Bāmiyān Cave i

Cave i is a a niche for a seated Buddha. It is located about 150 meters east of the West Giant Buddha and is 40 meters from the bottom of the cliff. The trifoliate niche has wall paintings on the innermost and side walls. In the year of 2003 when samples were taken from Cave i, the greater part of the niche has been exposed to the severe local natural environment, and consequently the colored layers of the murals have almost all disappeared. (Iwai/Maeda 2006, p. 25) There is a pedestal for the seated Buddha in the center of the trefoil seated Buddha niche. Compared to the condition in the 1970s, several of the thousand Buddhas painted on the ceilings and walls have been cut away. Furthermore, chipping has progressed significantly. (Iwai 2006, p. 68)

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