Leaving the main Wakhan Valley road to drive up to the Yamchun Fortress |
Ridge of the Hindu Kush at the end of the valley south of Khandud, Afghanistan, forming the border with Pakistan |
Khandud, Afghanistan - Badakhshan Province, Wakhan Valley |
Looking up at the lower part of the vast Yamchung Fortress |
The lower part of Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress dates from the 3rd Century BC to the 1st C. BC |
Yamchun Fortress, the best preserved ancient castle in the Tajik Wakhan Valley |
Historic marker at Yamchun Fortress. The English one is missing. |
Yamchun Fortress with the Hindu Kush of the Afghan Wakhan Corridor |
Калъаи Ямчун |
Yamchun Fortress, also known as Zamr-i-Atash-Parast or Kafir-Qala |
North tower of Yamchun Fortress |
20,000 foot peak in the Hindu Kush range forming the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan |
Yamchun Fortress protected this branch of the Silk Road |
Yamchun Fortress with its impressive location over the Panj River |
Yamchun Fortress has a total of 36 towers of various shapes |
Yamchun Fortress high above the Panj River and Wakhan Valley |
Yamchun Fortress with the mountains of Afghanistan |
Yamchun Fortress with the mountains of Afghanistan |
Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress |
It's worth the hike to climb for a view of Yamchun Fortress from above |
Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress |
The agricultural fields of Khandud, Afghanistan, from the Yamchun Fortress, Tajikistan |
Glacier tumbling down from the high ridge of the Hindu Kush which forms the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan |
Mountains of the Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan |
Yamchun Fortress, Wakhan Valley |
The view from Yamchun back to Bibi Fatima |
Yamchun Fortress, Wakhan Valley |
Hiking down from the road to enter Yamchun Fortress |
The narrow north side of Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress with the snowcapped Hindu Kush |
Hiking up to Yamchun Fortress |
Not part of the fortress, a naturally eroded tower |
Natural formations beneath Yamchun |
A narrow stream must be crossed to reach Yamchun |
A big split boulder near Yamchun with the Panj River |
Looking up at Yamchun Fortress |
Stone tower of Yamchun Fortress |
The northern apex of the triangular shaped Yamchun Fortress |
The large north tower, Yamchun Fortress |
Crumbling tower, Yamchun Forturess |
Yamchun Fortress, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Yamchun Fortress, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
A break in the wall gives access to the interior of Yamchun Fortress |
View of the Panj River 1200 feet below Yamchun Fortress |
Looking east up the Wakhan Valley |
Eastern wall of Yamchun from the main courtyard |
Yamchun Fortress dates from the 3rd-1st C. BC |
Buildings on the south side of Yamchun Fortress |
Interior of Yamchun Fortress |
Looking north along the western wall of Yamchun Fortress towards Bibi Fatima |
Looking east along the southern wall, Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress from the southwest corner |
The more substation buildings of the castle are along the southern edge |
The cliff below Bibi Fatima, Tajikistan |
Inside Yamchun Fortress, Tajikistan |
Climbing back up to the main road, Yamchun Fortress |
Yamchun Fortress from the road connecting the Wakhan Valley with Bibi Fatima |
Khandud, Afghanistan - Badakhshan Province, Wakhan District |
The glacial valley leading south from Khandud towards the glacial ridge that forms the border with Pakistan |
Just a few km beyond Yamchun Fortress is the small hot spring resort of Bibi Fatima |
Veterans Camp at Bibi Fatima |
Ishkasim District Veterans Camp at Bibi Fatima |
Bibi Fatima |
The gorge at Bibi Fatima is the site of a natural hot spring |
Bibi Fatima |
Guesthouse at Bibi Fatima |
Small restaurant at the Bibi Fatima guesthouse |
Bibi Fatima guesthouse |
Bibi Fatima Hot Spring |
Bibi Fatima was restored by Norway and the Aga Khan Foundation |
The stream below the hot spring, Bibi Fatima |
Hot Springs at Bibi Fatima, Wakhan Valley |
Bibi Fatima Hot Springs |
Bibi Fatima Hot Springs |
Bibi Fatima Hot Springs |
Men's and Women's Hours, Bibi Fatima |