Over 5,000 tourists visit Bamyan’s Band-i-Amir dam daily

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): With the weather getting warm and schools closed for summer vacation, more and more visitors are streaming to the Band-i-Amir dam in central Bamyan province. Up to 5,000 people visit the site on a daily basis.

Most of the visitors flock to the dam from Kabul, Ghazni, Samangan and other provinces. One tourist, Abuzar, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had come along with his family to see the historical sites of Bamyan.

“We have been in Bamyan for the past three days. We have enjoyed every bit of our visit. But, unfortunately, the route from Kabul to Bamyan is insecure and visitors are caught in clashes in the Jalrez area district of Maidan Wardak,” he said, believing the number of tourists would surge if security concerns were addressed.

Sayed Hassan, another visitor from Parwan province, said he enjoyed sightseeing in the area. “Our family has been living in a rented tent for the past three days. My family members go around recreational areas in daytime and return to the tent at night.”

Abdur Rahman Ahmadi, the governor’s spokesman, said a thousand cars carrying tourists from different provinces enter Bamyan daily for sightseeing.Generally speaking, around 5,000 tourists visited Bamyan on a daily basis, he said.

Abdul Hamid Jalia, director of historical sites, also confirmed the rising number of tourists this year. “Most of the tourists directly travel to Band-i-Amir Dam,” he said, acknowledging both routes through Parwan and Maidan Wardak provinces were insecure and air travel was expensive.

Lutfullah, who came here from Maidan Wardak said, “Bamyan really is a picturesque place, when we arrived here, I thought Afghanistan is a war-free country because whoever comes to Bamyan feels peace and calmness here.”

Bamyan has eight UNESCO-listed heritage sites, including the two huge Taliban-dynamited Buddha statues, Kakrak Valley, Qul Akram, Zahak City, Ghulghula City, Qul Ghami caves and some other Buddhist-era grottos.  

In addition with the historical places; Band-e-Amir dam contains seven sub-dams and lakes having natural beauty and thousands of visitors daily thronged to the park named as Band-i-Amir National Park. 

At the Band-i-Amir dam, tourist attractions have been put in place, including 10 hotels and tents and rental homes. Those spending nights could avail themselves of the services available.

Band-i-Amir was declared the first-ever national park in 2007 in accordance with a presidential decree. The park is a huge resort situated 70 kilometres north of Bamyan City. The park is spread over 41,000 hectares of land and had six natural lakes.

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