Band e Amir
There are many versions regarding their creation, all of which, however, concern Barbar, an infidel king who ruled the lands of the Hindu Kush with a heavy hand, and his confrontation with Hazrat Ali who was performing all manner of miraculous deeds within the kings territory. Barbar was also highly annoyed at the same time by the fact that although he had sent 1000 slaves to build a dam downstream from his capital, all their efforts had gone for naught; the river simply refused to be contained. Being thus thwarted his already irascible personality became even more overbearing and his people suffered. One victim was a young man whose wife and children had been imprisoned because he could not pay an exorbitant sum unjustly demanded of him. In desperation he went in search of the Hazrat Ali who he found near Samangan. Together they devised a plan whereby the young man was to bind Hazrat Ali and, without disclosing his true identity, offer him for sale to Barbar as a slave.
Barbar liked the look of the slave and agreed to purchase him for his weight in gold on three conditions: first, the slave was to build the dam the king so much desired; secondly, he should kill the dragon of Bamiyan; and thirdly, he should bring Ali to him in chains. Furthermore, all these tasks were to be completed in one day! The court laughed mightily at the kings joke, and at the discomfort of the needy young man.
But Hazrat Ali became so angry that he strode to the mountain top and there with a mighty kick he hurled down great masses of rocks to form the Band-i-Haibat. Then he picked up his sword and with one mighty stroke sliced off another huge hunk of the mountain to form the Band-i-Zulfiqar. Meanwhile, Alis groom, Kambar, aided his master by building the Band-i-Kambar and, because of Alis presence, the slaves who had labored so long at last completed their task, the Band-i-Ghulaman. A nomadic woman who witnessed these fabulous deeds then presented a cheese she had just made in token of her esteem. The Hazrat Ali placed the cheese in the river where it became the Band-i-Panir where fragrant mint grows next to it at the Band-i-Pudina.
But the dam building had been too successful and downstream the villagers cried out in alarm as they watched the river become a dried up stony bed. Apprised of their fears, Ali simply drew his fingers across the Band-i-Haibat and five channels began to flow with exactly the right amount of water needed for the fields.
The dams built, Ali then proceeded to kill the dragon of Bamiyan (see Chapter 7, No. 3, Darya Ajdahar) and then he revealed himself to Barbar who was so overcome that he immediately embraced the Muslim faith.
The nomadic woman who presented the cheese for the Band-i-Panir was the ancestress of the family which cares for the shrine at Band-i-Amir. Mohammad, the present caretaker, holds school classes on the upper floor of the shrine and he will be happy to show visitors around (remove shoes before entering shrine). A small contribution for the upkeep of the school and the shrine is appropriate.
Source: Dupree, Nancy Hatch. "An Historical Guide to Afghanistan." Chapter 8.
More Photos of the Crystal Blue Lakes of Band e Amir:
Edited by Afghanan