The Buddhas of Bamiyan once towered over Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley, 6th-century Gandharan marvels carved into sheer cliffs, radiating peace and devotion. In 2001, they were destroyed, leaving behind vast, silent niches, haunting echoes of a sacred past. Yet, their absence still speaks. The Bamiyan Valley remains a symbol of resilience, cultural identity, and the enduring spirit of the Hazara people. Through efforts like UNESCO’s Bamiyan Cultural Center, the valley is being reimagined, blendin

20 years ago, the world witnessed the destruction of the 2 standing Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, tragically reducing history and cultural heritage of the world to rubble. The empty niches of the giant Buddhas in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan are a perpetual reminder of our duty to protect cultural heritage, and what future generations stand to lose if we do not. Today, the area is considered by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in Danger. Read more: https://on.unesco.org/3aFC14P | UNESCO