Bamiyan Site, Afghanistan
© UNESCO 2003
National implementing agency: Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture
Project duration: 2003-2006
Total project budget: US$ 1,815,967
"The Bamiyan site in central Afghanistan to the west of Kabul is situated 2,590 meters above sea level in the Hindu Kush mountains and consists of an impressive northern cliff with approximately 700 Buddhist caves, as well as niches containing the remains of the two large Buddhas dating from the 4"' and 5th centuries AD and the neighbouring valleys of Foladi and Kakrak.
This spiritual site was a major Buddhist centre for pilgrims from the Kushan Dynasty from the 2nd century BC to the 8Ih century AD.
Since the destruction of the two Buddha statues by the Taleban in March 2001, followed by the fall of the regime and the formation of the Afghan Interim Administration, UNESCO has conducted several missions to the Bamiyan site, producing alarming conclusions on the site's state of conservation and the subsequent identification of priorities.
The current project aims at the consolidation of the cliff face at Bamiyan with its niches and Buddhist caves, the conservation of the remaining pieces from the two large statues, the protection of the wall paintings and the preparation of a site map and provisional Master Plan."
(Extract from "Preservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage through the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust" p.25)
Latest Publication on the International Cooperation through the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust (
pdf, 2.91MB)
Second publication (2003) concerning the Japanese Funds-in-Trust Preservation of Cultural Heritage (
First publication concerning the Japanese Funds-in-Trust Preservation of Cultural Heritage (1998) (
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