The empty cave of the Buddhas, on the cliff of Bamyan valley, in Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan. The two monumental statues of standing Buddha, built during the sixth century, were destroyed in 2001, by the Taliban, on the ground that they were ????idols????, which are forbidden under Sharia law. The Government of Japan and Switzerland, among others have pledged support to rebuild the statues, in this UNESCO World Heritage site. Bamyan, Afghanistan. July 8, 2007.