Minaret of Jam

Ghor Province, Afghanistan

A 65-meter tall minaret in a remote Afghan valley, the second tallest ancient minaret in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most important surviving monument of the Ghurid dynasty.

Historical Context

The minaret stands at the confluence of the Hari and Jam rivers in a narrow valley in central Afghanistan. It is believed to mark the site of Firuzkuh, the lost summer capital of the Ghurid Empire. The Ghurids overthrew the Ghaznavids and extended Muslim rule across much of northern India.