Description : Bamyan (Persian/Pashto: بامیان; also spelled Bamiyan or Bamian) is the capital of Bamyan Province in central Afghanistan. With an altitude of about 2,550 m and a population of about 100,000, Bamyan is the largest town in the central Afghanistan region of Hazarajat, and lies approximately 240 kilometres north-west of Kabul, the national capital. Many statues of Buddha are carved into the sides of cliffs facing Bamyan city. In 2008, Bamyan was found to be the home of the world's oldest oil paintings. The city of Bamyan has a population of 100,000 (in 2014). It has four districts and a total land area of 3,539 hectares. The total number of dwellings in this city are 4,435.The Bamiyan valley marked the most westerly point of Buddhist expansion and was a crucial hub of trade for much of the second millennium CE. It was a place where East met West and its archaeology reveals a blend of Greek, Turkic, Persian, Chinese and Indian influence. The valley is one of Afghanistan's most touristic places.Bamyan City joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a Crafts and Folk Art city in 2017.
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