Bamyan, Band-i-Amir, and Panjshir Valley

This past weekend in Afghanistan, our Chief of Party organized the most amazing helicopter fly over of Bamiyan, Band-i-Amir, and the Panjshir Valley. Bamyan is approximately 240 kilometers northwest of Kabul and is situated on the ancient Silk Road between the Hindu Kush and the Koh-i-Baba mountain ranges. Bamyan town served as a crossroads between the East and West, and all trade between the Middle East and China passed through here. It is most famous for the two giant Buddhas that stood for almost two millennia until dynamited to rubble in 2001 by the Taliban.

After getting over the excitement of finally having seen the Bamyan ruins, without any warning, we begin passing over the most gorgeous, rich blue bodies of water that I have ever laid eyes on- the lakes of Band-i-Amir. The sight was unreal, and even now, when I look at my photographs, I’m still in disbelief of the beauty. The lakes are formed by underwater mineral springs that give the lakes their amazing colors. Whether I’m looking at the real thing or one of my photos, it only looks like it could be an oil painting. It’s that stunning.

On our way back to Kabul, we were treated with a fly over of Panjshir Valley, where the Great Masood defeated both the Russians and the Taliban. No one has ever been able to take over the valley since. Many Afghans often spend their Fridays off in the valley over picnics by the flowing, fresh mountain river.