Asia

[Visited: October 2017]

The drive through Bamiyan valley is pleasant and easy, with only one checkpoint on the way. We see the ruins of a large caravanserai, and mountains looming high above us. When we reach the crossroads from where it is straight ahead to Kabul on a newly asphalted road, or left on the old and much longer one, Shahr-e-Zohak rises above us on our right. Often called the Red City, its deep red colour immediately makes clear how it got its name. We walk up through fields in which men and women work and cows walk, and then take on the steep gravel path on the northern slope of the mountain. Ruins of towers stand above us, slowly crumbling away with the passing of time. After passing through the city gate, we come to the lower part of the citadel. We are walking in sunlight again, and now have better views over the surrounding landscape. We walk through ruined buildings, past defensive towers: the agricultural fields below are now patches of green in an otherwise barren, brown landscape.
Leaving the lower part behind, we make our way up the steep path towards the top of the mountain. These used to be the quarters of the royals. It is now easy to see how Shahr-e-Zohak was the fortress that was supposed to protect the entire Bamiyan valley against intruders. Two valleys come together here, cutting through much higher landscapes and rugged terrain. Genghis Khan himself came galloping over the mountains to our north, after he heard of the killing of his favourite grandson. We all know what happened when something enraged him. The Red City was destroyed, all its inhabitants killed without mercy, before he stormed to the Shahr-e-Gholgola near Bamiyan, which was also destroyed. Despite its strategic location, Shahr-e-Zohak was never rebuilt, Erosion is still eating away at the structures here. We find Soviet military at the royal quarters: they surely appreciated this spot for controlling access to the valley of Bamiyan.
Clouds are sailing through the sky where just before it was spotless blue. The light changing, the views of the valleys and mountains around us are getting more intense and spectacular. So we stay, we see from above how the citadel blends in with the landscape, try to imagine the guards at this highest point when they saw the army of Genghis Khan warriors emerge from the mountains, how they would try to warn their men further down the valley. Asking ourselves if they knew their fate once the Mongolians conquered the city. We walk down the path again, walk through the ruins down to the fields again where the men and women are still working. It is harvesting season, winter is around the corner, so a lot still needs to be done. Are they descendants of the Mongolian army that swarmed the valley? Looking at the Hazara people here, you could certainly think so, even though this is contested by some scientists. We get a last glimpse of Shahr-e-Zohak when we drive way: on the markers at the roadside, I see the distance to Kabul is around 120 km. I would love to do this roadtrip through the mountains, but it is deemed too dangerous for foreigners because of Taliban presence in the mountains. Our guide himself tells us he was almost killed on one of his journeys to the capital. Will it ever be safe to do it?

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Shahr-e-Zohak (Afghanistan)

Shahr-e-Zohak > Afghanistan > Asia

[Visited: October 2017]

Around the World in 80 Clicks