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Major Archaeological Sites In Afghanistan

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Major Archaeological Sites In Afghanistan
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Bamiyan : On the ancient China-Europe Silk Route, it is famous for thetwo Buddha statues now under attack. More than 1,000 Buddhist caves are found here.

Kapisa : It has the ruins of Kanishka’s palace and dozens ofstupas and panels of scenes from the life of ‘The Great Teacher’ as well asJataka stories.

Herat : Has priceless Hindu statues—marble images of Surya (SunGod) and Shiva-Parvati are most famous. A fort built by Alexander can still be seen in thecentre of the city.

Herat : Has priceless Hindu statues—marble images of Surya (SunGod) and Shiva-Parvati are most famous. A fort built by Alexander can still be seen in thecentre of the city.

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Ghazni : Ashoka is said to have built 10 stupas and ‘Deva’temples. It has a Buddhist complex at Humau Qala and has a Mahisasura Mardini sculpture.

Hadda : Many sacred Buddhist spots dating from the 2nd to the 7thcentury AD are found here. Till recently, pilgrims from around the world visited its manyholy temples. Buddha is said to have visited Hadda.

Balkh : Under the Kushans, when Buddhism was practised throughoutAfghanistan, many temples, centres of the Hinayana sect, flourished here. Some of thesestill survive. Zarathustra, Persian prophet of the religion of holy fire, preached heresometime between 1000 BC and 600 BC.

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Surkh kotal : Site of a great temple which was built by Kanishka. Theplace has been ravaged through the centuries. Two km away is an important Buddhist site,dating to the 4th century AD, locally known as Takht-e-Rustam ( Rustam’s Throne). Astupa cave crowns the hill which houses a monastery. It was destroyed by Hephthalites,around AD 460.

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