Bamyan Buddhas

The Bamyan Buddhas were two massive ancient statues carved into cliffs in Afghanistan's Bamyan Valley, dating back to the 6th century. They represented the Buddha and were important cultural and religious symbols along the Silk Road, blending Indian and Central Asian artistic influences. Standing approximately 55 and 38 meters tall, they were among the largest standing Buddha figures in the world. In 2001, the Taliban destroyed these UNESCO World Heritage Sites, citing religious reasons, causing irreversible loss to global heritage. Their destruction highlighted issues of cultural preservation and the impact of conflict on historical monuments.