World Heritage List
The first
sight of the Buddhas is breathtaking. During the Third and Fourth Century AD and
before the introduction of Islam to this region a large Buddhist colony
inhabited the valley. At one time more than 1,000 monks lived and prayed here in
caved carved into the cliffs. They created two large figures of Buddha, one
standing, the other seated.
The smaller Buddha is 125 feet high and was the first
built. It is located in a parabolic niche in the vertical cliff. It was first
carved in stone and then plastered with mud and straw and painted red. The roof
and walls of the niche were decorated with frescoes, a few of which survive. A
maze of tunnels, caves, and rooms encircles the statue. Today it is still
possible to climb to the head.
Four hundred yards along the cliff is the large standing
Buddha. One hundred and seventy five feet high, it was built after the seated
Buddha and is more elaborate. To form the realistic drape of the cloth, ropes
were attached to the stone and then plastered with mud
|
|
Countries
