✈️ | Afghanistan | Day 5 to the Minaret of Jam (5/14)

The Minaret of Jam, also translated as the Minaret of Jam, the Minaret of Jamu, the Minaret of Cham Mosque, etc., is located in the Shahrak District of Ghor Province, by the Hari River. It is a 65-meter-high minaret surrounded by mountains, at an altitude of about 2400 meters, famous for its intricate and delicate brickwork, glazed tiles, and stucco. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2002. 🏞️✨ If the Bamiyan Buddha represents the golden glory of a prosperous era, showcasing an elegant symmetry in artistic aesthetics, then the Minaret of Jam's combination of warm and cool tones tends towards perfection. In the eyes of Afghans, Bamiyan is a shield in the Hindu Kush mountains; Jam is a sword piercing the sky, symbolizing the vitality and ambition of Islamic civilization. ⚔️🌄 The base of the Minaret of Jam is octagonal, with two terraces on the tower body and a lighthouse at the top. The brick carvings on the tower body are decorated with Arabic Kufic and Naskh calligraphy, geometric abstract patterns, and Quranic texts, creating beautiful patterns of light and shadow through three-dimensional brick carvings. In addition to the Maryam verse, there are two other passages from the Quran on the tower body. The areas between the Quranic inscriptions are covered with geometric openwork patterns, with each inscription framed by raised pearl-like geometric motifs. 🕌🎨 The Minaret of Jam was built in 1194 by the Sultan of the Ghurid region at that time. Its construction purpose may have been to commemorate the Ghurid dynasty's victory in capturing Delhi; or it may have been part of a mosque, but no related ruins have been found nearby, so this remains to be determined. Some archaeologists believe that the area where the Minaret of Jam is located should be the site of the Ghurid dynasty's royal palace. �👑 Due to its proximity to the Hari River and the Rud River, the Minaret of Jam is constantly threatened by water erosion, seepage, and flooding, and the tower is in a state of continuous tilting. Another major threat is the frequent earthquakes in the area. ⚠️ This is also why we are here; it may soon disappear. Despite the local efforts to protect it. 🌊💔 Post-war Afghanistan is always filled with a mysterious atmosphere, hiding countless sorrowful stories. The mysterious Minaret of Jam and the war-torn Bamiyan have had countless figures looking up and lingering at their feet, figures that have stood there until the world forgets, hoping that Afghanistan can return to its peaceful past. 🕊️🌅 🚗 Due to the limited road network in Afghanistan, there are generally two routes: 1⃣️ Kabul — Bamiyan (4 hours) — Chakhcharan (9 hours) — Minaret of Jam (5 hours) 2⃣️ Herat — Minaret of Jam (13 hours) ⬆️ You can also arrive via route 1 and leave via route 2. The entire journey is on bumpy mountain roads. If you plan to come, remember to bring plenty of snacks and download e-books or something. The journey is too boring, despite the magnificent scenery along the way, including rivers, mountains, meadows, grasslands, streams, and deserts. 🚙📚🌄 #Afghanistan #MinaretOfJam #Travel #Adventure #CulturalHeritage #HiddenGems