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The imposing Rapunzel's castle in Ludwigburg, Germany, is nothing when compared to the grandeur of the sylphlike, tapering Minaret of Jam that soars into the sky in a remote steep-sided valley. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a 65 meter high minaret situated in the Shahrak District, Ghor Province, to the east of Herat in Afghanistan. Built entirely of fired bricks, it is renowned for its elaborate brick, wall plaster and glossy overlay with a touch of naskhi from the various Arabic scripts and kufic calligraphy invented by Ibn Muglah.

Composed of two-tier cylindrical body, the minaret is raised about seven meters on an octagonal base. One can climb the minaret by its two spiral staircases and a single doorway above the ground. It has two balconies, atop the lower shaft and midway up to its upper shaft. You will also find six vaulted chambers in the Minaret of Jam.

Built in the 12th century, the Minaret of Jam is the sole well-preserved remnant of the Ghorid period. Several scholars agree that the Minaret is the ancient Firuzkuh, the summer capital of Ghorid. Nestled magnificently among the mighty mountain peaks, the Minaret of Jam is evidently the most visible component of the rich archeological heritage of Afghanistan. It had a meteoric rise to fame when the Russo-Afghan Boundary Commission rediscovered it in 1886. Thanks to the interest of archeologists, it was luckily found that the subterranean archeology of the Minaret had been under threat from looting and erosion. The Minaret has been the focus of conservation and research by several scholars. The site includes the ruins of a forgotten palace, a fortification and a Jewish cemetery.

Today, the Minaret of Jam is undoubtedly one of the most prominent symbols of the triumph of Islam in the region.

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