Minaret of Jam

At 1,900 m above sea level and far from any town, the Minaret of Jam rises in a rugged valley along the Hari-rud River at its junction with the Jam, around 215 kilometers east of Herat. The 65-meter-tall Jam Minaret, which dates from the 12th century, is a graceful, soaring structure. It is notable for the quality of its architecture and decoration, which represent the culmination of an architectural and artistic tradition in this region, and is covered in elaborate brickwork with a blue tile inscription at the top. Its impact is heightened by its dramatic setting, a deep river valley between towering mountains in the heart of the Ghur province.

It was constructed by the Ghurid rulers, who carved out an empire that included modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and parts of Central Asia, Pakistan, and India. The Jam Minaret is one of the few well-preserved monuments that demonstrate the exceptional artistic creativity and structural engineering mastery of the time.

Location: 9GW8+H96, Dzam, Afghanistan