Azdar Chasm

بامیان (ولسوالی بامیان - AF)
34.816700,67.750000
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

There is a sacred Muslim shrine (note 1) at a deep, very long, and smooth rift, chasm or crack (note 2) in dubious matrix (note 3). The limiting walls are close to each other and very irregularly shaped. Below the same rises strongly mineralised, not drinkable water from a spring (note 4) with legendary healing powers (BURSLEM 1846, chapter 5: A tale of the Dragon's Mouth). SITUATION: In the Sela-i- Azdar (Shelah-e Ezhdar) or Valley of the Dragon (note 5), which lies a few miles (within walking distance) west of the village and rock chambers or caves at –>Bamiyan (Bamean, Bameean, Bamian, Bamyan N34°49': E067°49') but on the opposite (south) side of the valley (note 6). The locality, reminiscent of a giant lizard, described LEVI (1972 edited 2002: 42) as a long, stony, mysterious canyon that opens like any other, curving away under cliffs smeared with volcanic ash. BURSLEM (1864, chapter 5) places the … Dragon's Mouth … four or five miles [6.4 or 8 km] to the north-west of Bamean [sic!], high up in the mountains in the direction of the Yookaoolung [Yakawlang] country. After a toilsome and somewhat perilous ascent the traveller finds himself at the edge of a deep ravine. KAYE (1879: 249 ) places it on the opposite side of the valley [from the great standing image], about a mile to the west, a stony gully leads into the hills: a short way up this, there is a nearly insulated rock … CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: General KAYE (1879: 249) was told the dragon had been slain by an unacknowledged Muhammadan pir (no name mentioned). According to HACKIM & KOHZAD (1953: 5-6), the story is that Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's nephew, rescued a girl by turning a dragon into stone and one can see his blood and his shape in the red and white volcanic ash and the springs are the dragon's tears. HOLDICH (1910 edited 2002: 380) referring to Charles MASSON (where?) describing the -Azdha of Besut- points out The Azdha afterwards seen and described at Bamian is of more imposing sze.ean [sic!], high up in the mountains in the direction of the Yookaoolung [Yakawlang] country. After a toilsome and somewhat perilous ascent the traveller finds himself at the edge of a deep ravine. KAYE (1879: 249 ) places it on the opposite side of the valley [from the great standing image], about a mile to the west, a stony gully leads into the hills: a short way up this, there is a nearly insulated rock … CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: General KAYE (1879: 249) was told the dragon had been slain by an unacknowledged Muhammadan pir (no name mentioned). According to HACKIM & KOHZAD (1953: 5-6), the story is that Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's nephew, rescued a girl by turning a dragon into stone and one can see his blood and his shape in the red and white volcanic ash and the springs are the dragon's tears. HOLDICH (1910 edited 2002: 380) referring to Charles MASSON (where?) describing the -Azdha of Besut- points out The Azdha afterwards seen and described at Bamian is of more imposing sean [sic!], high up in the mountains in the direction of the Yookaoolung [Yakawlang] country. After a toilsome and somewhat perilous ascent the traveller finds himself at the edge of a deep ravine. KAYE (1879: 249 ) places it on the opposite side of the valley [from the great standing image], about a mile to the west, a stony gully leads into the hills: a short way up this, there is a nearly insulated rock … CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: General KAYE (1879: 249) was told the dragon had been slain by an unacknowledged Muhammadan pir (no name mentioned). According to HACKIM & KOHZAD (1953: 5-6), the story is that Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's nephew, rescued a girl by turning a dragon into stone and one can see his blood and his shape in the red and white volcanic ash and the springs are the dragon's tears. HOLDICH (1910 edited 2002: 380) referring to Charles MASSON (where?) describing the -Azdha of Besut- points out The Azdha afterwards seen and described at Bamian is of more imposing sean [sic!], high up in the mountains in the direction of the Yookaoolung [Yakawlang] country. After a toilsome and somewhat perilous ascent the traveller finds himself at the edge of a deep ravine. KAYE (1879: 249 ) places it on the opposite side of the valley [from the great standing image], about a mile to the west, a stony gully leads into the hills: a short way up this, there is a nearly insulated rock … CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: General KAYE (1879: 249) was told the dragon had been slain by an unacknowledged Muhammadan pir (no name mentioned). According to HACKIM & KOHZAD (1953: 5-6), the story is that Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's nephew, rescued a girl by turning a dragon into stone and one can see his blood and his shape in the red and white volcanic ash and the springs are the dragon's tears. HOLDICH (1910 edited 2002: 380) referring to Charles MASSON (where?) describing the -Azdha of Besut- points out The Azdha afterwards seen and described at Bamian is of more imposing sze.

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018
  • Beal, Samuel 1883-1884 edited 1906 edited 1981; Burslem, Rollo 1846; Cohen, Lawrence E 2004; Hackim, Ria & Kohzad, Ahmad Ali 1953; Holdich, Thomas Hungerford 1910 edited 2002; Kaye, E 1879; Levi, Peter 1972 edited 1984, 2000, 2002; Lindberg, Knut 1949a, 1958.

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1832, late autum, early winter (HOLDICH 1910 edited 2002: 378, 380): Charles MASSON (ubi?) and Haji Khan (a Kakar soldier of fortune from Western Afghanistan) arrived from the Helmund via Siah Reg Pass and visited the Azdha of Bamian on their jouney via Ak Robat pass and the Saighan valley to Kunduz. 1840, late June (25th to 29th): Rollo Burslem (Captain of the 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry) visited the 'Dragon's Mouth' (BURSLEM 1846, chaper 5).1840, early October: General E. KAYE (1879: 249) noticed 'Azdahar.' 1947 May 23?: Dr. Knut LINDBERG (1949) visited. 1970: Peter LEVI (1972 edited 1984, 2000: 86, 2002) and Bruce Chatwin visited. Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
5.3Chehel Sotun, Bamiyan (Cave of the)
6.1Bamiyan Caves
6.1BUDDHA, Bamiyan (Cave of the)
6.1Hunter King (Grotto of the)
9.1KAKRAK VALLEY (Caves of the)
35.8Kafir Fort & Caves, Saighan
43.3HERI RUD, Saighan - Kahmard (Caves on the)
45.8Mian-i- Irak (Caves at)
46.6PROMETHEUS, Shibar Pass (Cavern of)