Photos

Not the main Silkroad: Wakhan
From the Wakhan valley we climbed up to the fortress of Yamchun at about 3’000 m where there are hot springs: we bicycle travelleres felt a dip was in order. The view of the picture is to the South into the Hinduskush range of Afghanistan. The (unnamed!) 6’000 ers are already on the other side of the Wakhan corridor, at the border to Pakistan. To the right, my friend stands in Kuhistoni Badakshan (Tajikistan): three nations converge.

The oldest parts of the Yamchun fortress (in the foreground, today in ruins), are about 2’200 years old. With its 40 guard towers around the top of a mountain it served to house and protect a big number of people.

One not very important leg of the ancient Silkroad network passed from Herat-Balckh- Faizabad- Sultan Iskashim through the Wakhan valley and up to the Pamir high plateau to China. Extrapolating from my (limited) knowledge of Swiss history I assume that carawans had to pay a passage fee near this fortress.

Literature: "Travel Through Tajikistan" official guide.