Bamyan Province

Bamyan بامیان
Province
The location of Bamiyan Province within Afghanistan
Coordinates: 34.75°N 67.25°E / 34.75; 67.25
Country	Afghanistan
Capital city	Bamyan
Area
• Total	14,175 km2 (5,473 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	387,300
• Density	27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30
Main languages	Dari Persian (Hazaragi dialect)

Bamyan Province (Persian: بامیان) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the centre of the country. Its capital city is also called Bamyan. Most of the people are Hazaras, with fewer Tajiks, and Pashtuns. Bamyan is the largest province in the Hazarajat region of Afghanistan. It has 522,205 living in the Province which were destroyed under Taliban rule, in 2001. In the past, the province was strategically important because of the Silk Road which passes through it. The Silk Road linked Asian countries such as India and China, with Persia, the Mediterranean and Europe. Buddhism used to be common, and there were many Buddha statues, and monasteries.

Politics

Governors

The former governor of the province is Habiba Sarabi. She is Afghanistan's first and, so far, only female governor.

Districts

Districts of Bamyan Province

District	Capital	Population	Area	Notes
Bamyan	Bamyan	73,200
Kahmard	Kahmard	32,200		Transferred from Baghlan in 2005
Panjab	Panjab	60,400
Sayghan	Sayghan	21,200		Transferred from Baghlan and created within Kahmard District in 2005
Shibar	Shibar	26,100
Waras	Waras	96,700
Yakawlang	Nayak	77,500

Districts of Bamyan.

Economy

Agriculture

A small boy in a potato field in Bamyan

Bamiyan is famous for its potatoes.

Education

Bamyan Province has the only university, Bamiyan University in the area.