Minaret of Jam, 12th-century Islamic minaret in Ghor Province, Afghanistan.
The Minaret of Jam is a brick tower in Shahrak District of Ghor Province that rises 65 meters (213 feet) above a narrow river valley. The octagonal base supports a cylindrical shaft with four superimposed bands of geometric patterns and Quranic inscriptions.
The Ghurid Empire built the tower around 1194 near their summer residence of Firuzkuh, while they controlled large parts of Central Asia. The Mongols destroyed the surrounding city in the 13th century, but the minaret remained standing.
The name Jam refers to the nearby valley and river landscape, where herders and travelers have used the structure as a landmark for centuries. Visitors today see the faded blue tiles on the upper levels that once adorned the entire shaft and were visible from far away.
The site sits at 1,900 meters (6,234 feet) elevation in a remote mountain valley accessible only by unpaved roads from Herat. Visitors should plan the journey with local guides and be prepared for changing weather conditions.
The tower stands at the confluence of two rivers that have eroded the foundation over centuries and are now stabilized through protective measures. Archaeologists have found remains of a larger settlement around the structure that may have been the lost capital of Firuzkuh.
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