Feature: Bamyan, site of famous giant Buddha, now slowly recovers as tourist destination
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E-mail Xinhua, June 10, 2013
Once a popular tourist destination for having the world's tallest statue of Buddha and with its rich Buddhist civilization, Bamyan is now slowly recovering as a major tourist attraction in Afghanistan.
In 2000 during the six-year brutal rule of the Taliban, the statues of Buddha carved into the rocks and other statues were dynamited and smashed to the ground despite appeals from the international community.
After the collapse of the Taliban in 2001, the Afghan government, with the assistance of international groups, started a massive reconstruction process.
"We began the reconstruction process of the Buddhist shrine in 2003 and the process had continued until 2010 during which the destroyed parts of the relics had been collected and protective wall had been built to safeguard the remainder of the statues," Mujtaba Mirzai, director of reconstruction project, told Xinhua recently.
The government of Japan, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Munich University of Germany have contributed funds in the rebuilding of the giant Buddhas that have attracted thousands of tourists to Bamyan before the war in Afghanistan.
The destruction of the giant structures by Taliban has drawn wide condemnation not just from within the country but also from around the world.
Authorities in Bamyan, which is the most peaceful part of the conflict-ridden Afghanistan, are now exerting all efforts to revive the province pre-war status as a major tourist destination by repairing not just Buddha's statues but also other archaeological sites within the area.
With its fortress, castles, sculptures and other structures Bamyan has a unique distinction of being a historical and religious site.
The eight monuments, including the site where the giant Buddha statue is located, and Shahr-e-Ghulghula, or noisy city, have been listed as world's cultural heritage by the UNESCO, officials here said.
"Some 1,200 historic monuments in Afghanistan including scores on Bamyan, are in danger of being destroyed but we are trying our best to preserve them," Kabir Dadras, the head of information & culture department of Bamyan, said.
Security is the main problem for travellers going to Bamyan by land because of the threat coming from the Taliban and other bandit groups.
This is the reason why some local and foreign tourists prefer to travel by air although not many people can afford this mode of travel.
Because its runway is not asphalted, Bamyan's airstrip can only accommodate small planes.
"I am hopeful that the number of visiting tourists to Bamyan would go up in the coming years when the airport is improved," Dadras said.
According to Dadras, only 1,250 foreign tourists and more than 2,000 local tourists visited Bamyan last year.
However, local authorities have plans to build more hotels, restaurants and amusement parks to attract more tourists in the coming years.
Availing of the superb landscape and excellent natural habitats, local authorities in Bamyan have built a skiing park which attracts scores of tourists in winter.
Afghanistan's only national park of Band-e-Amir is also located in Bamyan.
"Situated in 41,000 hectares land and contains six natural lakes, Band-e-Amir with its serene ambiance, variety of birds and clean air, is an amazing site which Afghanistan can offer to the world," Ghulam Ali, park director, said.
An estimated 10,000 people from around the area visit the Band- e-Amir on Friday which is a day off in Afghanistan.
Some 300 people tour the park on other days, Ali said.
Ali said that although the facilities in the Band-e-Amir Park are not world-class, the number of foreign visitors is slowly going up.
"I come from Kabul along with my family to visit the Buddhas in Banyam and Band-e-Amir but I come by plane because of security problems on the road," Nik Mohammad Ahmadi, a park visitor, said.
Ahmadi said that he allowed his wife and daughters to travel by land because the Taliban or other outlawed groups respect women and do not molest them.
Ahmadi said ensuring security on the roads leading to Bamyan could speed up the development of the area into a tourist destination and could boost the country's tourism industry. Endi
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