UNESCO SITES ON THE SILK ROAD
Spanning over 6400 Kms, it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the East and the West.
BAMIYAN VALLEY- Afghanistan: Located to the west of Kabul, the Bamiyan was home to the giant statues of Lord Buddha, carved in the 6th century, that were destroyed in 2001. The valley was an important portion of the land route of The Silk Road, though its importance declined as maritime routes between Europe and Far East were developed in later centuries.
HATRA- Iraq: This ancient fortified city, lie to the northwest of Baghdad. A stronghold of the Parthian Empire around the time of Christ, Hatra held out attacks against the Romans in the 2nd c AD, and it was destroyed and deserted in 3rd c AD. Its impressive ruins were discovered in the 19th c.
KHOJA AHMED YASAWI MAUSOLEUM- Kazakhstan: Khoja was a poet and mystic who was prominent in the development of Sufism. The mausoleum was ordered to the built at his grave by Timur (Tamerlane) in 1389, but remained unfinished at the time of Timur’s death in 1405. The town lay on a caravan trade route, and the mausoleum served not only as burial site but as a meeting place, mosque and more.
MOGAO CAVES- China: Located near the fork of two main branches of Silk Route earned the title as being of “Outstanding Universal Value”. The 492 caves in the cliffs above the Dachuan River are repository of the Buddhist art spanning to the 4th to 14th centuries. Included are cave paintings, painted sculptures and manuscripts, some depicting the trade for which The Silk Route was born.
ORKHON VALLEY- Mongolia: is a large area in Central Mongolia, stretching along the river after which it is named. It includes number of archaeological sites, including Karakorum the capital of the Genghis Khan empire in the 13th and 14th centuries. As a whole the site is representative of the nomadic traditions of the region.
SAMARKAND- Uzbekistan: It was a major centre on the land route for the duration of the route’s existence. The many places of interest include Registan which was central to the city in the time of Timur, Madrasas and other religious buildings.
SULAIMAN-TOO SACRED MOUNTAIN-Kyrgyzstan: Overlooking the Fergana valley near the city of Osh, rises to about 200 metres and has been considered a sacred mountain by both pre-Islamic and Islamic people of the regions. The site includes places of worship, petroglyphs, ancient settlements and a museum. Sitting at the crossroads of Silk Road route, the mountain was a well-known landmark to travellers.
TABRIZ BAZAAR-Iran: Has been a place of cultural exchange since antiquity and its historic bazaar complex is one of the most important commercial centres on the Silk Road. Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex consists of a series of interconnected, covered, brick structures, buildings, and enclosed spaces for different functions. Tabriz and its Bazaar were already prosperous and famous in the 13th century, when the town, in the province of Eastern Azerbaijan, became the capital city of the Safavid kingdom. The city lost its status as capital in the 16th century, but remained important as a commercial hub until the end of the 18th century, with the expansion of Ottoman power.
WALLED CITY OF BAKU- Azerbaijan: Built on a site inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, the Walled City of Baku reveals evidence of Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian presence in cultural continuity. The Inner City (Icheri Sheher) has preserved much of its 12th-century defensive walls. The 12th-century Maiden Tower (Giz Galasy) is built over earlier structures dating from the 7th to 6th centuries BC, and the 15th-century Shirvanshahs' Palace is one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture.
LUMBINI- Nepal: Birthplace of Lord Buddha. Lumbini is one of the four main holy sites. The other three are Bodh Gaya- the place of enlightenment, Sarnath- taught his first sermon & Kushinagar- where he attained parinirvana.
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