The Minaret of Jam
In a narrow gorge of Ghor province, where two rivers meet and nothing else stands for miles, a 65 metre brick tower rises straight out of the rocks. The Minaret of Jam has stood here for more than 800 years, so remote that the outside world forgot it for centuries. Reaching it is an adventure in itself, and standing at its foot is one of the great moments of any journey through Afghanistan.
Height : About 65 m
Built : Late 12th century, Ghurid dynasty
Status : UNESCO World Heritage, in danger
Access : By road only, usually from Herat
Best season : Spring and autumn
A tower from a lost empire
The minaret was built at the end of the 12th century by Sultan Ghiyath al-Din, ruler of the Ghurid empire, which then stretched from Iran to northern India. Many historians believe it marks the site of Firuzkuh, the Ghurid summer capital, a city destroyed by the Mongols and never found again.
Bricks, tiles and a Koranic verse
Every inch of the tower is decorated. Baked bricks form geometric and floral patterns, and a band of turquoise glazed tiles near the top carries the name of the sultan. Climbing around the shaft, a full chapter of the Koran, the Surah Maryam, is written in brick.
Rediscovered by a Frenchman
For centuries only local villagers knew the minaret. In 1957, the French archaeologist André Maricq brought it to the world's attention, and a French team carried out the first studies of the site. In 2002 it became Afghanistan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why it is in danger
The minaret leans slightly, and the river that runs past its base slowly erodes the ground it stands on. UNESCO has kept it on the list of World Heritage in Danger since 2002. Seeing it now, before the river wins, is part of what makes the journey so special.
How to get there
There is no airport and no hotel near Jam. The usual way in is by 4x4 from Herat, a long day on rough mountain tracks, and some journeys continue east across the central highlands towards Bamyan. We plan it as an expedition, with permits, a local driver and nights in simple guesthouses.
See the Minaret of Jam with us
The Minaret of Jam is one of the highlights of our longer routes through central Afghanistan. Ask us about it for a tailor-made trip, or check whether one of our group tours includes it this season.
What travellers ask us about the Minaret of Jam
How tall is the Minaret of Jam?
About 65 metres, which makes it one of the tallest brick minarets in the world.
Who built the Minaret of Jam?
The Ghurid sultan Ghiyath al-Din, in the late 12th century. Many historians believe it marks the site of Firuzkuh, the lost Ghurid summer capital.
How do you get to the Minaret of Jam?
By road only. The usual route runs from Herat, a long day on rough mountain tracks, and some trips continue across the centre towards Bamyan. There are no facilities at the site.
Is the Minaret of Jam a UNESCO site?
Yes. It became Afghanistan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 and has been on the list of sites in danger since then, because the river slowly erodes its base.
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