DOCSLIB.ORG

The-Valley of Bamiyan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The-Valley of Bamiyan THE-VALLEYOF' BAMIYAN BY Nancy Hatcll J>gpree -- ,d S.c:OAd EdUiOA . ' Published by the Afghan Tourist Organization· 1967 First Edition 1963 Second Edition 1967 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (in the first edition) The preparation of this Guide could never have been un­ dertaken without the encouragement of Mr. Abdul Wahab Tarzi of the.Afghan Tourist Organization and M. Le Berre of D. A. F. A. who have continued to offer aid and assurance throughout the project. Mr. Ahmad Ali Kohzad, Afghanistan's foremost histor­ ical scholar, has given unstintingly of his time and know­ ledge without which I should be most hesitant in presen - ting this work to the public. Dr. Louis Dupree, an autho­ rity on Afghanistan's pre-history and present, has also been most gracious in his advice and direction for which I am most grateful. Mrs. Janet Marxen and Miss Myra Johnson were un­ daunted and observant companions during the research period in Bamiyan. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Marxen for her artistic sketches which so enhance the chap­ ter on theBuddhist period and to Miss Johnson, without whose contribution of hours of typing, the project must surely have floundered. Mr. James Cudney, whose beautiful pictures of Af grutn­ istan are admired by all visitors to this country, has been most kind in donating his talent and I am most fortunate to be able to pr~sent some of his work in this Guide. Finally, much gratitude is due to Mr. Robert MacMa­ kin for hi'.;professional advice regarding the lay-out and all matters concerning printing about which I was totally ignorant. Nancy Hatch Wolfe KABUL December 1962 FOREWARD The Afghan Tourist Organization is now plca:,cd tu have its second printing of Bamiyan. When the first edi­ tion of this excellent guide book appeared in 1963 i had cxpre,sed my appreciation and gratefulness to the author !uc ,he valuable contribution she· had made tu our touc- 1sm development program by producing thts much nl·ecled guidi.: to Bamiyan. ;\o need to say that the bol'k had !rc­ mcndous success which was proof of the talent and schoi­ arly approachoftheauthorin tho preparation oflhis work. Because of her great interest in the history of culture and art of Afghanistan she gave spontaneous response to my later request to write other guide books. Kabul came next and then Herat each one giving fresh pron!" of how much she understood Afghanistan. This year the Afghan Tourist Organization is happy to present The Road To Balkh and it will be up 1.o the readers to judge the value of this new guide to the northern parts of Afghanistan. I wish to express to Nancy Dupree my gratitude for fil­ ling up one more gap in the path of our tourism develop­ ment program.Who knows what will be in store when we have the pleasure of seeing the Duprees back in Afghan­ istan, next year? ·A. W. Tarzi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART ONE -THE ROUTE Via the Shi bar Pass Via the Unai and HajiGak Passes 6 PARTTWO-HISTORY OF A VALLEY 9 PART THREE-THE BUDDHIST PERIOD The Colossal Buddhas and the Monastic Grottos 22 The Foladi and Kakrak Valleys 50 Chinese Accounts of Barniyan Fa Hsien c. 400 A. D. 53 Hsuen-tsung 632 A. D. 55 Hui-ch'ao c. 827 A.O. 58 PART FOUR-THE ISLAMlC PERIOD Shahr-i-Gholghola 60 The Legend ofShahr-i-Gholglmla 64 Kalah-i-Dokhtar 74 Chilsitoon 75 Ajdahar-i-Sorkh Dar 76 The Legend of the Drag\,n 78 Shahr-i-Zohak 81 Sar Khoshak 86 BlBUOGRAPHY 88 SKETCHES : Janet Marxen PHOTOGRAPHS: J. Cudney, M. Johnson, A.S. Asifi PLANS. MAP, TRACINGS: M<'moires de la D.A.F.A. COVER: From black and white by .I. Cudney. KABUl. -BAMIY AN Yia The SHlBAR PASS 246 Kilometers, 154 miks, approximately 7 hours in­ ciuding a half hour lunch ~top. Before the opening of the Salang Highway this was the main highway between Kabul ~.nd MazJr -i- Sharif nmv the traffic i; not so hea V). The asctcnt :o the Shi bar Pass is quite gradual and for this reason the Sh1bar route is prefr:rred by some tl) the precipitous route over the Unai and Hajigak Passes. ·1he road is paved from Kabul to Charibr and Pnl-i­ Matak, about 75 Kilometers. Km.0. Bagh-c-Bala Amir Abdur Rahman's paiace ( r. 1880-1901) in which he died, and is now a restaurant, ('l1 r.orthwcst edge of Kabul. Road forks; left to Paghman and the Kargah Dam, right to Bamiyan. Km. 6. Khair Khana Pass. At the foot and to the right, are the remainsot;a Budd hist settlement which was active during the V century A. D. Principal find, marble group of a Sun God in a chariot drawn by horses, may be seen 1 in the Bamiyan room in the Kabul Museum. The Pass leads into the Koh Daman. Valley. Literally translated, Koh Daman means "Skirts of the Hills", an apt description of this fertile valley and the low ranges which surround the southern approaches to the towering Hindu Kush. Buddhist remains, most unexcavated, can be found throughout the valley from the Khair Khana Pass to its northern limits at Charikar. Km. 17. Kalah Murad-Beg, village. The trees lining the road here are mulberries. Km. 30. Serai Khodja, administrative center. In the low hills to the right are the ruins of a strong fortress known locally as Alexaneer's Fort. It is mure likely, however, of Kushan workmanship of the II - III cen­ turies AD. Km. 38. Road branching off to the left to the pictures­ que village oflstalif, famous for its blue pottery and car­ ved wooden chests. Km. 40 Qara-Bagh, village, Note walls with many slits or loopholes. These are the rooms used' for drying grapes to make raisins; the many slits provide the necessary circulation of air through th'e tows of grapes hung on lines. Koh Daman is justly famous for its grapes and raisins. Km. 47. Road branching ~ff to the right leads to Bagram Airfield, in the vicinity of which lie the ruins of 2 A.S.Asifi . "The mountains are rugged and without vegetation and.have a majestic quality -about them. which is .very impressive.'; the ancient Kushan capital of Kapissa, artifacts from which may be seen in the Kabul Muse um. Km. 62. Charikar, large commercial city, adminis trative center of Parwan Province. Gas pump. Three miles ( 5Kms. ) to the north west lie the ruins of Hopian, identified by some as Alexandria-ad-Caucasum where Alexander had his headquarters while in Afghanis­ tan. Km. 73. Pul -i- Mattak, village. The road to the pic­ turesque Ghorband Valley and to Bamiyan branches off to the left. The road from Charikar continues on to Jebal -us- Seraj ~t the entrance to the Salang Pass. Good bazaar on the roadside in which to buy artistic stone cooking pots. Km. 87. Burj-i- Guljan, Village. Note ruins of caravan serai on left. Km: 109. Sia Gird, village. Islamic ruins to left and right of road. The VII century Buddhist site ofFondukistan lies 3 miles, 5 kms,. to the south. Follow the right bank of the Fondukistan River to the viltage of Fondukistan. Objects hav~ bfen removed and ma:ybe seen in the Kabul Museum. Maiiy decorative motifs parl).llel to those in Bamiyan though Indian influences predominate over the - Sassaniart. Km. 115. Ghorband Bridge. .. Km. 120. Motorable path to left leads through a forest of poplars, Jungal-i-Char Deb, to the banks of the Ghor- 3 band River. Magnificent camping and picnicing spot. Km. 123. Picturesque Char Deb~village. Note primitive paintings on walls of tea houses. Km. 147. Sheikh Ali, village. Km. 154. Deb Nirkh, village. Km. 167. Very attractive Budian Valley, leads into the Taidu-Kul Gorge. Note stupa perched on cliff on right midway through gorge. Km. 176. Beginning of ascent to top of Shibar Pass. (9240 ft.).Watershed of the Indus and Oxus River basins. Km. 192. Shumbol Gorge. Km. 200. Bololah Gorge. Very fine example of a fortified village on the right. Km. 203. Bolo.ah village. Km. 209. Road' forks; left to Bamiyan, right through Shikari Gorge past Sar Khoshak, Doab, where the road to Doshi bifurcates for Aja'r valley, and finally to where it joins the main asphalt road to the north Note ruins of look-out tower on spur to left. Road to Bamiyan follows the Bamiyan River. Km. 229. Bamiyan River meets the Kalu River. Junc­ tion with alternate route from Kabul. On top of the red cliff to the left is Shahr-i-Zohak (Red City) . , Km. 246. Gas pump, Bamiyan. Just beyond the pump, on the left, a lovely tree- lined road winds up to the top of the plateau and the local administration,, buildings, to 4 the ls.imiyanHotel. Shahr-i-Gholghola(Silent City) may be seen on a conical hill to the left as the road nears the top of the platea,• 'KABUL- BAMIYAN Via 'lhe tTN:\I 1\ND Hf\li(:\K P\SSrs ~sok;;,~\';ir_:> '."'-, 11:: rr,<,··,, ~lpprc•\1 --~/' ' inc!udin:! a b~11:·-:-:,:·1,_Fst,-,p fr1 : iu1h:h. Th:: C· ~<L·u_~--~ ...·. j ·:r:J of fords 3!1d (iu6ng ,h·-· .,.i;,ll.'r it is '.H"!lt,) check :he conditior; of '.he 0a~,;.(·s. Km. (\ K()~ai.Sangi ga~.. ,t .th':n :_11: ~he snu1h\Vt~St cdg:e of K~1bul V\'here ~1':: .r<;\J.':'uad :. }s:,.gha1an~1nd Ka11dat1ar begins t:1rn tc :he Kandahar !(:;.:C,· Km.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Länderinformationen Afghanistan Country
    Staatendokumentation Country of Origin Information Afghanistan Country Report Security Situation (EN) from the COI-CMS Country of Origin Information – Content Management System Compiled on: 17.12.2020, version 3 This project was co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Disclaimer This product of the Country of Origin Information Department of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum was prepared in conformity with the standards adopted by the Advisory Council of the COI Department and the methodology developed by the COI Department. A Country of Origin Information - Content Management System (COI-CMS) entry is a COI product drawn up in conformity with COI standards to satisfy the requirements of immigration and asylum procedures (regional directorates, initial reception centres, Federal Administrative Court) based on research of existing, credible and primarily publicly accessible information. The content of the COI-CMS provides a general view of the situation with respect to relevant facts in countries of origin or in EU Member States, independent of any given individual case. The content of the COI-CMS includes working translations of foreign-language sources. The content of the COI-CMS is intended for use by the target audience in the institutions tasked with asylum and immigration matters. Section 5, para 5, last sentence of the Act on the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA-G) applies to them, i.e. it is as such not part of the country of origin information accessible to the general public. However, it becomes accessible to the party in question by being used in proceedings (party’s right to be heard, use in the decision letter) and to the general public by being used in the decision.
    [Show full text]
  • Civilian Casualties Drop, but Conflict Continues to Take a Terrible Toll on Afghans Humanitarian Bulletin
    Humanitarian Bulletin Afghanistan Issue 13 | 01 – 28 February 2013 In this issue Protection of Civilians P.1 HIGHLIGHTS Conflict replaces winter as main Access P.2 access constraint Innovative programming P.3 Innovative programming Humanitarian financing P.5 reaches more people in need Japan gives USD 67million in Credit: Moqamuddin Siraj / OCHA humanitarian aid Civilian casualties drop, but conflict continues FIGURES to take a terrible toll on Afghans Total Afghan 27 m Population UNAMA report Conflict Induced ~486,000 On 19 February, the annual UNAMA Human Rights Protection of Civilians' Report was IDPs released. A reduction by 12% in civilian casualty deaths was recorded, but the figures still Undocumented 1.4 m remained unacceptably high. Of the 2,754 civilian deaths and 4,805 injuries recorded in Afghans in Iran 2012, 81% were attributed to Anti-Government Elements (AGEs), 8% to Pro-Government Registered 1 m Forces, and the remaining 11% could not be attributed. Civilian casualties resulting from Afghans in Iran targeted killings by AGEs increased by 108%. Such targeted killings concentrate on Undocumented 1 m civilians perceived to support the Afghan Government. The overall reduction in civilian Afghans in casualties can be explained by ground engagements causing fewer casualties; a decline Pakistan in suicide attacks by AGEs; fewer aerial operations by international military forces; and Registered 1.9 m measures taken by both the Afghan and international military forces to reduce harm to Afghans in civilians. Pakistan Registered in 200,000 Taliban open letter other countries The Taliban reacted to the civilian casualties report in an open letter to UNAMA of 25 Source: UNHCR/IOM as of 12/2012 February, where it called into question the UN’s impartiality as well as the definition of civilian casualties.
    [Show full text]
  • Part III Description of River Basins
    PART III DESCRIPTION OF RIVER BASINS Picture 38 Two different worlds separated by only a river; on the right bank of the Murghab river, ‘kuchi’ nomad tents in Afghanistan, on the left bank, a cooperative in Turkmenistan. Water is largely unused on the Afghan side. Murichak, Bala Murghab, 21 May 2003 (N35.72, E, 63.19, NW) 62 I. MAPS AND STATISTICS BY RIVER BASIN The map 8 shows the boundaries of the five River Basins delineated for Afghanistan: 1. The Amu Darya River Basin 2. The Northern River Basin 3. The Harirod-Murghab River Basin 4. The Hilmand River Basin 5. The Kabul (Indus) River Basin For each river basin, source of water, transboundaries riparian issues, natural resources, protected areas, land cover, type of agriculture, hydrological infrastructures (dams) and main historical development along water sources are summarized and whenever possible illustrated with pictures. The tables 8, 9 and 10 present statistics on area, population and the main land cover features by river basin. The graph 9 shows that the largest of these 5 basins is the Hilmand basin as it covers alone 43% of the national territory. The other 4 basins have similar size and represent 10 to 14% of the country. In additions to these river basins, there are 4 none drainage areas, namely Namaksar, Registan-i Sedi, Registan and Dasth-i Shortepa. The graph on Map 8 shows that 57% of the total river flow in Afghanistan originates from the Amu Darya River Basin. The Kabul (Indus) and Hilmand River Basins contributes respectively to 26 and 11% of the total water flow.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan 03Rd – 11Th February 2020
    Integrated Nutrition, Mortality, IYCF, FSL and WASH SMART Survey Final Report Parwan Province, Afghanistan 03rd – 11th February 2020 AFGHANISTAN Survey Led by: Dr. Ahmad Abed Habibi Authors: NUT-Surveillance Department, Action Against Hunger Afghanistan Funded by: Action Against Hunger | Action Contre La Faim A non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organization Acknowledgments This survey would not have been possible without the financial support provided by the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid. Action Against Hunger would like to thanks all stakeholders and partners who provided support to the SMART Assessment teams in all districts of Parwan province: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), especially the M&EHIS Directorate, Public Nutrition Directorate (PND), AIM-Working Group, Afghanistan Nutrition Cluster and the Nutrition Small Scale Surveys Steering Committee for their support, review, and validation of the survey protocol. Parwan Provincial Public Health Directorate (PPHD) for their support and authorization, special thanks goes to Dr. Safiullah “WARASTA” and Dr. M. Aslam “FAWAD” for all the facilitation and assistance they have provided for leading this assessment to the maximum success and wide coverage of the hard-to-reach areas. Afghanistan Research Development and Health Organization (ARDHO) especially thanks from Dr. Nasratullah “SAFARI”, Dr. Reshad Ahmad “KAKAR” their close coordination with the local health authorities, timely management of logistic and financial issues, and smooth implementation of the assessments throughout the Parwan province. All community members of the targeted villages for welcoming and supporting the survey teams during the data collection process. Special appreciation to the survey teams for making the survey a reality. Action Against Hunger team at Kabul and Paris for technical, logistics and administrative support.
    [Show full text]
  • New Zealand's Achievements from 10 Years of Development
    Annex Two New Zealand’s Achievements from 10 Years of Development Assistance in Bamyan, Afghanistan 21 March 2013 Published March 2013 by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For more information about the New Zealand Aid Programme please visit www.aid.govt.nz On the cover: the empty niches of the famous Buddha that were demolished by the Taliban in 2001 dominate Bamyan valley. Contents Purpose ...................................................................... 1 Executive Summary .................................................... 2 General ...................................................................... 6 Bamyan overview .................................................................... 6 New Zealand’s development assistance ...................................... 6 Looking to the future ................................................................ 7 Snapshot of Bamyan compared to the rest of Afghanistan ............. 7 Education ................................................................... 9 Key achievements .................................................................... 9 Facts and figures ..................................................................... 9 Governance, Justice, and Rule of Law ....................... 12 Key achievements ................................................................... 12 Facts and figures .................................................................... 12 Health ...................................................................... 16 Key achievements
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Communication in the Development of Afghanistan
    Durham E-Theses The role of communication in the development of Afghanistan Amin, Hamiddullah How to cite: Amin, Hamiddullah (1967) The role of communication in the development of Afghanistan, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9995/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk The role of communication in the development of Afghanistan Abstract of thesis Afghanistan became a meeting point of several civil• izations in early history due to the fact that most of the important commercial highways connecting east and west passed through this country. As a result the country became the cradle of Buddhic and Greco-Buddhic cultures and the centre of several empires. At present, the Afghans are again trying to make Afghanistan the meeting point of east and west. This time not by animals and caravan routes, but by building modern highways and airports, which in addition to providing facilities for the goods in transit through Afghanistan will facilitate the internal communication of the country.
    [Show full text]
  • SKI AFGHANISTAN a Backcountry Guide to Bamyan & Band-E-Amir
    SKI AFGH SKI A NI S T A N SKI AFGHANISTAN A Backcountry Guide to Bamyan & Band-e-Amir Laurie Ashley & Chad Dear Bamyan River Bamyan Sar-e- Ahangaran Behsud Garm Bulaq E ni Valley D uka G 4615m N Koh-e-Allah A Orgash R Chapqolak 4715m A Bamyan Town Jawzari Mir Shah Khoja B y A e l l a Jawkar B V i 4740m d SKI Qazan Dast-e-Rast a l Aubala-e E o F H 4770m Ali Beg Koh-e-Raber O AFGHANISTAN K Borghasun 5045m Shah Foladi see inside back cover 4860m A Backcountry Jula Sang Zari BAMYAN Guide to Bamyan & Kamati Kamati PROVINCE Shahidan Band-e-Amir 0 0 5 10 5 15 20 Kilometres 10 15 Miles Laurie Ashley & Chad Dear Shibartu Qarghanatu TAJIKISTAN PAKISTAN Kabul r i Band-e-Amir/ m A enlarged area Yakawlang Junction Yakawlang - e - d n UZBEKISTAN a B see p.98 AFGHANISTAN TURKMENISTAN IRAN Backcountry skiing, like all travel in the high mountains, involves certain risks, so safety and minimising risk is a very important concern. No publication can alert Publisher you to every hazard or anticipate the limitations of the Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan March 2011 individual skier. Many of the approaches, ascents and With support from New Zealand’s Aid Programme. descents described in this guidebook require strong backcountry skills, including route finding, navigation in Authors Laurie Ashley and Chad Dear whiteout conditions, snow stability evaluation methods and avalanche rescue techniques. The descriptions of Design and Layout Mareile Paley / [email protected] roads, trail approaches, ascents and descents and natural features in this book cannot guarantee that a particular Maps Mareile Paley / [email protected] with the help of ASTER GDEM, place or excursion will be safe for you and your party Afghanistan Information Management Service / USAID, Janel Day at all times.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Mammals”
    Habibi K. 2004. Mammals of Afghanistan 168 p. Keywords: 5AF/Acinonyx jubatus venaticus/Caracal caracal/Caspian tigre/cheetah/Felis chaus/ Felis silvestris lybica/habitat/jungle cat/leopard/leopard cat/Lynx lynx isabellina/manul/ Otocolobus manul/Panthera pardus/Panthera tigris virgata/population decline/prey/ Prionailurus bengalensis/sighting/snow leopard/status/Uncia uncia/wild cat Abstract: The cheetah is very likely to be extinct in Afghanistan. Depletion of prey and the building of highways in its habitat are the main causes of population decline in the country. No sightings have been reported since the 1950s. 1 Mammals of Afghanistan Introduction Emperor Zahiruddin Mohammed Babur was a superb statesman and sportsman who established the Mogul dynasty in Delhi. He was also a keen naturalist and maintained a diary known as Babur Nama. In his memoirs, written over four centuries ago, he gives interesting accounts of the fauna and flora of places he visited. In one instance, Babur reports a tiger hunt which occurred on the way to Bagram, 80 km north of Kabul. In the plain of Katawaz he describes how his men circled a group of wild ass Equus hemionus and hunted them in large numbers. In another chapter he discusses the presence of trees on the outskirts of Kabul. Unfortunately, today there are no signs of tigers in Afghanistan nor of trees around Kabul, except for some ornamental ones which have been planted in a suburban setting. What remains of our wildlife has been exterminated extensively. Forests are being denuded at a high rate and two decades of war has had catastrophic results on the natural resources of the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 37, No. 4, Arches Summer 2010
    University of Puget Sound Sound Ideas Arches University Publications Summer 2010 Vol. 37, No. 4, Arches Summer 2010 University of Puget Sound Follow this and additional works at: https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/arches Recommended Citation University of Puget Sound, "Vol. 37, No. 4, Arches Summer 2010" (2010). Arches. 2. https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/arches/2 This Magazine is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at Sound Ideas. It has been accepted for inclusion in Arches by an authorized administrator of Sound Ideas. For more information, please contact [email protected]. archesthe university of puget sound people and ideas for summer 2010 The people of Bamiyan: Afghanistan’s best hope? DOUGLAS OBER ’04 REPORTS FROM THE FIELD PLUS: A prof’s life under surveillance • Alien coworkers: a guide arches summer 2010 news and notes 4 Zeitgeist In this issue: old-fashioned letter writing makes a comeback; helping children with Down syndrome walk earlier; Commencement speaker Scott Jackson ’80; for graduates: co-workers to avoid; the man behind Todd Hall; seven new faculty- and alumni- authored books people and ideas 18 A portrait of the ‘Professzor’ as spy An essay on life under surveillance; by Arpad Kadarkay 22 In the shadow of the Buddha Douglas Ober ’04 provides a report on an Afghanistan you don’t hear about in the mainstream media 28 Alumni Association The first Summer Reunion was a rousing success 30 Classmates With profiles on: • Sand sculptor Jeff Strong ’76, P’11,’13 • National alumni volunteer award winner Deanna Watson Oppenheimer ’80, P’11,’14 • Lincoln Loggers: Alumni teachers at Lincoln High • Comedian Carrie Siegel Gilbert ’96 on the cover The ethnic history of Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province—a verdant land, free of opium and arms—can be seen in the faces of Hazaras and Pashtuns.
    [Show full text]
  • Up and Down the Hindu Kush
    1 Up and Down the Hindu Kush The Hindu Kush rises high above the plains and valleys of Afghanistan. Over the millennia these majestic mountains have looked down upon peaceful farmers and wandering pastoralists, upon the armies of Alexander the Great and Chingiz-Khan, upon traders and pilgrims, and in recent years upon multitudes of despar- ate foreign diplomats who have tried to bring peace to this war- torn country. Whatever these men and women accomplished in Afghanistan, not far off there always loomed the towering height of the Hindu Kush. Thousands of years ago the ancient Iranians called this range the *upâiri saêna, or (kôf-i) apârsên, ‘(the mountains) above the falcon’, or in other words, ‘mountains that rise higher than a bird can fly’.1 In the late first millennium bc, the Greeks corre- spondingly used the name of the Paropanisadae to indicate the plains that stretch immediately southeast of the mountains, around the modern capital of Kabul.2 The Classical name probably derives from Iranian *para-upairisaêna, which should mean something like ‘the land which lies beyond the upairisaêna’ and thus indicating a name given by people who lived on the other, northern side of the moun- tains. In the early seventh century of the modern era, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang, while travelling through Afghanistan on his way from China to the Indian subcontinent and back again, used the name of Poluoxina to describe the mountains north of Kabul.3 The appellation recalls the Old Iranian name, and in his Records the 1 The identity of the (Old Iranian, Avestan) Saêna M∂r∂ga (‘Saena bird’, eagle, falcon?) remains unknown.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 up and Down the Hindu Kush
    1 Up and Down the Hindu Kush The Hindu Kush rises high above the plains and valleys of Afghanistan. Over the millennia these majestic mountains have looked down upon peaceful farmers and wandering pastoralists, upon the armies of Alexander the Great and Chingiz-Khan, upon traders and pilgrims, and in recent years upon multitudes of despar- ate foreign diplomats who have tried to bring peace to this war- torn country. Whatever these men and women accomplished in Afghanistan, not far off there always loomed the towering height of the Hindu Kush. Thousands of years ago the ancient Iranians called this range the *upâiri saêna, or (kôf-i) apârsên, ‘(the mountains) above the falcon’, or in other words, ‘mountains that rise higher than a bird can fly’.1 In the late first millennium bc, the Greeks corre- spondingly used the name of the Paropanisadae to indicate the plains that stretch immediately southeast of the mountains, around the modern capital of Kabul.2 The Classical name probably derives from Iranian *para-upairisaêna, which should mean something like ‘the land which lies beyond the upairisaêna’ and thus indicating a name given by people who lived on the other, northern side of the moun- tains. In the early seventh century of the modern era, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang, while travelling through Afghanistan on his way from China to the Indian subcontinent and back again, used the name of Poluoxina to describe the mountains north of Kabul.3 The appellationCOPYRIGHTED recalls the Old Iranian name, MATERIAL and in his Records the 1 The identity of the (Old Iranian, Avestan) Saêna M∂r∂ga (‘Saena bird’, eagle, falcon?) remains unknown.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Public Disclosure Authorized Afghanistan Resource Corridor Development: Power Sector Analysis Public Disclosure Authorized 11 July 2012 Public Disclosure Authorized John Irving & Peter Meier Public Disclosure Authorized Contents Exchange rate ............................................................................................................... ii Calendar Conversion .................................................................................................... ii Abbreviations and Acronyms ...................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... iv 1. Background .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Context .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objective ............................................................................................................... 2 1.3 The mining projects ............................................................................................... 3 2. Afghanistan’s Power Sector .................................................................................... 4 2.1 The power system .................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Electricity demand and load forecasts ..................................................................
    [Show full text]