Lapis Lazuli Mines of Sar-e-Sang
The world's finest lapis lazuli has been mined from these same mountains for over 6,000 years.
About
About This Attraction
The lapis lazuli mines of Sar-e-Sang in Badakhshan's Kokcha River valley are the most important source of lapis in the world — and have been for over six millennia. The deep-blue stone mined here colored the robes of Egyptian pharaohs, the skies in Renaissance paintings, and the tiles of the world's greatest mosques. Today, miners still extract lapis using methods that have changed little in centuries. Visiting the mines offers a journey into one of the oldest continuous human industries on earth, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Hindu Kush.
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At a Glance
Province
Badakhshan
Region
north
Category
adventure
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