A FUSION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST

The Guldara stupa is an hour’s drive from Kabul to the village at the head of the valley, then another 20 minutes up the dry riverbed that tested our 4x4, and finally a half an hour’s trek up to the site itself - a place of quiet conjunction, of perfect harmony. Of peace.

Guldara Stupa in Afghanistan showing classical influences from the Greeks. 
The lines and proportions are as graceful as the surrounding mountains while its myriad of eastern and western architectural forms have integrated to be more than the sum of their parts.
Ben Timberlake standing in front of the ancient Guldara Stupa in Afghanistan with mountains and a partly cloudy sky. 
There is something deeply spiritual about the Stupa. It seems to belong profoundly to the valley - and yet floats above it.
Close-up of an ancient stone building showing Greek corinthian columns craved in local stone set against a mountainous landscape and cloudy sky. 
Corinthian columns rendered on local stone on a Buddhist stupa; a perfect synthesis of West and East.
A smartwatch displaying GPS coordinates, location details, and UTM coordinates. The watch is worn on a person's wrist, with a blurry outdoor background. The coordinates are for Guldara Stupa. 
Reaching Guldara is a journey through valley, riverbed, and desert trail.
A postage stamp from Afghanistan issued in 1985, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the World Tourism Organization, featuring a drawing of a historical brick building with arches, set against a mountainous landscape. 
Afghan mail stamp depicting Guldara.