• Dr. D. K. Shahi

Situated in the heart of Asia, the landscape of the Hindukush Mountain is a unique landscape of the world. It has incredible diversity, both physically and culturally. Geographically, it exists at the convergence of different geographical and cultural regions. In its present political configuration, this region is spread over Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since the antiquity, it was geographical and cultural neighbourhood of Hindustan. Although living in different geographies both the regions have collective memories and shared experiences. Memories of the shared historical past reveals that the area encapsulated by mountains were everything but isolated. The contours of topography had porous boundaries, geographically and even culturally. Thus, the continuous space (physical and cultural) became a region of the contact and confluence. Even, the religions and ethnicities transcended natural boundaries. It recreated a distinct cultural geography of the region. The expressions of the cultural contact and cultural influence are inscribed on the cultural landscapes of the region. It shares common historical memories. It represents a collective identity. Together with the history (or the memory of history) it presents different geography; cultural and historical geography. Bamiyan Buddha was (is) the expressions of the shared past. It is uniquely real and uniquely authentic. Evidences of civilizational acquaintance of Hindustan with Afghanistan are abundant. It represents a cultural geography created by shared culture. This article attempts to transcend the geographical boundaries and recreate the cultural boundaries of the Buddhist cultural realm that was spread over the Hindukush region. It is an attempt to identify the expression of the cultural landscape of Hindukush and its cultural neighbourhoods.

Buddhism, Hindukush, Bamiyan Buddha, Cultural Landscape, Cultural Neighborhood, Diffusion of Buddhism

"The Realm of Buddhism across the Hindukush", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.39-52, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905306.pdf

"The Realm of Buddhism across the Hindukush", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp39-52, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905306.pdf