of Afghan heritage.
Sites in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has two cultural sites under the UNESCO's World Heritage List. In addition to this, there are four other sites on the Tentative List - which is a list of properties a country intends to consider for nomination to the Heritage List.
BAND-E-AMIR
Protected as the National Park of Afghanistan, this naturally created group of lakes with special geological formations is pure blue in colour. The natural beauty of Band-E-Amir has not been disturbed till now.
BAGH-E-BABUR
On the slopes of Kuh-e Sher Darwaza, southwest of Kabul, lies one of the earliest surviving Mughal gardens. The 11.5-hectare garden is arranged in 15 terraces from the top of which the Kabul river and snow covered mountains can be seen. Babur had longed for returning to this place and after his death, his remains were transferred to Bagh-E-Babur.
THE CITY OF BALKH (ANTIQUE BACTRIA)
About 25 km west of Mazar-i-Sharif lies the ancient Bactria city spreading over 11 square kilometres. Bactria is said to have rivaled the urban centres like Babylon in the past and was a spiritual centre for the Parsis. In the 7th century, there were a significant number of Buddhist monasteries, stupas and a rich temple to Zoroastrian goddess, Anahita. Later, the city was ringed with earthen walls within which there was a citadel and a mosque.
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS OF THE BAMIYAN VALLEY
Guarded by the high mountains of the Hindu Kush, in central Afghanistan, lies the Bamiyan Valley. The Valley consists of eight separate sites in Bamiyan that highlight the artistic and religious developments in ancient Bactria from the 1st to the 13th centuries CE. The site contains Buddhist monasteries, chapels and sanctuaries. Carved onto the cliff are the niches that once housed the Buddhas.
CITY OF HERAT
Established around 500 BCE in the fertile plain beside the Hari river, Herat is the site of the ancient Persian town of Artacoana. Captured by Alexander in 330 BCE, the city remained of strategic importance to succeeding dynasties. Some of the oldest structures include - Qila-e-Ikhtyaruddin or Heart Citadel, Musalla Complex, Masjid-e-Jami and the mausoleum complex of Khwaja Abdulla Ansari.
THE SILK ROAD 300 BCE - 100 CE
The Afghan cities of Balkh, Bamiyan, Herat, Badakshan and Kabul were part of the Silk Road, on which trade flowed between the Persian and Chinese empires of old.
MINARET AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS OF JAM
The 65 m-tall minaret represents the zenith of artistic creativity and mastery of structural engineering of the 12th century Ghurid dynasty. Seated in the deep valley of the Hari river amid towering mountains in the heart of Ghur province, the minaret is said to mark the site of the ancient city of Firuzkuh, the summer capital of the dynasty. The structure is covered in elaborate brickwork and inscriptions in turquoise tiles.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Sajish, our sa'arthi for the day, reached at a quarter past 10. We went to the Rugmini Regency - at the east nada - to attend Preethi's daughter's engagement. As soon as the ceremony was over, we made a dash to the Horizon International at the south nada.
Anup (son of my classmate, Rajeev Mannali) and Reshma got wedded at a glittering ceremony. Reshma's dad is a film producer and because of that, there were a few film personalities among the guests. They made a handsome couple and both are doctors - Anup is a surgeon while Reshma is an ophthalmologist, currently practicing at Kannur. Venugopal-Umah, Rajeev Mannali-Jaya and self-Lekha were of the Sainik School, Kazhakootam group, with us guys belonging to the class of 1972!
It was a wet day and the Met department has predicted four days of heavy rains and Thrissur district is on yellow alert! Our Chevy is ready at the Geeyem Motors and I would be collecting it tomorrow.
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