We took an excursion to see ancient Buddhist monks' caves with their elaborate meditation paintings and tall Buddha statues in Bamiyan (since destroyed by the Taliban).

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Visitors from cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai continue to trek up the winding dirt road to the tin-roofed retreat Mr. Thongbai built at the top of Hidden Hill here to pray before Buddha statues and paintings of Suthat.

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Reclining statues are a popular representation of Buddha and depict the final moments of his earthly existence as he enters the state of nirvana.

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The archaeologist says the third statue - dubbed the Sleeping Buddha because it is shown reclining - is hidden in the shadow of the rock niches which housed the other two statues.

BBC: The hunt for Bamiyan's third Buddha