09/08/2026
Shahr-e Gholghola — The “City of Screams” | Bamyan, Afghanistan
Standing on a hill overlooking Bamyan lies Shahr-e Gholghola, a fortified ancient city whose history stretches back more than a thousand years.
According to the historical information at the site, Shahr-e Gholghola dates from the late Sasanian period (6th century AD) through to the Ghorid period (12th–13th centuries). Following the decline of Buddhism in Bamyan from around the 8th century, the citadel became the heart of the region’s Islamic city.
But its most famous chapter is also its darkest.
In 1221, the city is believed to have been destroyed during the Mongol invasion under Genghis Khan, with its inhabitants massacred. According to local tradition, the devastation was so great that the ruins became known as Shahr-e Gholghola — the “City of Screams.”
AfghanHistory SilkRoad GenghisKhan MongolEmpire GhoridEmpire HistoricalPlaces CentralAsia CulturalHeritage ExploreAfghanistan
