THE BUDDHIST SITE OF TAKHT-E-ROSTAM

Takht-e-Rostam means the throne of Rostam. It is one of the most intact and most untouched Buddhist monuments by war, which makes it particularly interesting. Moreover, it offers a magnificent view of the entire valley. The whole is imposing. It is composed of a huge stupa carved in stone and a monastery. Updated in 1824, the site was searched by a Japanese mission in 1959 and 1960 under the direction of Professor Seiichi Mizuno. Their research enabled us to learn that in the th and th centuries, there was a flourishing Buddhist community on this site.

The stupa is huge, it is 8 m high and 28 m in diameter. As a dome, it is carved in stone. A little path in turn.

The monastery is dug in the hill. There is a circular corridor, which is the tour of the site. Basically, there are several small cavities. These are the monks'cells. In the centre, a very large rectangular room, which is accessed by a large open corridor. In two of the caves on the bottom were statues of the Buddha. The dome ceiling is carved from a lotus flower.

Legend. Rostam, the hero of the book Chahnama (The Book of the Kings), written in Ghazni in 1010 by the famous Persian poet Ferdoussi, was married to the beautiful daughter of the king of Samangan, Tahmina. Legend tells him that he celebrated his marriage by drinking wine from the basin above the stupa.