The original statues of the Bamiyan Buddhas were painted red and white, according to one 11th century traveler who visited the region.

A 2011 study by TU Munich found that the pilgrim was quite accurate, and the statues were painted several times over.

According to the lead researcher Erwin Emmerling:

The outer robes on one were pink and later orange on the outside, with a pale blue lining, whereas the other was white.