Chapqolak village located on 17 km south of the town

Bamyan with its natural beauty, amazing landscape, rich archaeology and 1500 old rich history draws thousands of domestic and international tourists from all around making tourism one of the major sources of income. Bamyan is no more visited only in limited month with the available tourists services; i.e. accommodation, transport and tour guides. The province now hosts tourists who are into skiing and winter games. In 2010 & 2011 Winter Games Competition was held in two snow-covered mountains and to help you tour the skiing site for skiing, a Skiing Guide Book is available at public library or local tour operator and tour guide center.

Looking at the map of the site

With increasing demand of skiing tourists, Bamyan is in great need to have basic but standard skiing amenities which include piste and lifts and to fill the gap Doppelmayr Company (based in Belgium) had a visit to Bamyan on NOvember 29, 2011 to see the possibility of lift and Winter Games Center along with US Embassy, AISA and AKF delegates. The team visited Khushkak being located 17 km to the south of Bamyan town.

Visit to the site

The team has plan to build lift for the skiers to go to the top for skiing and the project will be funded by US Embassy. But prior to it the team will prepare a Concept Paper which will be shared with a committee (the committee consists of private sector & govt departments) to do the follow up and look for strategies for the lifts management and maintenance. The project is due to be complete by 2013 but this does need great coordination and work by all the actors and stakeholders. However, fingers crossed for more developed tourism industry with all available tourist attractions in the province to revive its identity back which it deserves.

Jawad Jahid
November 30, 2011