Afghanistan: Takht-e-Rostam Stupa

This site – Takht-e-Rostam Stupa in Aybak – was absolutely stupendous (or perhaps stupa-endous?) and i never even heard about it! It easily rivals and is quite similar to the Lalibela churches in Ethiopia! It’s a humongous Bhuddist stupa from 3-4th century AD, carved out entirely from a rock in the ground. Unlike traditional stupas built above ground, this one is carved into the bedrock, sitting in an 8-meter-deep trench. It features a harmika (a square platform) at the top, which once held Buddha’s relics. The stupa’s underground design is unusual, leading historians to speculate whether it was carved this way to protect against invaders or to adapt to Afghanistan’s extreme weather. Its engineering is remarkable for its time, reflecting the advanced skills of Kushan civilization. You can descend down and walk around the base as well as stand at the edge on an eye level with it. And there is a white Taliban flag now flying at the very top!