Eye-opening photos taken by a British photographer Afghanistan It has been revealed in a new book in peacetime.
In a fascinating 120-page book, travel author Christopher Balfour (Christopher Balfour) reveals the little-known side of this country, unaffected by modern and decades of turmoil.
These photos capture photos of locals engaged in family life in a magnificent landscape that has hardly changed for six centuries. One of the photos shows a man holding two fish he caught from a nearby river.
In another photo, Belfort captured a huge temple and one of two Bamayan statues-a huge Buddha statue carved into a cliff face hundreds of feet high, which was later destroyed Taliban in year 2001.
Other pictures show a man carrying a bale of hay, a farmer pulling a machine with two cows to sow seeds, and a desert camp transported by camels.
These images have been published in the new book “Afghanistan in Peace: 1955, Christopher Balfour’s Journey into the Bohalak Plain in a Vintage Land Rover” and published by Tricorn Books.
The photos taken by Christopher Balfour of Afghanistan in peacetime have been disclosed in a new book that details how Belfort traveled through the war-torn country in 1955.Pictured: A man proudly holds up a fish, while another man holds two
These images capture a side of Afghanistan, which few people can recognize in today’s climate.Picture: Farmers are plowing the land
Pictured: Christopher is a member of the Cambridge team. He drove a Land Rover from 11 countries to the mountains of Afghanistan and found a place that was basically unchanged and unaffected by modern life at the time.
History: One of the huge Bamayan statues carved on the mountain, later destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
These photos capture the scenes of local people engaged in family life in a magnificent landscape that has hardly changed for six centuries. Pictured: Mazar-e-Sharif Blue Mosque in Balkh Provence (left) and ongoing construction projects (right)
The team reached the Bohalak Valley and camped by the Zad River.Picture: Truck driving through the floodplain
Throughout the book, Balfour shares excerpts from their travel diary and where they arrived during the journey
This trip took place during peacetime in the country.Pictured: The team takes a vacation to enjoy the beautiful scenery
A team from Cambridge travelled overland to Afghanistan, a mountainous country, and discovered a place that was basically unchanged and uninfluenced by modern life at the time. They entered Kabul and traveled around the country, exploring the charming countryside.
The team’s photos show that they visited Bamyan, an ancient city known for its empty hillside niches that once sheltered huge Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban.
In 2015, Afghanistan tried to promote tourism in the region because it was considered a rare oasis of tranquility, largely avoiding the painful conflicts that plagued other parts of Afghanistan.
They also showed the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, a mosque in Balkh province where Sunni Muslims believe that there is a tomb of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib.
The explorers even reached the remote Boharak Valley and set up camp by the Zardeh River. Throughout the book, they recorded their travels and places they arrived, as well as the performance and maintenance of the Land Rover on the way.
When the team arrived in Kabul, they were welcomed by the Afghan authorities.Picture: Fishermen cast nets in the river
Novelty: People dressed in traditional Afghan costumes surrounding the Land Rover as it passed through the Afghan countryside
These photos capture traditional life in Afghanistan.Picture: A camp surrounded by mountains, transported by camels
In a 120-page book, Christopher Balfour explains the way of life in Afghanistan.Pictured: a group of horses in the valley
Badakhshan is one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, located in the farthest northeast of the country
“In 1955, Afghanistan was in the 40-year peaceful reign of King Zahir Shah,” Christopher wrote.
In 1933, Zahir was appointed 19 years old after his popular father Nadir was assassinated after four years in power.
‘Nadir’s cousin Amanullah was exiled to Italy in 1929. This is because he made an unpopular modernization attempt after his trip to Europe.
‘Welcomed by the Afghan authorities in Kabul, the team from Cambridge travelled to this mountainous country by land.
‘They were arranged to visit Badak Mountain, and after receiving a warm hospitality, they reached the Bohalak Valley.
“They were invited to camp by the Zade River. For three weeks, the locals have been friendly hosts and explained their way of life.
The convoy took the Land Rover across the Badak Mountains, and with the warm hospitality of the locals, they reached the Bohalak Valley
The explorers camped along the Zade River, and the locals welcomed them warmly for several weeks and explained their way of life
Balfour described the unspoiled natural environment of the area, with no visible buildings and clean and pure air
This book was released earlier this year and details this fascinating journey.Picture: Land Rover in the desert
‘Afghanistan at the time was roughly the same as Marco Polo described it six centuries ago.
‘There are no visible buildings. Lush grass and trees. Clean air is beneficial and can cure all diseases. The team is equipped with Rover’s Land Rover OUE 271 and has never “failed to continue” across 11 countries/regions.
Afghanistan in Peaceful Time was published by Tricorn Books: In 1955, Christopher Balfour drove an experienced Land Rover to the Boharak Plains for RRP 16.99 pounds.
