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SHRINE OF KHWAJA ABU NASR PARSA,
LOCATION: Balkh.
Situated in the center of Balkh's Central Park.
DESCRIPTION: Built in the late Timurid style, its blue dome,
fluted and resting on stalactite corbels 25 m; 80 ft. above
the ground, sits above a colorflly tiled octagonal base. The
portal is flanked by magnificent corkscrew pillars.
From Dupree, N.H. An Historical Guide to Afghanistan, Kabul,
1977, p. 398
CONDITION: small section
tiles on dome displaced by rocket hit; 1974 restoration suffering
from lack of maintenance, interior satisfactory; unauthorized
construction of new mosque attached to south facade destroys
original design. A crack in the southeastern part of the dome
(maybe caused by an earthquake during the 90's) might be extremely
serious. A rocket hit the southern facade during factional
fighting in 2003.
An in-depth structural study
is urgently needed
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SHRINE OF KHWAJA ABU NASR PARSA
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