Tourist Guide-Book - Economic Cooperation Organization

ECO 

Tourist 

Guide-Book 

First Edition

Published by Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 

Copyright © 2010 Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED, 

STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, 

ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT 

PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION 

(ECO).NOT FOR SALE 

The content of the ECO Tourist Guide Book has been provided / approved by ECO 

Member States. The views expressed in this book do not necessarily represent the views of 

ECO or its affiliates. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this book is 

as up-to-date as possible at the time of going to press. However, details such as telephone 

numbers, opening hours, travel information and etc. are liable to change. The publishers cannot 

accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book. 

Contributors 

Supervision & Finance: Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 

Coordination & Preparation: ECO Cultural Institute (ECI) 

Printing: Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts & Tourism 

Organization (ICHTO) 

Editor in Chief & Project Manager: Ali Sabzalian 

Assistant to Editor in Chief: Parisa Firouzkouhi 

Graphics & Design: Seyyed Kianoush Saadatmand, Arash Torabi 

Photos: ECI archive and other available sources 

Maps: Gitashenasi Geographic & Cartographic Organization 

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 

ECO Cultural Institute (ECI) 

Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts & Tourism Organization (ICHTO)

Foreword 

It is gratifying to see the “ECO Tourist Guide Book” finalized and 

published. It represents a landmark achievement for increasing awareness 

of tourism potentials within the ECO region and highlights the 

region as one the world’s richest in terms of historical and cultural 

heritage that launched several great civilizations and has influenced 

the course of the world history to this day. 

The region echoes memories of the ancient “Silk Road” in its 

numerous historical sites, spectacular nature, unique culture of hospitality 

and cultural affinity. 

Tourism, apart from being an important source of income, contributing 

to the development of service industries in the respective 

countries, also enhances regional and global understanding and cultural 

awareness and as a sector has received due attention by the 

ECO Member States and the Secretariat in the recent years. “ECO 

Tourist Guide Book” is yet a further step in this direction. 

ECO Secretariat, based on a proposal by ECO EGM on Tourism initiated 

consultations with ECO Cultural Institute for the preparation of 

a guide book on tourist attractions within the region. The efforts and 

collaboration of the two organizations in compiling material provided 

by Member States bore fruit in this colorful and informative presentation. 

I wish to express appreciation and thanks to the ECO staff and the 

ECO Cultural Institute for their efforts in the preparation of this publication 

as well as the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism 

Organization (ICHTO) for their contribution towards the publication 

of the guide book. 

M. Yahya Maroofi 

Secretary General 

Economic Cooperation Organization

We, in the ECO region, are very fortunate that apart from the bonds of faith, 

history and cultural heritage, we share so much in so many diverse fields. We 

have strong commonalties in arts and crafts, language and literature, prose and 

poetry. These are evident in many of our precious literature, ancient monuments 

and historical land-marks, which are living symbols of a shared history, of a common 

past, of a life interlinked and lived together. 

Every element of cultural heritage is precious and unique. Multiple layers of history 

and the passage of time have created our heritage. Product of the 

bygone days are not subject to renewal nor are they a part of our inexhaustible 

resources. Our heritage has the right to be passed on to the 

future generations and at the same time it should grow richer through the 

creations and testimonies of our own time. 

Research and studies by UN experts on tourism have shown that tourist guide 

books can play an important role in educating travelers to respect heritage through 

promoting their awareness toward these important matters. 

Addressing this vital issue, based on the proposal by the ECO Secretariat, the 

1st ECO HLEG Meeting on Tourism assigned the task of preparation of the content 

of the ECO Tourist Guide Book to ECO Cultural Institute (ECI). 

It is a matter of privilege and honor to see that the drafts of the ECO Tourist 

Guide Book prepared by ECI, met with the unanimous approval of the 1st and 

2nd ECO Ministerial Meetings on Tourism held in Tehran and Antalya. 

Here, it deems necessary to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to ECO 

Secretariat and Member States for their valuable cooperation rendered towards 

the preparation of this unique publication. 

Last but not least, I wish to express my profound appreciation for the job 

accomplished by the ECI staff members, who have brought this project to fruition 

under often difficult circumstances. 

Finally, while ECI appreciates the valuable trust put on its shoulders by the 

esteemed Member States for the preparation of such an important book, it welcomes 

views and comments for the consideration of the next edition of this worthy 

publication. 

Hojatollah Ayoubi 

President 

ECO Cultural Institute

Content 

Introduction 

Country Profile 

Silk Road 

Useful Information 

Best Time to Visit the Country 

Visa Regulations 

Customs Regulations 

How to Get There & Away 

Getting Around 

Money 

Safety & Security 

ECO Embassies Telephone Numbers 

Health 

Telephone Codes of Major Cities 

Major Travel Agencies 

Arts & Crafts 

Decorative Arts 

Architecture & Archeological Objects 

Music & Musical Instruments 

Cinema & Theater 

Quranic Arts 

Ecotourism 

Top 10 Places to Visit 

5 Major Cities 

Places to See 

Places to Stay 

Where & What to Eat 

Where & What to Buy 

Etiquette- Do's & Don'ts 

Language Essentials

Color Code 

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 

Republic of Azerbaijan 

Islamic Republic of Iran 

Republic of Kazakhstan 

Kyrgyz Republic 

Islamic Republic of Pakistan 

Republic of Tajikistan 

Republic of Turkey 

Turkmenistan 

Republic of Uzbekistan

Islamic Republic of A F G H A N I S TA N 

Introduction 

8

Introduction 

Bordered by Pakistan in the south, by 

China to the east, by Iran to the west, 

and by Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and 

Uzbekistan to the north, Afghanistan 

stands at the crossroads of Asia. 

Throughout the country, the rugged 

Hindu Kush mountain range dominates 

the scenery. 

The current boundaries of 

Afghanistan were established in the late 

19th century as a 

result of British and 

Russian invasions. As 

the westernmost 

extension of the 

Himalayan, 

Karakorum, and 

Pamir mountain 

ranges, the Hindu 

Kush Mountains run 

southwesterly for 

about 1920 km 

before petering out 

in the province of 

Herat. 

For more than 

2000 years, 

Afghanistan has been 

the site of trade 

routes collectively known as the Silk 

Road, which lend to its importance as 

an historical link between eastern and 

western countries. The country's geographical 

proximity to the roots of early 

civilization endows the region with 

remains from the Indus Valley civilization 

of 2000 BC. 

When Alexander the Great entered 

ancient Afghan land in the country of 

Ariana, he found well established cities 

such as Herat and Kandahar before 

founding some of his own, such as Ai 

Khanoum on the Oxus, the current 

Amu Darya River. After the death of 

Alexander the Great, the Seleucid 

Empire – one of the successor states of 

the sprawling Macedonian Empire- centered 

the government on the Afghan 

city of Balkh, near modern Mazar-e 

Sharif. The Timurid and Mughal dynasties 

left their mark as well. 

Due to its service as an important 

center of learning and culture through 

various historical epochs, Balkh was 

soon coined as “Umm al Bilad” the 

mother of cities. 

In the second century BC, the largely 

Zoroastrian country of Afghanistan 

was introduced to 

the new religion of 

Buddhism. 

The mysterious 

Kushan Empire 

reigned during this 

period from the first 

to the third century 

BC from the capital 

near Kabul. 

Afghanistan 

became a pawn in 

the struggles over 

political ideology and 

commercial influence 

in the late 20th 

century and suffered 

the ruinous effects of 

an invasion by the Soviet Union in 

1979, the subsequent Soviet military 

presence in 1979-89, and a prolonged 

civil war in the 1990s. 

During recent years, increasing numbers 

of archaeological expeditions visited 

Afghanistan, unearthing artifacts of 

the country’s heritage, many of which 

the Kabul Museum houses. The Ghor 

province holds the world’s second 

tallest minaret, the 1957-discovered 

Minaret of Jam. 

Afghanistan’s position across ancient 

trade routes greatly influenced its history 

since it provided the path upon 

which its invaders settled. 

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10 




Country's Official Name 

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 

Flag Description 

Black at the hoist, Red 

in the middle with a centered 

white emblem that 

represents the 

Government, and Green at the edge; the emblem features 

a mosque with its mihrab facing Mecca encircled by a 

wreath on the left and the right and by a bold Islamic 

inscription above. 

Government Type 

Islamic Republic 

Legal System 

Based on mixed civil and Shari'a law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. 

Useful Link 

Ministry of Information & Culture 

www.moic.gov.af (Enlglish) 

Executive Branch 

The executive branch of the Afghan government consists of a powerful and popularly 

elected President and two Vice Presidents. 

Cabinet:25 ministers; under the new constitution, ministers are appointed by the 

President and approved by the National Assembly.

Elections: President 

Hamid Karzai 

became the first 

democratically elected 

President of 

Afghanistan on 

December, 7, 2004. 

Since 2002, Hamid 

Karzai led as 

theChairman of the 

Transitional 

Administration and 

Interim President. 

The President and two Vice 

Presidents are elected by direct vote for 

a five-year term and are eligible for a 

second term; if no candidate receives 

50% or more of the vote in the first 

round of voting, the two candidates 

with the most votes will participate in a 

second round; a president can only be 

elected for two terms. 

Legislative Branch 

The bicameral National 

Assembly consists of the Wolesi 

Jirga or House of People 

with249 seats, which is 

directly elected for fiveyear 

terms, and the 

Meshrano Jirga or 

House of Elders with 

102 seats. Of the 

seats, one-third is 

elected from provincial 

councils for fouryear 

terms, one-third is 

elected from local district 

councils for three-year 

terms, and one-third is nominated 

by the president for fiveyear 

terms. 

Note: On rare occasions, the 

government may convene a Loya 

Jirga (Grand Council) on issues 

relating to independence, 

national sovereignty, 

and territorial 

integrity. It can 

amend the provisions 

of the constitution 

and prosecute the 

President. It is made 

up of members of 

the National 

Assembly and chairpersons 

of the 

provincial and district 

councils. 

The Human Rights Commission 

established by the Bonn Agreement is 

charged with investigating human rights 

abuses and war crimes. 

Judicial Branch 

The constitution establishes a ninemember 

Stera Mahkama or Supreme 

11

12 



Court, in which its nine justices are appointed 

for 10-year terms by the President with 

the approval of the Wolesi Jirga, and subordinate 

High Courts and Appeals Courts. 

There is also a Minister of Justice. A separate 

Afghan Independent Human Rights 

Commission established by the Bonn 

Agreement is charged with investigating 

human rights abuses and war crimes. 

Official Languages and Local 

Dialects 

Pashto and Dari are Afghanistan’s official 

languages. Afghanistan’s Constitution stipulates 

that all other languages are “official” in 

the areas in which they are spoken by a 

majority of the population. Dari is spoken 

by more than one-third of the population and Pashto is spoken throughout Kabul 

and eastern and southern Afghanistan. Many Afghans are multi-lingual. Tajik and 

Turkic languages are spoken widely in the north. Local languages are Uzbeki, 

Nooristani, and Pashaei. Minor groups throughout the country also speak more 

than 70 other languages and numerous dialects. 

Capital City 

Kabul

Major Cities 

Kabul, Kandahar, 

Herat, Mazar-e- 

Sharif, Jalalabad 

Names of 

the Provinces 

1. Badakhshan, 2. 

Badghis, 3. Baghlan, 

4. Balkh, 5. Bamian, 

6. Daykundi 7. 

Farah, 8. Faryab, 9. 

Ghazni, 10. Ghowr, 

11. Helmand, 12. 

Herat, 13. Jowzjan, 14. Kabul, 15. 

Kandahar, 16. Kapisa, 17. Khowst, 18. 

Konar, 19. Kondoz, 20. Laghman, 21. 

Lowgar, 22. Nangarhar, 23. Nimruz, 24. 

Nooristan, 25. Oruzgan, 26. Paktia, 27. 

Paktika, 28. Panjshir, 29. Parvan, 30. 

Samangan, 31. Sare Pol, 32. Takhar, 33. 

Vardak, 34. Zabol 

Ethnic Groups 

The main ethnic groups are Pashton, 

Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, Aimaq, 

Baluch, and Nooristani. 

Country's Total Area 

652,225 km2 

Population 

32,738,376 (July 

2008 est.) 

Climate 

Afghanistan experiences 

dry climate and 

four distinct seasons. 

Summers are hot with 

plenty of sunshine; 

during the spring, 

flowers bloom across 

the country; falls are 

mild; and winters are 

cold and snowy in 

most areas. Average 

rainfall is 250mm per 

year. 

Holidays and 

National Days 

Nowroz: (March 

21st) marks the first 

day of spring, the 

New Year Jashn (festival). 

Eid al-Fitr: The 

day marking the culmination 

of the 

month of fasting, Ramadan. 

Eid al-Adha: The 10th day of the 

12th month of the Hijri calendar, which 

commemorates Prophet Abraham’s 

devotion to Allah. 

Ashura: The 10th day of the month 

of Muharram is a day of mourning 

commemorating the martyrdom of 

Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) grandson, 

Imam Hussein, at the battle of 

Karbala. 

Mawlood al-Nabi: The 12th day of 

the month of Rabi al-Awwal of the Hijri 

calendar, which celebrates the 

Prophet’s birthday. 

Jashn-e-Esteghlal: Afghanistan’s 

Independence Day 

– August 19th. 

Time Zone 

GMT +4.30 

13


Silk Road 

14 

Silk Road 

Scientific research and archeological discoveries maintain that ancient 

Afghanistan was the primary center of civilization and culture in Central Asia and 

the fifth among the seven centers of world civilizations. Due to its geographical 

location as a connecting bridge between China, India, Mesopotamia, the Eastern 

Mediterranean coast, Egypt, Greece and Rome, Afghanistan played a vital role in 

the integration of the various civilizations for centuries. This led scholars and 

researchers to name the country, "The Crossroad of Civilizations and Cultures.” 

Archaeological remains sponsor Afghanistan’s 50,000 year old history, and artifacts 

attesting to its cultural and political history endorse the country’s 5,000 year 

old presence as a hub for the exchange of ideas and goods. During Afghanistan’s 

history, it experienced five periods of civilizations, the Vedic, the Avestan, the 

Greco-Bactrian, the Greco-Buddhist, and the Islamic. 

The most powerful empire throughout Afghanistan’s history, the Kushanid 

dynasty, ruled the country and a conquered parts of Asia from 40-220 AD. 

Kajula Kadific founded the dynasty and his son, Vema Kadific, ascended the 

throne after him and established ties with the Roman Empires’ Trojan court after 

conquering northern India. Through the newly tied relations, the Romans fulfilled 

their demands for Chinese silk and Indian spices at the international trade market 

of Balkh. 

The Kushan dynasty’s greatest ruler, Kanishka the Great, ruled from121-160 AD. 

He defeated the Parthians in the northwest,captured eastern Turkistan at the current 

location of China’s Sinkiang of China, and gained the famous cities of Kashgar,

Yarkand, and Khotan. With these victories, 

he established his rule and control 

over a great part of Asia 

including India, 

Kashgarstan, Central Asia, 

Afghanistan and Iran. 

Kanishka shifted his capital 

from Balkh in the north of 

the Hindu Kush to Kapisa, 

Begram, in the south of the 

Hindu Kush. Subsequently, 

Begram became the summer 

capital and Peshawar 

became the winter capital 

of his empire. 

During the 25-220 AD 

era, China’s Han dynasty, 

Central Asia’s Kushan 

dynasty, the Roman Empire, 

and the Persian Sassanid Empire 

enjoyed strong and secure trade relations. 

The Silk Road helped connect 

these civilizations, and the Ariana, 

ancient Afghanistan, civilization served 

as the main link between the close and 

distant cultures and civilizations. The 

Silk Road was the greatest and the most 

important continental highway between 

the second and the fifteenth centuries 

AD. The starting points of 

the highway were Xian, 

Loyang, and Beijing of 

China while the ending 

points were Ephesus and 

Miletus in Turkey. 

In the second century 

AD, the route was 11,000 

km long, and 35,000 twin 

humped Bactrian camels 

carried the commodities of 

different countries. Between 

every 24 km along the highway, 

a caravanserai was 

established for lodging and 

resting. It took the caravans 

about six months to travel 

between points and three months to 

reach Balkh. 

Balkh developed as the first center 

for the ancient Afghan civilization, and 

for thirteen centuries, the Silk Road 

linked together more than 364 cities, 

places, and sites of Asia. 

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The optimal time to visit the northern 

and eastern provinces of Afghanistan is 

during the Summer, and Spring’s New 

Year’s holiday draws vacationers to 

Mazar-e-Sharif for the Rose Festival, 

Jashn-e-Gol-e-Sorkh. The southern and 

western provinces are more enjoyable 

during the Spring. 

Visa Regulations 

Visitors to Afghanistan must render a 

valid passport, a passport copy, and 

three passport photos in order to complete 

the visa application form. Visas 

may be obtained at any of the Afghan 

consulates and embassies around the 

world. The basic tourism visa entitles a 

visitor to stay 30 days in Afghanistan. It 

is recommended that this one-month 

visa be obtained before visiting 

Afghanistan. 

Customs Regulations 

There is no customs duty on personal 

items. However, searches are done by 

the Ministry of Finance for prohibited 

and controlled exports and imports. For 

example, drugs and other illegal substances 

and objects are prohibited by 

law. 

How to Get There & Away 

By Road 

Travel to Afghanistan is possible 

through the highways that connect the 

main provinces to the neighboring 

countries and by taxi, bus, or a car with 

a legal permit. The possible paths are to 

Herat from Iran or Turkmenistan, to 

Kandahar from Pakistan, to Ningarhar 

from Pakistan, to Nimrooz from Iran or 

Pakistan, to Badakhshan from Tajikistan, 

and to Balkh from Uzbekistan. 

The most picturesque way to enter 

Afghanistan is through the Khyber Pass, 

starting at Peshawar in Pakistan. The 

drive through to Kabul via Jalalabad 

takes about eight hours. In Peshawar, 

one must obtain a police permit to 

enter the border area – a condition 

strictly enforced. 

An exciting yet arduous route is from 

Chitral over the 14,800-ft Dorah Pass. 

This three-day journey by group leads 

to Skarzer, a village close to the lapis 

lazuli mines of the Blue Mountain. 

Traders carrying lapis out of Afghanistan 

used the route for centuries. On the 

path, one can expect to see caravans of 

donkeys loaded with blue stone. 

The other main land route into 

Afghanistan involves crossing the Oxus 

from Termez in Uzbekistan, using the 

bridge that the invading Soviets named 

"Friendship Bridge". An Uzbek and an 

Afghan visa are suggested for crossing. 

Ministry of Finance 

Tel: +93(75)2004199 

Fax: +93 (20) 2103280 

E-Mail: Info@mof.gov.af 

By Air 

Ariana 

Ariana is Afghanistan's national airline 

and operates on domestic and international 

routes, including flights to

Ankara, Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe, 

Islamabad, Istanbul, Urumqi, Tehran, 

Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Moscow and 

Frankfurt. 

Website: http://www.flyariana.com 

Kam Air 

Kam Air is Afghanistan's first private 

airline and flies between Kabul and 

Dubai daily, to Almaty on Mondays, to 

New Delhi on Mondays, Wednesdays 

and Fridays, to Mashhad on 

Wednesdays and to Istanbul on 

Fridays). 

Tel: +93 (20) 2200447 

Website: http://www.flykamair.com/ 

Email: info@flykamair.com 

Air Arabia 

Air Arabia has direct flights from 

Sharja, UAE to Kabul. It flies between 

28 cities in the Middle East & South 

Asia. 

Website: http://www.airarabia.com 

Azerbaijani Airlines 

Azerbaijani Airlines flies from Baku to 

15 regional cities in Europe, Asia, and 

the Middle East. It flies every Monday 

and Wednesday from Baku to Kabul. 

Tel 1: +994 (12) 598-88-80 

Tel 2: +994 (12) 493-7121 

Fax: 994 (12) 437-40-87 

Website: http://www.azal.az 

Email: booking@azal.az 

PIA 

Pakistan International Airlines flies 

three times per week between 

Islamabad and Kabul. 

IA 

Indian Airlines operates four times 

per week from New Delhi. 

Pactec International 

The humanitarian organization flies 

individuals from Islamabad to Kabul 

once per week. 

Tel1: +93 (70) 260-203 

Tel2: +41 (0) 22 348 94 37 

Email1: airops-afg@pactec.net 

Email2:pactecinfo@pactec.net 

Afghan Airports 

http://afghanairlines.tripod.com/airports/airports.html 

Travelling Around 

By Land 

The Afghan Tourism Organization 

offers travel advice for tourists, and the 

Millie Bus Company runs its 1960spopular 

travel service. The route 

through the Salang Tunnel reduces the 

driving time between Kabul and northern 

Afghanistan from 72 hours to 10 

hours. An international driver’s license 

is required of non-Afghan drivers. 

Urban residents commute by bus, taxi, 

and bicycle. In Kabul, there are more 

than forty thousand taxies, and fares are 

negotiated with the driver before 

boarding. Many buses operate within 

Kabul and its suburban areas as well. In 

the countryside, alternative sources of 

transportation are available, such as 

travel by foot, donkey, horse and 

camel. Minibuses depart from Begrami 

Motor Park on the outskirts of Kabul on 

the Jalalabad Road, which can be 

reached from Shahr-e-Nau by taxi for 

150 Afghani (Afn). The rides to 

Jalalabad cost 200 Afn and last three 

hours, and rides to the Pakistani border 

at Torkham cost 300 Afn and last four 

and a half hours. 

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A few buses leave early in the morning 

from Pul-e-Mahmoud Khan, close 

to the Id Gah Mosque. All transportation 

arriving in Kabul from the east terminates 

at Begrami and is not allowed 

into central Kabul for security reasons. 

A quick way to reach the border is to 

hire a taxi for 2500 Afn. 

The transport heading north through 

the Salang Tunnel departs from Serai 

Shomali Transport Depot in the Khair 

Khana district on the edge of Kabul. 

From there, minibuses travel to Mazar-e 

Sharif in eight hours for500 Afn , to Pule 

Khumri in four hours for 200Afn, to 

Samangan in five hours for 300Afn, to 

Kunduz in ten hours for 400Afn, and to 

Faisabad in one and a half days for 

800Afn. Serai Shomali also provides 

transport to Istalif in 1½ hours for 

30Afn, to Paghman in 30 minutes for 

30Afn, and to Charikar in 30 minutes 

for 40Afn. 

Bamiyan can be reached via minibus 

from Kote Sangi,also called Pul-e-Socta, 

of west Kabul in nine to eleven hours 

for 400Afn,and it usually follows the 

southern route through the Hajigak and 

Unai Passes, for which security information 

is recommended. 

The prices and times given are for 

16-seater Hi-Ace minibuses. Smaller 

Town-Ace buses fill up and leave quicker 

and are more expensive. Shared taxis 

depart from the same terminal are 

faster and cost up to a third more, yet 

seats cannot be arranged in advance. It 

is recommended to arrive early 

The distances between Kabul and 

major cities and tourist centers are as 

follows: 1,050 km to Herat, 260 km to 

Bamiyan, 490 km to Balkh, and 150 

km to Ningarhar. 

By Air 

Internal flights link the country's 

major cities, and travelers who can provide 

accreditation from NGOs can use 

Pactec Air services. For tickets arranged 

with Kam Air or Ariana , the flight 

coupons are issued the day before the 

flight. Kam Air flies to Herat daily and 

Faisabad twice a week. Ariana Airlines 

has flights to Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, 

Faisabad, Kandahar, and Jalalabad. 

Money 

Currency unit 

Afghani (Afn) 

The different denomination currency 

notes are: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 

1000 Afghani, and the different valued 

coins are 1, 2, and 5 Afghani. Credit 

cards are available, and money transfer 

is accessible with banks. 

Banks 

Afghanistan’s Central Bank has 

licensed twelve commercial banks to 

date. Seven of the banks are fullfledged 

commercial banks and the 

remaining five are branches of foreign 

banks. 

Afghan-American Trading Company 

The official representative of the U.S. 

Central Bank offers free transfers of 

funds from the United States to 

Afghanistan. 

Tel: (212) 594-6744 

Email: aatc1943@hotmail.com 

Afghanistan International Bank 

(AIB) 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul 

Tel: +93 (70) 220-883 

Email: inayatullah.fazli@aib.af

Shahr-e-Naw, Haji Yaqoob Square, 

Shahabudin Watt, 

P.O. Box No. 2070, Kabul 

Tel: +93 (0) 20 255 0 255 

Email: info@aib.af 

Arian Bank 

Shahr-e Nau 

Tel: +93 (79) 420-420 

Mr. Atarodi, Manager 0093 (0)20 – 

220 – 3994 

Email: cm-kabul@arian-bank.com.af, 

info-kabul@arian-bank.com.af 

Azizi Bank 

Malik Asghar Square, next to the 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul 

Tel: +93 (0) 799-129-999 

Email: info@azizibank.com 

Website: www.azizibank.com 

Main Road, Kabul 

Zambaq Square, Opposite Turkish 

Embassy 

+93 799 700 900 

Email: customercare@azizbank.com 

Bank Melli Afghan 

Close to Kabul Serena 

Tel: +93 (20) 210-1804 

Habib Bank 


Tel: +93 (79) 572-754 

Email: blklcm@hotmatil.com 

Kabul Bank 

10-42, Torbazkhan, Sharer Nau, 

Kabul 

Tel1: +93 (70) 285-285 

Tel2: 0700 222666 

National Bank of Pakistan 


Tel: +93 (79) 021-710 +93 

0799312301 

Email: nbpkl@neda.af nbpkbl@hotmail.com 

Website: www.nbp.com.pk 

Punjab National Bank 


Tel1: +93 (70) 237-847 

Tel2: +93 (20) 2301774 

Email: pnbkabul@gmail.com 

Standard Chartered Bank 


Tel1: +93 (79) 320-874 

Tel2: +93 (79) 900 7777 

Western Union 

Western Union is available for cash 

transfer at three locations in Kabul: 

A.K Rashidzada Corporation 

Building 296, Street #13 

Wazir Akbar Khan 

Tel: +93 (79) 325-777 

Electronic Transfer Services 

92 Sarai Shahzada 

Tel: +93 (79) 325-777 

Electronic Transfer Services 

Char Rahi Ansari North Western 

Corner (Next to Dunya Travel Services) 

Tel: +93 (79) 325-777 

Website: www.westernunion.com 

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Safety and Security 

Police and emergency telephone 

numbers are 100 and 119. 

It is not permissible to enter forbidden 

areas. In many other areas security 

guards are in service. 

Security information and recommendations 

can be obtained from Afghan 

Tour and Afghanistan Tourism 

Organization (ATO) in Kabul. 

The following two government organizations 

are the official tourism bodies 

in the country: 

Afghan Tourism Organization (ATO) 

P.O. Box 281 Kabul, Afghanistan 

Tel1: 0093-020-2300338 

Tel2: 93 799470172 

Ministry of Information, Culture 

& Tourism 

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt, adjacent to 

Spinzer Hotel, Kabul 

www.moic.gov.af 

Embassy telephone numbers 

Embassy of I.R. Iran 

Solh Ave, Gharar Rah Shir Pour, Kabul 

Tel: (+93 - 20) 2101392 

Email: iranembkabul@mfa.gov.ir 

Embassy of Rep. Kazakhstan 

H# 11, 1st Alley, Indira Gandhi St, 


Tel1: (+93-20)-2101452 

Tel2: (+93 – 20) 2300960 

Email: kazembaf@multinet 

Embassy of the I.R. Pakistan 

H# 10, Najat Watt, Wazir Akbar 

Khan, Kabul 

Tel: (+93-20) 2300911 

Email: pakemkbl@yahoo.com 

Embassy of Rep. Tajikistan 

H# 41, St. 15, Wazir Akbar Khan, 

Kabul 

Tel1: (+93-20)-2101080 

Tel2: (+93-20) 300392 

Email: kabultj@tojikiston.com 

Embassy of Rep. Turkey 

134, Shah Mahmoud Ghazi Watt, 

Kabul 

Tel: (+98-20)-2101581 

Email: kabil.be@mfa.gov.tr 

Embassy of Turkmenistan 

H# 280, Lane 3, St. 13, Wazir 

Akbar Khan, Kabul 

Tel1: (+93-20)-2300541 

Tel2: (+93-20) 2302550 

Email: tmembkabul@gmail.com 

Embassy of Rep. Uzbekistan 

Kartae-3, Khwaja Mulla Watt, Kabul 

Tel: (+93-20)- 2500431 

Email: mirnodir@hotmail.com

Health 

Medication is inexpensive and readily 

available without a prescription in 

Kabul. The high passes of Badakhshan 

can cause altitude sickness, for whichdoctors 

prescribe acetalzolamide to be 

taken to help acclimatization. 

Dexamethasone is recommended for 

acute edema, which is caused by the 

most severe form of altitude sickness. A 

person suffering from altitude sickness 

should be transferred to a lower altitude 

as soon as possible, regardless of 

drug ingestion. Oral rehydration salts 

are recommended to counteract the 

dehydration from the climate and diarrhea. 

Telephone Codes of Major 

Cities 

Country Code +93 

Kabul 20 

Kandahar 30 

Herat 40 

Balkh 50 

Nangarhar 60 

Major Travel Agencies 

Anaar Travel Agencies 

opposite Indian Embassy 

Interior Ministry Road. 

Shahre Nau, Kabul. 

Tel: +93 (79) 308-303, 309-713 

Email: contact@anaartravels.com 

Website: www.anaartravels.com 

The Great Game Travel Company 

Afghanistan 

PO Box 361, Central Post Office, 

Kabul 

Tel: +93 (799) 489-120 

Email: Kabul@greatgametravel.com 

Website: 

http://www.greatgametravel.com 

Park Tourism Services 

Park residence Building, Ansari 

Aquare, 

P.O. Box 5459, Shahr-e-Nau, Kabul 

Tel: +93-20- 2200459, 

Fax1: +873-761-270292873 

Website: http://www.tours@park 

tourism.com 

Afghan Travel Center 

1 Mohammad Jaankhan Watt, Kabul 

Tel: +93 - 79388901 

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Arts & Crafts 

Arts & Crafts 

Decorative Arts 

Afghanistan has an historic background in the field of decorative 

art. Stonework art was common during the Greco- 

Bactrian period,2,200 years ago, and later technological 

advances led to its machine-based production. Wood 

carving and jewelry art are prevalent in Afghan art 

and have roots to the Nooristan region.A celebrated 

example is the collection of the remaining jewels 

from Tela Tapa that date back to 2,000 years.. 

Ceramic and monumental paintings are also celebrated 

art forms that are demonstrated through 

ancient minarets and buildings, the Herat Blue 

Mosque, calligraphy, book binding, textile, and 

glassware, which has origins to second century AD 

Begram. Glassware art later flourished during the 

Timurid Empire in the city of Herat, where glasswaremaking 

workshops are a popular tourist attraction. 

Leather work can be found in Kabul with its many 

leather-goods shops, embroidered work is popular in 

Kandahar province, which specializes in embroidered 

clothes, and Afghanistan’s rug and carpet 

weaving date back to the fifth century 

AD. 

Precious Gems & Stones 

Afghanistan's rugged Hindu Kush mountain range and 

the region's fierce indigenous inhabitants, the Chitral and 

Nooristani Kafir, contribute dual-enigmatic and foreboding 

elements that create a natural fortress of defense for the 

landscape’s treasure-trove of underexploited minerals. The 

rough countryside is home to a wide range of precious gemstones, 

such as aquamarine, emerald, garnet, kunzite, 

lapis lazuli, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, 

turquoise, and zircon. 

Lapis Lazuli 

Gemstone mining in Afghanistan dates 

back 6,500 years to the gem mines of its 

northeastern region in the Badakhshan 

province and the Panjshir, “Five Lions,” valley. 

The Kokcha valley’s Sar-e-Sang mines 

produced lapis lazuli, one of the first gems 

to be extracted from the region and widely 

regarded as the world's premier source in

terms of quantity and quality value. 

Its name derives from the Latin 

word “lapis,” meaning stone 

and the Persian word “lazhward,” 

meaning blue. It is 

used to make beads and 

boxes and is popularly 

used for men's jewelry. 

It is mined in Blue 

Mountain on the right 

bank of the Kokcha River. 

The mines sit at over 11,000 

feet on the mountain, and 

because of the cold temperatures, 

they are worked in 

between June and September. 

Ruby 

The ruby, the “king of precious 

stones,” is mined in Kabul province’s 

Jegdalek-Gandamak, which contains 

rubies ranging from nearly colorless to 

a deep red, and often purplish. 

The Jegdalek mines have been home 

to ruby, as well as sapphire mining in 

Afghanistan for over seven hundred 

years and are located in a remote and 

inaccessible region, 100 kilometers east 

of Kabul and south of Jalalabad. 

Of the production in the mines, 75% 

is in the form of pink to violet-pink sapphire, 

rubies account for 15%, and blue 

sapphire is responsible for 10%. Much 

of the region's gem production is transported 

through the 

Khyber Pass to dealers 

in Peshawar, 

Pakistan. 

Emerald 

A precious form 

of beryl is found in 

the Parwan 

province’s Panjshir 

valley, which based 

its wealth on silver 

during the Middle 

Ages and craters caused by Soviet 

bombing. 

A precious form of beryl is 

found in the Panjshir valley of 

the Parwan province. The 

valley based its wealth on silver 

during the Middle Ages 

and turned to emerald in the 

late 20th century after it was 

discovered in the craters caused 

by Soviet bombing. 

According to local history, a young 

shepherd found the deposits in the 

early 1970s, although Pliny's 

Natural History states that “smaragus,” 

which means green stones, 

were found in the region in the first 

century AD. 

Housing 

and Wood 

Carving 

Outside the 

cities, Afghan 

housing continues 

in the 

form of traditional 

dwellings fabricated 

according to 

their regional variation made from 

stone, wood, unbaked clay, or mud 

with straw plaster. 

In the rugged 

mountainous regions, 

such houses are built 

in tiers, with the roof 

of one house forming 

the yard of another, 

in order to conserve 

the flat, fertile river 

valley land for farming. 

The inner courtyards 

of these houses 

provide an outside 

space and view with 

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Arts & Crafts 

maximum privacy and are frequently 

decorated with handcarved 

walnut wood eaves and 

panels. 

Hand-carved doors and window 

frames and wall and ceiling 

plaster incised and painted 

with flowers, pictures, or 

depictions of daily life may be 

found in many areas. 

In Kabul, such decorative 

wood carving is done by professionals 

and by few apprentices 

and is at risk of dying out. 

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) commissioned some instrument makers to do 

domestic architecture restoration work. 

More on Arts & Crafts 

Artistic activity in Afghanistan can be traced back to early 1800 BC. In the 

Islamic era, the Ghaznavid rulers of the 10th – 12th centuries and the Ghorids 

of the 12th – 13th centuries fostered artistic development. Continuing through 

the Timurid dynasty, Afghanistan’s cultural life prospered through the rulers’ high 

regard for artists and learning. The descendants of Timur turned the city of 

Herat into a center of cultural activity, enticing artists such as Abdul Rahman 

Jami, Abdulhay, and Kamal-uddin Bihzad to create finely illustrated books and 

exquisite buildings. 

One of the most famous local arts is the Gandhara art of the 1st - 7th centuries, 

which is based on Greco-Buddhist art. Since the 1900s, Afghanistan began to use 

Western techniques in art, and while the country’s art was originally done by men 

only, recently in theater arts, women have begun to take center stage. 

National art is largely centered at the Kabul Museum. Other well known art 

forms in Afghanistan are music, poetry, and the centuries-old carpet-making. 

Calligraphy 

In the absence of figural motifs, 

calligraphy became the most important 

element of decoration next to 

the geometrical ornamentation and 

used various techniques and styles. 

The angular, geometric Kufic script, 

which is named after the Iraqi city of Kufa, was well suited for monumental patterns 

and large, long surfaces. 

The early austere Kufic developed into more decorative floral, foliated and plaited 

varieties. An angular version developed in Herat, became known as Herati 

Kufic. The first cursive scripts used in manuscripts also made their appearance in 

architecture, and their main types were the naskhi and the thulth. 

Timur, also known as Tamerlane, the founder of the Timurid dynasty who con-

quered most of the old Sassanid 

Empire, India and Central Asia, had a 

high regard for men of learning, artists 

and artisans. He 

encouraged many 

such men in the 

conquered lands 

and dispatched 

them to his capital 

in Samarkand, 

where he had elegant buildings erected. 

After Timur's death in 1405, his son, 

Shahrukh inherited most of the land of 

Persia and set up his capital in Herat, 

which , became the greatest center of 

cultural activity for the arts, literature, 

and architecture during the 100-year 

Timurid rule. 

His sons were major patrons of the 

fine arts in Herat, Fars, and Samarkand, 

and he appointed Baysunghur to the 

governorship of Herat, where his son 

established an important atelier for the 

production of finely illustrated books 

and art works for buildings. 

He gathered the best artists and calligraphers 

in his atelier, called 

Kitabkhana, and employed 200 artists, 

including 40 master calligraphers. A 

report by the head of 

the Kitabkhana, Ja'far 

Tabrizi, dating back 

to around 1433, is 

indicative of the atelier's 

activities: book 

production and 

designs for decorating 

tents, saddles, 

and buildings. The 

illustrated books produced 

by this atelier 

rank were among the 

finest and include the 

famous Shahnameh, 

known as Baysunghur 

Shahnameh, which 

was completed in 1430. 

The books were worked on by the 

famous artists Abdulhay, Mir Khalili and 

Pir Ahmad, who 

were sent to 

Samarkand by 

Timur. Baysunghur 

further attracted 

other master artists 

to his atelier in 

Herat; the books produced there are 

kept in various libraries and museums 

in Iran, Turkey, Europe, and America. 

Art of Book and Miniature 

Painting 

In the late 15th century, under the 

long and stable rule of Sultan Husayn 

Bayqara, arts and culture flourished further 

and Herat became a renowned 

center of excellence. Many famous 

artists, literati, builders, and musicians 

flocked to the city. 

The sultan and his able Vizir, Amir Ali 

Shir, generously patronized these men, 

and in the last quarter of the 15th century, 

many able painters, including 

Kamale-Din Bihzad, the greatest master 

of Persian painting, were active in the 

production of superb illustrated books. 

In the cultural atmosphere 

of Herat, 

Bihzad flourished as 

both a superbly talented 

painter and a 

master of spiritual 

learning. 

He went beyond 

the visual appeal of 

painting to the deeper 

meaning of 

reflecting the text 

that he was illustrating, 

and thus, 

achieved a particular 

mastery in depicting 

spiritual or Sufi nar- 

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Arts & Crafts 

ratives. 

Supreme in his design, coloring, 

and fineness of brushwork, 

Bihzad gave a dynamic 

and naturalistic touch to his 

paintings, which are unique in 

Islamic painting. He produced 

a renowned illustrated versions 

of Nizami's Khamse, “the 

Quintet,” and of some legendary 

classical Persian literature, 

such as Amir Khosrau 

Dehlavi's Hasht Bihisht, “Eight 

Paradises.” 

Monumental Painting 

The 11th century-arrival of glaze introduced color coating for building surfaces. 

Glaze was made of cobalt, sulphur, arsenic, and various metal oxides. At first, 

glazed bricks were used for inscriptions and epigraphic friezes to decorate the 

mihrab niche and entrance gate, and from the 14th century onwards, the use of 

color became wide spread. 

The first colors were white, turquoise and blue. The 15th century buildings, such 

as the Green Mosque in Balkh and the Shrine of Gazargah and the Mausoleum of 

Gawhar Shad in Herat, mark the peak of this technique. Rare cases of wall painting 

were found in the form of frescoes in the palace of Ashkari Bazaar. Wall painting 

became more frequent after the 17th century and was used in parts of Gazargah 

and Takht-i-Pul. They employed a wide range of ornamental motifs that divide into 

two categories, geometrical and floral/ vegetal. Also, some Chinese motifs, such as 

clouds and dragons – can be found on wall paintings. 

Ceramics 

Ceramic production in Afghanistan followed 

the traditions of neighboring Central 

Asian lands, the Iranian plateau, and the 

Indus valley. Traces of prehistoric pottery 

were found in Mundigak, a crossroads of 

trade routs near Kandahar. 

Some earthen wares, goblets, and 

beakers depicting geometric or animal decoration 

in black or brown on a lighter 

ground recall the early ceramics of Quetta 

and Kulliin, Pakistan as well as those of 

Susa in the 3rd millennium BC. South of 

the upper Oxus valley, the Greco-Bactrian 

site of Ai Khanoum of the late 4th century 

- 145 BC produced numerous shards that 

were gathered into three main groups: Persian wares of the Achaemenian period,

which carry white and red slip decoration 

and some New Greek shapes of 

fish dishes and craters; 

wares of Greece and Asia Minor, 

which have a dark grey body and a 

black slip for small and large ewers, 

dishes, and bowls; and a third group, in 

which new and large dishes have a 

black or white slip and ewers have handles 

decorated with a female head. 

The use of glaze 

appeared with the 10th 

century-arrival of the 

Islamic period, when 

slip-painting and sgraffito 

techniques began to 

enhance dishes, bowls, 

and pourers. The motifs 

ranged from complex 

squares and "s" shapes 

to pseudo-Kufic lines. 

As done in neighboring 

lands since the12th century, 

monuments were 

enhanced by glazed 

brick decoration. 

A famous example of 

the ornamentation done 

in turquoise stands high 

on the minaret of Jam, 

which was erected in 

1193-94. During the 

rule of the Timurids in 

the 15th century, a 

series of monuments 

were erected in Herat, 

such as the tomb of Musalla of Gawhar 

Shad, the forceful wife of Shahrukh. 

The tomb’s outer walls are covered in 

the bannai technique, in which white, 

blue, turquoise, and black glazed bricks 

are geometrically patterned within plain 

bricks. 

In the village of Istalif near Kabul, the 

folk potters produced attractive yet 

haphazard turquoise glazed wares, 

which attracted visitors in between 

wartime and included four-legged 

beasts, farm animals, figurines, bowls, 

and dishes. 

Rugs & Carpets 

Afghanistan’s leading producers of 

carpets and rugs are the Turkomans. 

Although they are sedentary people, 

they were originally nomads, herding 

flocks of sheep and goats across the 

rolling steppes of 

Central Asia, and they 

lived in yurts, circular 

domed tents seen from 

outer Mongolia to the 

Caspian Sea. 

In this self-sufficient 

and ovine-based economy, 

wool was and is 

used extensively. 

Besides carpets and 

rugs, the Turkomans 

produced countless 

items made from wool 

for yurt furnishings and 

daily domestic needs. 

This was done because 

of wood and metals’ 

transportation and 

acquirement difficulties 

and the materials’ 

inflexibility. 

In yurts, the specially 

woven Purdah carpet, 

which is recognizable 

by its cross design 

that divides it into four different panels, 

hangs from the upper corners and 

acts as an entrance door. Having no 

furniture, the nomads stored their 

clothes and household possessions in 

special, handmade woven and knotted 

bags. 

The Turkoman carpet designs are 

reputable for being woven entirely from 

memory; graph paper patterns are used 

when resuscitating old designs or weav- 

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Arts & Crafts 

ing new or unfamiliar designs. Originally, the patterns and designs used would very 

clearly signify the tribe and clan that wove the carpet. 

The width of the carpet being woven determines the number of weavers needed. 

A carpet starts and ends in a band of flat weave called the Kilim. In its various 

versions, the Kilim displays a design, is made up of lateral bands of color, is embroidered, 

or is dyed. 

The vast majority of Turkoman weavers are women and 

girls though among the Turkomans, and especially among 

the Uzbeks, there is an increasing number of boys and 

youth who are learning this craft. They are usually 

unmarried, since the responsibilities of marriage force 

them to abandon this means of livelihood. 

Afghan Embroidery 

Afghanistan is a land of harsh steppes and 

mountain valleys crisscrossed by irrigation channels 

sparkling in the sun. In this arid landscape 

the embroideries of Afghan women glow with 

bright exotic flowers. Afghanistan’s embroidery is 

done by women and young girls in the privacy of their homes as they decorate fabrics 

with threads of gold, silver, silk, and wool. 

Literature 

Folklore and legends told in the form of songs are a centuries-old tradition in 

Afghanistan. The system developed a rich literary tradition and continues to thrive. 

During the medieval period, literature was written in Dari, Pashto, Turkic, and 

Arabic. The royal courts of the regional empires, such as of the Samanids, the 

Ghaznavids, the Timurids, and the Mughals, were great patrons of Persian literature 

and supported the literary geniuses like Rumi, Khaje, Abdullah Ansari, and 

Jami. 

Mawlana Jalal-uddin Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi, is considered the 

greatest Afghan poet of the Persian Dari language and his works are studied 

throughout the world. Khushal Khan Khatak was a Pashtun warrior, poet, and tribal 

chief of the Khattak tribe, who wrote his poems in Pashto during the reign of the

Mughal emperors in the 7th century. 

He advised Afghans to forsake their 

divisive tendencies and to unite. 

Architecture & 

Archaeological Objects 

The region has 

made major contributions 

to world 

architecture. 

UNESCO has 

acknowledged 

Afghanistan's role by 

declaring the Minaret 

of Jam as a World 

Heritage Site along 

with the Valley of 

Bamiyan for its 

famous statues of the 

Buddha that the 

Taliban destroyed in 

2001. Other examples 

of significant 

contributions to 

architecture may be 

found in Herat, 

Mazar-e-Sharif, and Ghazni. 

Some of the most famous monuments 

of Islamic architecture are to be 

found in Afghanistan, and the country’s 

oldest surviving Islamic model is the 9th 

century-mosque of Noh Gumbad, 

“Nine Domes,” near the town of Balkh. 

The Noh 

Gumbad 

belongs to the 

transitional 

period of 

medieval 

architecture 

when pre- 

Islamic traditions 

began to 

mix with 

emerging new 

features, foreshadowing 

a new architectural style that 

later dominated the country during the 

10th - 12th centuries. Also near Balkh, 

there stands the 15th - 16th centurybuilt 

Shrine of Khoja Abu Nasr, called 

the Green Mosque. It is characterized 

by a large iwan flanked by two truncated 

minarets, and 

behind it, there is an 

octagonal building 

with a ribbed dome 

on a high drum. 

In the south of the 

country, there 

remain the ruins of 

the city of Bost, also 

called Lashkargah, 

and of the palaces of 

Lashkari Bazaar date, 

which date from the 

10th - 11th century. 

The group consists of 

three palaces with 

courtyards, gardens, 

and auxiliary structures 

inside a walled 

enclosure, and the 

monuments in Ghazni date to the same 

period. They consist of two monumental 

towers and the tomb of Sultan 

Mahmud, which is a marble-faced sarcophagus 

decorated with superb calligraphy 

in Kufic and Naskhi. The towers 

are star-shaped with intricate designs of 

monochrome 

small bricks 

and carved terracotta, 

and 

they were originally 

taller, but 

the top circular 

parts no longer 

exist . The larger, 

Masud III 

tower dates to 

between 1099 

and 1114, and 

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Arts & Crafts 

the smaller one of Bahramshah, dates back to the middle of the 12th century. 

The 16th century mausoleum of Sultan Abdul Razzak is a plain brick structure 

with semi-circular corner towers and four iwans with high pishtaq walls. 

The Minaret of Jam of the12th century lies in the desolate mountainous region of 

Ghor. With a height of 65 meters, it is the second tallest minaret in the Islamic 

world. 

In the Valley of Bamiyan, the fortress of 

Shahr-i-Zohak was originally a pre-Islamic 

castle built during the 6th - 7th century 

and rebuilt in the 11th - 12th century. The 

old city of Bamiyan, the ruins of which are 

known as the Shahr-i-Gholgola, “City of 

Murmurs,” was built in the 11th century 

and later destroyed, like the Shahr-i- 

Zohak, by the Mongols of Genghis Khan. 

In the west of the country and most 

exposed to Iranian influence, is the city of 

Herat, where some of the most outstanding 

monuments can be found. The Friday 

Mosque depicts 14th - 15th century 

design and bears the marks of various 

reconstructions and earlier origins, some 

of which date back to the beginning of 

the Islamic era. It emulates a traditional 

Iranian four-iwan mosque. The mausoleum ascribed to Queen Gawhar Shad is 

yet another fine example of late-Islamic - medieval architecture. 

Situated to north of the city of Herat, the Shrine of Khoja Abdullah Ansari, also 

known as Gazargah, “the Bleaching Ground,” remains as one of the most complex 

and interesting sites in the Islamic world. 

An important place of pilgrimage, the Shrine of Hazrat Ali in the city of Mazare-Sharif 

was built in the late 15th century, before decadence set in, was rebuilt 

and restored several times, and shows strong Indian influences in its architecture. 

East of Balkh, the mosque of Takht-i-Pul has three domed halls with well-preserved 

decoration painting on the inside, and it exhibits a mixture of traditional 

Indian and Islamic styles. 

Housing 

Most traditional houses in 

Afghanistan are made of a 

series of rooms located around 

a private rectangular courtyard, 

where women cook and 

socialize and children play. 

Married sons share their parents' 

house and have separate 

quarters. 

Some Afghan houses contain

a special room exclusively for 

men’s socializing. 

In the cities, many Afghans 

live in apartments. There are 

many new modern designed 

houses available in all the 

major cities of the country. 

The nomadic population of 

Afghanistan lives in large tents 

as they are constantly on the 

move. 

Archaeology 

Due to the advantageous 

location at the heart of Central Asia, 

Afghanistan is a major source 

of archaeological attraction. 

During the past fifty years, 

an increasing number of 

archaeological expeditions 

have visited Afghanistan, 

contributing rich and varied 

discoveries to the country’s 

cultural heritage. Many of 

the artifacts are displayed at 

the Kabul Museum. Many of 

the major archaeological 

sites identified in the country 

are as follows: 

Tepe Fullol 

The ancient Afghan site’s treasures 

were discovered in 1966, lifting the 

veil of an era hitherto unknown. Its 

vast ensemble covers Afghanistan, 

eastern Iran, and Turkmenistan during 

the Bronze Age, around 2,000 BC. 

The discovery presented a new civilization 

between the Indus Civilization 

and Mesopotamia marked by its 

bronze seals; its composite statues of 

goddesses in abstract silhouettes; its 

gold and silver cups decorated with 

animals set in landscapes; and its 

troupe of strange creatures, bearded 

bulls, and geometric motifs, sounding 

a distant echo of the Quetta ceramics. 

After the digs at Mundigak, 

near Kandahar in the south, 

which had revealed the Helman 

Civilization of the Bronze Age, 

Fullol was discovered in the 

north. The newer site revealed a 

particular culture that explained 

the dynamism of the Indus 

Civilization, and the later excavations 

at Shortughai demonstrated 

that the newly discovered culture 

and the Indus civilization had had 

contact with each other. This culture 

is also linked to Sumer and 

Ur, or Mohandjodaro, through its control 

of the lapis lazuli sources 

in Badakhshan. To the south 

of the town of Baghlan, 

another discovery revealed a 

trading network between the 

Near East, Central Asia, 

Afghanistan, and the Indus 

Valley. 

Ai Khanoum 

A major site in the middle-Oxus 

valley is the Greek 

city of Ai Khanoum, about a 

day's journey by car from Tolaqon. It is 

the only 

Greek city to 

have been 

excavated in 

Central Asia, 

and is speculated 

to be 

Alexandria- 

Oxania, one 

of Alexander 

the Great's 

foundations. A 

link between 

the Thessalian 

origin of 

Kineas, after 

whom the 

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Arts & Crafts 

hero shrine of Heroön was dedicated, and the stationing of Alexander’s Thessalian 

cavalry serve as the evidence. 

Balkh (Bactra) 

A mythical town and home to the marriage 

of Alexander and Roxanne in 327 BC, Bactra, 

or Balkh, was admired by the classical 

authors, the Chinese, the Arabs, and the 

Persians as, "Balkh the Beautiful, Balkh the 

Mother of all towns,” before it was pillaged by 

Genghis Khan in 1220. At Tepe Zargaran near 

Balkh, the discoveries of Hellenistic architectural 

features in 2004 led to the uncovering of an 

accumulation of architectural blocks about 7 

meters below ground. 

Many of them originated from demolished Greek 

buildings and some were the remains of a fortress. Under the ramparts from the 

Kushan period, an enclosure wall from the Greek period stands and a stupa established 

by the king Mega Soter, Vima Takto, in the mid-1st century BC, remains as 

the oldest Bactrian Buddhist monument. In the Balkh citadel, excavations find 

remains dating to the Achaemenid period of the 6th - 4th centuries BC. 

Tilla Tepe 

The Tilla Tepe site is also known as the "golden hill" and is located near 

Shebergan in northern Afghanistan. In 1978, the digs on an Iron Age citadel in the 

site) led to the unearthing of six luxurious barbarian tombs. They held five women 

and one man and their bodies appeared dressed in clothes sewn with gold and 

encrusted with turquoise, garnet and lapis lazuli. Alongside these were classical 

intaglios showing Athena's profile and an 

ivory comb decorated with incisions in the 

style found at the Dalverzine Tepe in 

Begram. 

Crowned with fragile flora that alludes to 

the Three Kingdoms of Korea of the 1st - 

7th centuries, the Bactrian Aphrodite has a 

childish charm which evokes the city of 

Sirkap and the Scytho-Parthian period. 

These objects are the echo of a nomadic 

society, in which luxury and refinement 

went hand-in-hand with tolerance for and 

curiosity about unknown cultures. 

Through the war-ridden years, the 

authorities of the Kabul Museum preserved 

the Bactrian Hoard of 20,000 Gold Pieces, 

which were put on public display in 1991

and then locked in the vaults of the 

National Bank within the Presidential 

Palace 

grounds. 

The Tilla 

Tepe hoard is 

unique due to 

the high artistry 

of the objects, 

and because it 

sheds light on 

the shadowy 

transitional 

period 

between the 

collapse of the 

Bactrians in the last years of the BC era 

and the rise of the nomadic Kushans 

during the early years of the common 

era. 

Begram 

On the site of the ancient Alexandria 

of the Caucasus, digs carried out by a 

French expedition in 1937 and 1939 

revealed two walled chambers filled 

with artifacts from the Mediterranean, 

China, and the Indian sub-continent. 

This was called “the Begram Treasure.” 

Gandhara Sites in Bamiyan 

Bamiyan, which means "the place of 

shining light," 

holds Buddhist 

cave temples 

from several 

different periods. 

It is located 

on the 

ancient border 

between the 

12th and 17th 

tax collection 

districts of 

Darius I’s 

Achaemenid empire. 

It is unclear when Buddhism was first 

practiced in 

Bamiyan, but 

it quietly 

began to root 

itself in the 

north and 

south of the 

Hindu Kush 

during the 

Kushan 

dynasty. From 

the second to 

the fourth centuries 

AD, 

many Buddhist temples were established 

in the area. 

In antiquity, central Afghanistan was 

strategically 

positioned to 

thrive from 

the Silk Road 

caravans. 

Camel caravans 

crisscrossed 

the 

region as they 

traded 

between the 

Roman 

Empire, 

China, and 

India, and as they journeyed through 

the Hindu 

Kush 

Mountains, 

they came 

upon 

Bamiyan, one 

of the wonders 

of the 

ancient world. 

As the heart 

of the 

Kingdom of 

Kushan, 

33

34 


Arts & Crafts 

Bamiyan held two colossal Buddha statues, which its ancient people carved into 

the mountainous cliffs of the valley. The larger statue stood at 53 meters (125 feet) 

above the town of Bamiyan and is considered by many as the most remarkable 

representation of the Buddha throughout the world. Its neighboring statue stood at 

38-meters, and both were painted in gold and other colors and decked in dazzling 

ornaments. 

There were countless rich frescoes depicting the life of the Buddha in the ancient 

town of Bamiyan, which with ten cliff-embedded monasteries, was a place of pilgrimage. 

In the northern Hindu Kush, the Buddhist archaeological sites closest to 

Bamiyan are the cave temples of Surkh Kotal of the 3rd - 4th centuries and Haibak 

of the 4th to 5th centuries. 

To the south of the Hindu Kush, monasteries flourished at Kapisa-Begram, 

Shotorak, and Paitava during the 2nd - 4th centuries, and Buddhist temples were 

established at Tepe Maranjan in the 4th - 5th centuries in Kabul. The center of 

Bamiyan's cultural legacy was formed by the two colossal Buddha images carved at 

the eastern and western ends of a high cliff facing the central valley in addition to a 

thousand caves cut into the cliff face and decorated with a rich variety of murals. 

The Buddhist religious art of Bamiyan, which enjoyed a renaissance after the collapse 

of the earlier Gandharan culture, was a unique synthesis appropriate to an 

area that was called a cultural crossroads. The two colossal Buddhas, which were 

admired by the Chinese scholar-monk Xuan Zang, were constructed from the 5th - 

6th century and based on the grand conception of the Buddhist cosmology. The 

east colossal Buddha is the Sakya Muni Buddha, and the west colossal Buddha is 

the Maitreya. 

Music & Musical Instruments 

Afghanistan’s traditional music is expressed through three outlets: the art 

music specific to Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kandahar; the modern genres 

of popular music on the radio; and a plethora of regional folk music – styles 

and characteristics of the various ethnic groups inhabiting the different parts of 

the country. 

The music of Afghanistan is connected to the music of India and other Central 

Asian countries, though Iranian influence is also evident. 

The diversity of peoples including Tajiks, Pashtons, and Uzbeks has given 

Afghan music a rich musical heritage. In some ways, Afghanistan is a microcosm 

of a variety of Islamic Asia’s music, the classical pieces of Transoxiana (modernday 

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), the love and spiritual poetry of India and 

Pakistan, the folk music of Turkmenistan, and a host of other styles from other 

cultures. 

Whether at a home, a teahouse, a horse race, or a wedding, the same instruments 

dominate Afghan music. Along with the Dutar and the Zirbaghali, there 

are variations of the fiddle (Ghichak), the flute (Badakhshani), and cymbals. 

The Rubab, a lute-like instrument, is sometimes considered the national instrument 

of Afghanistan and is called the lion of instruments. 

Uzbeks and Tajiks share a preference for the Dambura, which is a long-necked,

plucked lute. 

At home, women often play the 

Daireh, a drum. Singing is also an 

important part of Afghan music.. 

Afghan folk music is traditionally 

played at weddings, holidays such as 

the New Year celebration, and 

rarely for mourning. Wedding 

music plays a vital part in 

Afghan folk music. The 

Jat, nomadic people 

who are related to the 

Gypsies, sell instruments 

door-to-door and play their own 

variety of folk music. The 

Jats frequently play for 

weddings and other 

events. Afghan songs 

are typically about 

love, incorporate symbols like the 

nightingale and rose, and refer to 

folklore like the story of Leyla 

and Majnoon. 

The classical form of 

music in Afghanistan is 

called Klassic, which 

includes both instrumental (rags, naghmeh) 

and vocal (ghazals) forms. Many 

Ustads (teachers) or professional musicians 

descend from Indian artists who 

immigrated to the royal court of Kabul 

in the 1860s. 

Radio broadcasting was introduced 

to Afghanistan in 1940 and fostered the 

growth of popular music. Popular modern 

Afghan music used orchestras featuring 

both Afghan and Indian instruments 

as well as European clarinets, 

guitars, and violins. In 

1951, Parwin 

became the first 

Afghan woman to 

broadcast on Radio Afghanistan 

while Ahmad Zahir, Mahwash, 

and Biltun found large audiences. 

Due to the civil unrest since the 

1980’s, Afghanistan’s 

music was suppressed 

and recording for 

outsiders was minimal. 

During the 1990s, 

the Taliban government 

banned instrumental 

music and creation of 

music for the public. 

Many musicians and 

singers continued to practice 

their trade in other countries. 

Pakistani cities such as Peshawar, 

Karachi, and Islamabad are important 

centers for the distribution of Afghan 

music. 

Kabul is the region’s cultural capital, 

and outsiders have tended to focus on 

the city of Herat, which is more closely 

related to Iranian music. Across the 

country, lyrics are both in Pashto and 

Persian languages. Also, Hindi songs 

from Bollywood films are popular in 

Afghanistan. 

35


Map of Afghanistan 

36

38 


Ecotourism 

Ecotourism 

Trekking 

The country’s natural beauty and majestic 

mountains provide an arena for trekkers and 

fans of outdoor. 

The remote and beautiful Badakhshan 

province’s capital at Faisabad is the starting 

point for trips to Lake Shiva and the Blue 

Mountain, which, as the ancient world’s 

major source of lapis lazuli, is considered 

the jewel in the crown of Afghanistan. 

Badakhshan contains the following destinations 

for a traveler: 

1- Faisabad, the base camp for all travelers 

in the region 

3- Sar-e-Sang (The Blue Mountain) 

4- Lake Shiva 

5- The Wakhan Corridor, Great Pamir, and Small Pamir 

To get to Sar-e-Sang, drive to Jurm and follow the Kokcha River upstream for three 

hours. From Faisabad, it is a one-day journey. Lake Shiva is one of the sources for the 

Oxus. There is a Chaikhana, “tea house,” from which the road leads to a lake with 

camping area. 

There is also a five-day trek to Lake Chaqmartin, which lies between Buzai Gumbad 

and the Yuli Pass (4,872 m) that leads to China; from Buzai Gumbad to the lake is 

approximately 15 km (10 miles). The Yuli Pass is also near the glacier that is considered 

to be the icy sources of the Oxus. It takes three days to return to Buzai Gunbad from 

the glacier. 

Travelling in Small Pamir 

The Small Pamir is a self-contained ecosystem, a mountain area cut through deeply 

by the Waghjir River. To the South, there lie the Karakoram Mountains and the 

Pakistani areas of Gilgit and Hunza; the famous Khunjerab Pass on the Karakoram 

highway into China lies about 50 km west of the Yuli Pass (4,872 m), the easternmost 

extension of this area. 

The region contains peaks with heights of 6,500 - 7,000 meters, and the highest 

peaks occur along the Afghan Chinese border at over 6,500 meters. The Small Pamir is 

separated from Syr Kul and the Great Pamir by a wilderness of peaks and lakes. 

The journey starts at Qala Panj, and traveling by horse and with a guide is advised at 

Boroghil. It is a 3-day ride from Boroghil-Sarhad to Buzai Gumbad, where there are a 

number of camps. 

The first Kyrgyz camps are at Ak Jilga (“White Mare”), and the others are named as 

follows: Kotali-Dalriz Pass, Baharak, Sang-i-Neveshta (“Inscribed Stone”), Garbin 

Warm, Aveliz, Kyrchun, Ak Jilga (“Mountain Camo”), and Buzai Gumbad/Waghjir 

Valley. 

From Buzai Gumbad, the Waghjir Valley travels eastwards to the Chinese border at

Yuli Pass via Birgitikho, which are the 

Kyrgyz winter quarters. 

It is recommended to expect five days 

for reaching the Yuli Pass. 

Eight or nine days can be expected for 

reaching China from Buzai Gumbad on 

horse back. From Buzai Gumbad, the 

main Wakhan Valley runs to Lake 

Chaqmartin via a series of campsites 

named Cheshmeh Arkhar, Hawz-i- 

Chaqmartin, and Mynarah. 

Mountaineering 

Many people see Wakhan of 

Badakhshan as a region for mountaineering. 

The mountain of Nowshakh 

is 7,495 meters high, and its round-trip 

climb takes 7 days. 

Baba Tangi is 6,421 meters high and 

is situated between Qila Panj and 

Borghil, next to Salang in the north. It is 

often snowy and is pleasant during the 

Summer time. The temperature there is 

10-15 degrees 

Centigrade and animals 

can be found 

living in the area. 

Similarly, located 

in northwestern 

Kabul, Panjshir’s 

beautiful sceneries 

and high mountains 

can be used for 

mountaineering. 

Outside the 

Wakhan proper, in 

the Jurm Valley, the 

Dari Sahir stands 6,428 meters, and 

provides an opportunity for mountaineering. 

Band-E-Amir National Park 

Band-e-Amir, located in the 

Yawkawlang district of Bamiyan, lies 75 

km from the center of Bamiyan. It comprises 

of six dams, and the Zulfeqar 

covers an area of 490 hectares as the 

largest. Band-e-Amir is a naturally created 

group of five lakes with special geological 

formations and structures. Also 

known as Amir Dam, it is located high 

in the Hindu Kush Mountains with six 

streams of deep blue, clear water. 

The Islamic Republic of 

Afghanistan has a plan to propose 

it as a national park of 

the country. 

From east to west, the dams 

are the Zulfeqar, Podina, Panir, 

Haibat, Qambar, and Gulaman. 

After the Zulfeqar Dam, the Haibat 

Dam is the second largest, comprising 

an area of 90 hectares. The Qambar 

Dam is now dry. 

Forests 

Afghanistan has many natural forests 

such as the Nooristan, Paktia, and 

Paktika. The forests on the bank of 

rivers reflect a beautiful panorama, yet 

some of them were 

destroyed by erosion 

and smuggling. 

Preservation efforts 

are aided by the government. 

Ski (Arghandi 

Square) 

About 30 years 

ago in the west of 

Kabul, the Arghandi 

Square was the 

home for skiing to 

Afghans and foreign visitors. This area 

and the country’s north and south 

region’s provided the ski facilities. 

Naver Plain 

One of the country’s most attractive 

natural parks, the Naver Plain in Ghazni 

contains an area of 100 sq m and 

attracts several species of birds during 

the summer time. 

39

40 


Top 10 PLaces to Visit 

Top 10 Places to Visit 

Babur’s Gardens, 

Kabul 

According to Afghan folklore, 

“everything comes to 

Kabul,” and in a continuation 

of its heritage, capital 

city serves as the central 

marketplace for all of 

Afghanistan. Although technological 

change rapidly 

changed Kabul, the bazaars 

and other landmarks of the 

old city remain the center of life. Kabul has a rich history and inherits 

many historical sites like Babur’s Gardens. 

Formatted by Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty of the mid-16th 

century, the gardens include his tomb, a summer pavilion added by Amir 

Abdur-Rahman, and a commemorative mosque built by Emperor Shah 

Jahan. Before Babur’s death in Agra in 1530, he asked to be buried in the 

gardens, a wish that was fulfilled by his Afghan wife Bibi Mobraka. It was 

later rebuilt with the help of the international community. 

Shrine of Khwaja abu Nasr 

Parsa, Balkh 

Situated in the center of Balkh’s Central 

Park, the shrine was built in the memory of 

the distinguished theologian, Khwaja Parsa, 

who taught at the Herat College, which was 

established by Firuza Begum, the mother of 

Sultan Husain Baiqara. 

It was also where the Timurid ladies of 

Herat vied with the men in their patronage 

of arts and learning. 

Khwaja Parsa settled in Balkh, where he 

died in 1460. Built in the late Timurid style, 

the shrine’s blue dome, fluted and resting 

on stalactite corbels 25 meters (80 ft) high, stands above a colorfully tiled octagonal 

base. Corkscrew pillars flank the portal. The Archaeological Survey of India assisted 

in the preservation of the deteriorating façade and dome in June 1947.

Qali Ikhtiarudin, Herat 

The Qali Ikhtiarudin fort in Herat 

was originally built 

by Alexander the 

Great and suffered 

repeated attacks over 

its history. Held by 

the Ghaznavid, the 

Seljuk’s, the Ghorids, 

the Mongols, the 

Timurids, the 

Safavids, and others, 

the citadel is a 

reminder of the time 

of kings and foreign 

conquerors. The 

great pageantry of 

Qali Ikhtiarudin was 

repaired with the 

cooperation of the 

international community 

in 2008. 

Kherqa Sheriff Ziart, 

Kandahar 

The shrine and 

adjoining mausoleum 

require a 20 Afn 

entrance fee. The 

interior is not open 

to public photography, 

which is occasionally 

prohibited. 

The shrine of the 

cloak of Prophet 

Mohammad (PBUH) 

adjoins Ahmad Shah 

Durrani's mausoleum, 

one of the 

most popular holy 

shrines in 

Afghanistan. 

Ahmad Shah received the Prophet's 

cloak from Muradbeg Amir of Bokhara 

in 1768 as part of a treaty that settled 

the northern boundaries. The building 

of this relic displays modest elements 

and sparkling tile decoration. 

The shrine was 

repaired, and the 

entire exterior surface 

was embellished 

during the 

reign of Amir 

Habibullah while 

Mohammad 

Usman Khan was 

the governor of 

Kandahar. In 1908, 

delicate green 

Lashkar Gah marble 

paneled the 

foundations, tiles 

from the workshops 

of the master 

tile-maker Nek 

Mohammad covered the walls, and 

Sufi A. Hamidin’s gildings and 

paintings coated the arches. A 

splendid new door was inlaid with 

lapis lazuli by Shah Maqsudi 

Travertine, and 

cashed silver inlaid 

with gold was 

installed in 1974. 

The birthplace 

of modern 

Afghanistan, 

Kandahar, is a 

thriving commercial 

and industrial 

center. With 

exception to Share 

Nau, “New City,” 

Kandahar remains 

substantially 

unchanged from 

the city built by 

Ahmad Shah 

Durrani two hundred years ago. 

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42 



Nooristan (Land of Light) 

Nooristan refers to the area that comprises Laghman and Ningarhar, is inhabited 

by approximately 600,000 Nooristanis, covers approximately 5,000 sq mi, and 

contains five main valleys. In the valleys, there are tribes that speak their own languages, 

which are grouped under the name Dardic within the Indo-European language 

family. The classification of this subgroup mentions six Nooristani languages: 

Ashkun, Kamviri, Kati, Prasuni, Tregami, and Waigali. 

There are many physical and cultural differences between the people of 

Nooristan and those living around them. Their preference for stools and chairs 

to a rug on the floor is another 

difference. 

Nooristani music is quite 

distinctive as are the instruments, 

among which the harp 

is the most noticeable. 

Alexander the Great invited 

the young Nooristani men to 

join his army for the Indian 

campaign, and they proved 

their fighting quality with distinction. 

Many Greek motifs 

and customs found in the 

Nooristani culture originated 

from this experience. 

Throughout the following centuries, the people of these mountains successfully 

defied conquests and conversions as Islam replaced Buddhism and Hinduism 

on the plains below. 

In 1895, the army of Amir Abdur Rahman, the governor of Afghanistan, succeeded 

in subduing the Nooristanis and converted them to Islam. When his victorious 

army arrived in Kabul, Amir announced that henceforth, Kafiristan, 

“Land of the Infidels,” was to be known as Nooristan, “Land of Light.” 

A large part of Nooristan is inaccessible. Even for those who travel on foot, 

the trails are difficult and precipitous. The foot-wide bridges built 30 ft high and 

above the angry, frothing waters, are so dizzying that horses cannot maneuver 

them. 

Almost all Nooristani villages are built on top of high peaks. The houses span 

the mountainsides, one on top of the other with the roof of one serving as the 

front porch and play ground of the house above. 

The conversion of the Kafir people of the remote region to Islam happened 

70 years ago. They are called Nooristani, “People of Light.” They are unique 

throughout Afghanistan, and according to their legend, the people of Nooristan 

claim the Greek god Dionysus as their patron.

Valley of Bamiyan 

Reached by a seven hour-drive by 

car or an hour’s 

flight from Kabul, 

the beautiful valley 

is undoubtedly one 

of Afghanistan’s 

foremost attractions. 

There are 

also extensive ruins 

of ancient towns 

and fortresses, such 

as the Red City, 

which flourished 

until the onslaught 

of Genghis Khan in 

the thirteenth century. 

Under the rule of 

Kanishka the Great, 

the area of Bamiyan developed into 

a major commercial and religious 

center, and the smaller, 38 meterhigh 

Buddha statue was built. Two 

centuries later, the colossal, 55 

meter-high Buddha statue was 

carved out. Thousands of ornamented 

caves that were inhabited by yellow-robed 

monks 

extended into 

Foladi and Kakrak 

Valley, where a 

smaller, 6.5 metertall 

statue of 

Buddha was built. 

Pilgrims from 

throughout the 

Buddhist world 

poured into 

Bamiyan to admire 

its spectacular and 

sacred sites. Later, 

Bamiyan fell to the 

Islamic conquerors 

in the 9th century. 

Minaret of Jam, Ghor 

The central route from Kabul to 

Herat is undoubtedly 

a fascinating experience 

and is to be 

undertaken by 

adventurous travelers. 

Passing the first 

highlights, Bamiyan 

and Band-e Amir, the 

route leads via Pan 

Jaw to Change 

Charan, the capital 

of the Ghor 

province. 

The road continues 

to the north via 

Sharak, where in a 

remote valley, closely 

surrounded on all 

sides by towering barren mountains, the 

65 meter-high Minaret of Jam stands at 

the southern bank of the Hari Rod 

River. It is the only well-preserved 

architectural monument from the 

Ghorid period. The minaret is one of 

the highest in the world and is repaired 

with the help of the Afghan government 

and the international 

community. 

Minarets of 

Ghazni 

The two remaining 

minarets, built by 

Sultan Masoud III 

(1099-1114) and 

Bahram Shah (1118- 

1152), are at a fraction 

of their original 

height and served as 

models for the spectacular 

tower of Jam, 

which in turn, 

43

44 



inspired the Qutub Minar at Delhi. 

Ghazni, an important market town and famous for embroidered sheepskin coats, 

was the dazzling capital of Ghaznavid Empire from 994-1160, which encompassed 

much of northern India, Persia and Central Asia. Many campaigns were launched 

from there into India, resulting in the eastward spread of Islam. The glorious city 

was torn to the ground by Arab invaders in 869, by the Ghorid Sultan Alauddin in 

1151, and by Genghis Khan in 1221. 

The city of Ghazni was selected as the cultural capital of the Islamic world for 

the year 2013. 

Qalai-Bost, Helmand 

Lashkargah is the capital of the Helmand province and built by the Helmand 

Arghandad Valley Authority, which seeks to transform and revive the region’s fertile 

fields. Ancient Bost now lies south of the administrative center. Bost is recognized 

in the Zoroastrian hymns of the Avesta, in Achaemenid town lists, and in 1st century 

accounts. The citadel was conquered by the Arab around 661 AD. Form the 

11th – mid-12th century, Bost prospered as the winter capital of the Ghaznavids. It 

was burned and looted in 1151 by the Ghorids, and then completely demolished 

by Genghis Khan in 1220. 

The remains of the great palace of Masoud give visitors an idea of the splendor 

of the court and of what was then the greatest empire of the east. A remarkable 

monument is the magnificently decorated arch, which has a span of 80 ft. 

Seraj-ul-Emorat 

Jalaluddin Akbar, the Mughal Emperor of India that ruled during 1556- 

1605, founded the city of Jalalabad in 1570 and named it after himself, 

which meant “abode of splendor.” Since then, Kabul’s rulers have 

favored its mild winter climate. Many of their palaces have disappeared. 

The ornate and graceful Bagh-i-Shahi, “King’s Gardens,” built by Amir 

Abdur Rahman on the banks of the Kabul River during 1880-1901, 

endured constant renovation, is occupied by the governor, and is closed 

to the public. Government offices occupy Bagh-i-Kawkab, “Star Garden,” 

to the west of Bagh-i-Shahi, where Amir Habibullah 1901-1919 and his 

family lived during 1901-1919. 

The palace in the city of Herat called Seraj-ul-Emorat, “Light of 

Buildings,” was also built by Rahman, who supervised the construction to 

a completion in 40 days. 

After Rahman’s assassination in 1919, his son, King Amanullah used the 

palace as a state guesthouse from 1919 to1929, when it was looted and 

abandoned amid tribal revolts that struck Jalalabad in November 1928. 

Bits of decoration remain near the west entrance; the original gas lamps 

stand intact. The gardens remain and offer a peaceful haven for an afternoon 

promenade.


Kabul 

The capital city is a legend of antiquity 

and is abound by 

the beauty of its 

ancient mosques, 

citadel, places and 

holy shrines. 

Throughout its history, 

Kabul has been 

the major trading link 

between surrounding 

and distant countries 

and remains as 

Afghanistan’s central 

marketplace. 

Places to See 

Bala Hissar 

The Bala Hissar, “high fort," of Kabul 

sit on the eastern tail-ends of the Kuhe 

Sher Darwaza, and by some 

accounts, it has origins to the 6th century. 

The emperor, 

Babur developed the 

site extensively after 

he took Kabul in 

1504, and succeeding 

Moghul emperors 

continued his work. 

Emperor Akbar 

also placed great 

importance on holding 

the Kabul fort as 

the northern key to 

India. Shah Jahan, 

who later built Taj 

Mahal at Agra, , 

impressed his father, Jahangir, by 

remodeling Bala Hissar, which was 

assigned to him as his quarters at the 

age of fifteen. 

At its peak, the fort was of a size 

comparable to the great Mughal forts at 

Agra and Lahore. Before being 

destroyed during the second Anglo- 

Afghan War, it was divided into an 

upper citadel and a lower fortified 

township, in which palaces and other 

buildings stood. 

Old City Walls 

The ancient walls 

of Kabul’s ancient 

city begin at Bala 

Hissar. They are 7 

meters high, 3 

meters thick, and 

have origins to the 

Greco-Bactrian period 

of the 3rd century 

BC. 

Baghe Bala 

The many-domed palace glimmers 

on a hill to the north of the city. The 

garden of Baghe Bala, “high garden,” 

sits below the International Hotel is one 

of Kabul's most popular places. 

It can be reached by taking 

International Drive, 

turning right into an 

area of pine trees, 

and passing the old 

summer palace. 

Arriving at the 

palace, one sees the 

formerly best 

restaurant in Kabul, 

which has a swimming 

pool. 

Mosques 

Kabul has many 

interesting mosques. The most famous 

ones in the center of the city are: 

Masjide Pule Kheshti, Masjide Shahe 

Du Shamshira, Masjid-e Id Gha, and 

Masjid-e Sherpur. 

45



46 

Kabul Surroundings 

Istalif 

The Istalif village lies north of Kabul in Kuh Daman, a valley ringed by barren 

hills and dotted with villages nestled within green orchards. It is one of the largest 

and most ancient villages. Istalif is famous for green and blue pottery and its picturesque 

bazaar 

Paghman 

Paghman is one of Kabul’s popular summer resorts. In 1919, King Amanullah 

built the imposing victory arc in the central square in commemoration of the War 

of Independence. 

Kabul Museum 

It provides one of Central Asia’s primary treasure chests of ancient art and 

archaeological objects 


Lodging in Afghanistan falls into two categories: hotels and guesthouses. In the 

hotels, each room has a full bathroom, and amenities include laundry and room 

services and a swimming pool or exercise facility. 

Most hotels have wireless internet access. 

The guesthouses are generally less expensive than hotels, because fewer amenities 

are offered; guests usually share the bathrooms. 

The latest addition to Afghan lodging is the five-star Kabul Serena Hotel, which 

has four restaurants, a gift shop, a fitness center, an internet café, and some meeting 

facilities.

Hotels 

Heetal Plaza Hotel 

End of street 14, Wazir Akbar Khan, 

behind the mosque, Kabul 

Tel: +93(0) 7915-9697 

Website: http://www.heetal.com 

Intercontinental Kabul 

Baghe Bala Road, Kabul 

Tel: +93(20) 2210- 321 

Website: www.intercontinental.com 

Kabul Inn 

Qala-e-Fatullah Khan Bazar 

Near Zarghona High School, Kabul 

Mobile: +93(79) 569-355 

Email: Kabul_inn@hotmail.com 

Kabul Serena Hotel 

Froshgah Street, Kabul 

Tel: +93(79) 9654-000 

Fax: +93(79) 9654-111 

Email: info@serena.com.af 

Website:www.serenahotels.com/afghani 

stan/kabul/home.htm 

Mustafa Hotel 

Home to Kabul’s famous Kabab night 

every Thursday 

Tel: +93(0) 70276021 

Email: mustafa_hotel@hotmail.com 

Website: www.mustafahotel.com 

Safi Landmark Hotel Suites 

Shahr-e-Nau, Kabul 

Tel: (020) 2203121 

Email: furqan@landmarkhotelsdubai.com 

Website: http://www.landmarkhotelsdubai.com/landmark/newprojects.asp 

Spinzar Hotel 

Next to the Ministry of Information 

and Culture Asma-yee Watt, Kabul 

Tel: 070 274983 

Guesthouses 

Afghans4tomorrow Guesthouse 

Near Kabul University 

Email: sorayaomar0710@yahoo.com 

Ajmal Wali 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 10, No 140 

Tel: +93 (70) 277-657 

Assa 1 

Off Flower Street 

Tel: +93 (70) 274-364 

Assa 2 

Wazir Akbar Khan, House 9, Muslim 

Street 

Tel: +93 70 276579 

Bs Place 

Qala-e-Fatullah 

Tel: +93 70276416 

Chez Ana, Media Action 

International Guesthouse 

Passport Lane, Kabul 

Tel: +93 70282699 

Deutscher Hof Kabul (DHK), 

German Restaurant & Guesthouse, 

Lounge & Transportation Service 

Qala Fatullah Str.3, House 60. 

Tel: +93 79322582 

Website: www.deutscher-hof-kabul.de 

Note: DHK is also a training center for 

cooks, waiters, and housekeepers. This 

is a cooperative project with the AGEF, 

Association of Experts in the Fields of 

Migration & Development Cooperation, 

a German vocational training center. 

Everest 


Tel: +93 70281277 

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48 



Faisal 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 15, no. 27 

Tel: +93 70274696 

Faisal Bilal/German 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 15, No. 73. 

Tel 1: +93 70274808 

Tel 2: +93 70281413 

Gandamak Lodge 

No. 5 Passport Lane. 

Tel: +93 70276937 

Email: gandamaklodge@yahoo.com 

Global 

Flower Street 

Tel: +93 70 281907 

Email: Edward.dean@globalpsw.com.pk 

Haseeb 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 13, No.556 

Tel: +93(70)274986 

Helsinki 

On way to the airport 

Tel: +93 70284305 

Email:osmankhaliq@hotmail.com 

Hendokush 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 10 Z, No 09. 

Tel: +93 70279558 

House 150 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 10. 

Tel: 0093 70278734. 

Karwansara Guesthouse & Restaurant 

117 Interior Ministry Street, Kabul. 

Tel: 0093 70291794. 

LeMonde 

7 Herati Mosque St, Shar-e-Nou, Kabul. 

Tel: 009370280751 

www.lemondeghkabul.blogspot.com 

Marvellous 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 10, No. 

214, Kabul 

Tel: 009370275519 

Naween 

Kolola Pushta , Kabul. 

Tel 1:009370224411 

Tel 2: 009370291588 

Park Residence 

Shar-e- Now, Kabul. 

Tel: 0093 70275728 

Rabia Balkhi House 

Tel 1:+97 70268840 

Tel 2:+97 79030631 

Tel 3:+97 79309309 

Email 1:farid_roafi@yahoo.com 

Email 2:nehan_nargis@yahoo.com 

Email 3:seema@ghanis.org 

Rose Valley 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street No. 14, 

No 3 

Tel 1:0093 70 289019 

Tel 2:0093 70 274590 

Sarwe Foshang Guest House 

Shahr-e-Nau, West Side of Park, 

Kabul 

Tel: 0202201629 

Shamal 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 13, No. 452 

Tel: 0093 70 278601 

Silk Route 


Tel: 0093 70275800 

Sultan 

Wazir Akbar Khan, Street 10 

Tel: 0093 70277374 

Taj Mahal 

Wazir Akbar Khan Street 15, No 128 

Tel: 0093 70 275830

Where & What to Eat 

Afghan Food 

Afghan cuisine is an appetizing 

cross between the flavors of the 

Mediterranean, Middle East, Iran and 

India. It contains several rice dishes 

that are often served with a assortment 

of thick, curried sauces cooked 

with lamb, beef and chicken. Spinach 

and eggplants constitute two commonly 

eaten vegetables. Traditional 

Afghan fare is rich in spices like as 

cardamom, which lends a sweet, aromatic 

quality to drinks and dishes. 

A quintessential Afghan dish, Qabili 

Palao consists of 

raisins, carrots, 

and lamb with 

browned rice. 

Variations in the 

dish include the 

addition of 

sliced almonds 

or pistachios. 

Another 

important 

savory dish is 

Aushak - a leekstuffed 

dumpling that is served over a 

garlic yogurt sauce and layered with a 

thick ground-beef tomato sauce with 

dried mint and crushed red pepper 

sprinkled on top. Appealing to their 

meat-centric gastronomy, Afghans also 

enjoy kabobs, which are skewers of 

meat heavily marinated in a delectable 

concoction of herbs and spices. 

Afghan desserts are robust in flavor, 

often drawing upon fragrant ingredients, 

such as rosewater and cardamom. 

A popular treat is a creamy, custard-like 

dessert similar to the Italian 

Pannecotta with a crushed pistachio 

topping. 

With its mélange of flavors, Afghan 

cuisine offers food to appease even 

the most demanding palate. 

Did you know that Afghan cuisine 

may well have been one of the 

world's first experiments in fusion 

cuisines 

Afghan food combines elements of 

Indian, Persian, Mediterranean, 

Chinese and Turkish food to create 

memorable and delicious dishes. 

From the traditional bread known 

as Naan to the elaborately flavored 

rice dishes known as Palao and the 

large variety of kebabs, Afghanistan's 

location as a crossroads of civilizations 

is evident in its food. 

Additionally, 

Afghanistan's 

role as the heart 

of the Silk Road, 

a historic trading 

route, long 

allowed ingredients 

to flow 

from east and 

west and back. 

Without 

Afghanistan, 

Europeans may 

have never tasted carrots and tomatoes 

and would have gone without 

spices such as saffron, cardamom, 

coriander and cumin. 

Restaurants in Kabul 

International and Afghan dishes are 

readily available in many of Kabul's 

modern restaurants. Afghanistan is 

known for its variety of palaos (rice 

cooked with meat, chicken, or vegetables 

in various ways), which are 

found throughout the country. 

Afghan Kabob (charbroiled skewered 

meat), Bolani and Ashak 

(Afghan-style ravioli stuffed with leeks 

topped with yogurt and cooked 

ground beef) are a few of the many 

49

50 



tasty dishes. Also refer to UN cleared 

restaurants. 

L'Atmosphere 

French cuisine 

French & English menu 

Opening hours 10:00 -22:00 

St.4, Qala-e- fatullah 0799-300264 

Phone: 070-224982 

Phone orders 

Dehli Darbar 

Indian cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 10.00 - 22.00 

Moslim St. near Assa Guest House 

0799-324899 0799-833238 

Phone orders 

Popolano 

French cuisine 

English menu 


Charahi Ansari Kabul 070-288116 

Phone orders 

Lai Thai 

Thai cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 

11.00 -21.00 

St.15 Vazir Akbar Khan House 

No.124 

070-297557 070-278640 

No phone orders/home delivery 

B'S PLACE (Guest.House) 

Italian, Mexican cuisine 

English menu 


Str.2, Qala-e- fatullah House No.3 

070-276416 070-276711 

Phone order 

Elbow room 

Continental/European cuisine 

English menu 


MOFA street 

0799-352538 070-254432 

Vila Velebita 

European cuisine 

English menu 


St. 10 Vazir Akbar khan 

0799-160368 


Istanbul 

Turkish cuisine 

English menu 


Macroian2, Matba block 104 

070-200116 0799-356282 

Phone orders 

Escalades 

European cuisine 

English menu 


1st Qala-e-Fateullah 

0799-473763 

Golden Key 

Sea food restaurant 

Chinese cuisine 

English menu 


St.13, Vazir Akbar Khan Kabul 

0799-002800 0799-016591 

Kulba Afghan 

Afghan, Italian cuisine 

English menu

Opening hours 10:00 - 21.00 

Shar-e-now, Esmat Moslim St. 

3rd floor 

0799452151 070034979 

Shar-e-Naw Burger 

Fast Food cuisine 

English menu 


Shahr-e-naw, opoosite park 

0799-300797 070-255788 

Phone order 

Everest Pizza 

Fast Food cuisine 

English menu 


13 St.Vazir Akbar Khan, Kabul 

0799-317979 070-263636 

Phone orders/ home delivery 

Samarkand 

International cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 10:00 - 22:00 

Qala Musa, near Panalpina 

0799-234646 0799-118460 

Carlitos 

Mexican cuisine 

English menu 


St. 15 Vazir Ak Khan 

0799-159697 0799-167824 

16. Kabul Inn 


English menu 

Opening hours10:00-22:00 

Qala-Fateullah, near Zarghoona 

school 

0799-359355 020-2201407 

RED HOT SIZZLIN 


English menu 

Opening hours 11:00-21:00 

Old macrorian, ARC Yuksel Camp 

TAVERNE DU LIBAN 

Middle Eastern cuisine 

English menu 


St. 10 Vazir Akbar Khan 

FLOWER STREET CAFÉ 

Californian cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 8:00 -17:00 

House No.57, Str#7 

Qala-e-Fatullah 

070293124 0799356319 

Phone order delivery 

SHANDIZ 


English menu 


Vazir Akbar Khan 

0799-342928 070-284026 

Deutscher Hof Kabul Restaurant& 

Guest House 

German cuisine 

German/ English menu 


Kalai Fattulah, Street 3, House 60 

0799-322582 

BAKU Azerbaijani 

Azerbaijani cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 11:00- 22:00 

Street 15, Lane 5, House, 329 WAK 

0799-083918 0799-827313 

51

52 




CAFÉ ZARNEGAR 

International (Buffet and a la carte) 

cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 06.30 -22.00 

Kabul Serena Hotel, Froshgah Street 

0799-654000 ext. 4553 

Phone orders 

SILK ROUTE 

South East Asian cuisine 

English menu 

Opening hours 18.00 -22.00 Kabul 

Serena Hotel, Froshgah Street 

0799-654000 ext. 4554 

SERENA PASTRY SHOP 

Freshly baked pastries and bread 

English menu 

Opening hours 07.00 -20.00 

Kabul Serena Hotel, Froshgah Street 

0799-654000 ext. 4560 

ANAR 

Indian- Chinse cuisine 

English menu 


St.14, Lane 3 WAK 

0799-567291 

TAVERNE DU LIBAN 


English menu 


St.14, Lane 3 WAK 

070-210651 

KOREAN 

Korean cuisine 

English menu 


Str.2, house No.120, Karte-She, 

Kabul 

0799 199509 0799 007546 

SUFI 


English menu 


Aryoob Cinema, 2nd part of Karte 

Parwan 

Shamiana 

Multi Cuisine 

English menu 


Kabul City Center 

020-2203131 

Where and What to Buy 

Afghanistan offers the visitor a rich 

selection of handicrafts. Luxurious 

Afghan carpets, karakul coats, fur 

overcoats, embroidered material, 

caps, and hand-woven silk fabrics and 

antiques are some of the items that

tempt the traveler to 

lighten his or her 

wallet. Afghanistan's 

fruits and nuts are 

second to none in 

flavor. 

Gemstones are 

also a major commodity. 

However, travelers 

are urged to be 

cautious when purchasing 

items of 

questionable origin. 

Exportation of antiques requires 

authorization from the related authorities. 

Purchase of artifacts belonging to 

the Kabul museum or national heritage 

of Afghanistan is punishable by 

law and artifacts will be confiscated. 

While there are many places for visitors 

to shop in Afghanistan, Kocha-e- 

Murgha, or "Chicken Street," stands as a 

famous and historic place for shopping 

in Kabul. 

In addition to antique musical instruments 

and hand-made Afghan carpets, 

boutiques carry postcards, maps, ashtrays, 

and boxes made of the famous 

Afghan blue stone, lapis lazuli, 

Grocery stores in Afghanistan stock 

an assortment of snacks from around 

the world: fruit juice from Uzbekistan, 

jam from Pakistan, bottled water from 

Italy, cheese from Austria, and cereal 

from the United States. Since Chicken 

Street is the main tourist market in the 

capital, one is likely to be asked to pay 

a higher price, especially if one is not 

with a local guide. 

Other places in Kabul to shop 

include the Kabul City Center, Shahr-e- 

Nau Shopping Centers, Market-e- 

Jamhoryat, Afghan Super Store, Flower 

Street, and the new Kabul Mall. 

Istalif is a district in the Koh Daman 

Herat 

valley, which is 54 

km from Kabul. This 

district is known for 

its blue pottery, 

ceramics, cotton 

prayer rugs, and 

intricately carved 

wooden chests. 

The products sold 

in the Istalif bazaar 

are also available on 

Chicken Street and 

Flower Street of 

Shahr-e-Nau. 

The history of Herat is one of repeated 

destruction and reconstruction. 

Conqueror after conqueror, from the 

time of Alexander the Great, took it, 

destroyed it, and then rebuilt it. From 

1040 to 1175, the Seljuks ruled the city 

after defeating the Ghaznavids. Then 

the Ghorids captured and held it until 

the city fell to the control of the 

Khwarazm Empire. In 1221, the 

Mongols and Tuli took Herat, yet 

Genghis Khan’s rule ended with the 

citizens’ revolt that killed the Mongol 

garrison. 

Extremely angered, Genghis Khan 

rode upon the city with 80,000 

troops and besieged it within 

six months, leaving only forty 

people alive. In 1245, Herat 

was given to the Kart Maliks. 

Tamerlane destroyed Herat in 

1381, however, his son 

Shahrukh, rebuilt it and stated 

that the cultural renaissance 

makes it the center of learning 

and culture. 

During the Timurid rule, 

the famous poet of Herat, 

Jami and the miniaturist, 

53

54 



Behzad were born, Queen Gawhar Shad’s 

Musalla was built and Gozergah was 

restored, and the city experienced a second 

flourishing period. In 1718, the Hotaki 

Afghan clan struggled for Herat’s independence, 

which continued until 1880, when 

the city became an integral part of 

Afghanistan. With its monumental buildings 

and splendid complexes, the beautiful city 

is rightfully called, "the Pearl of Great 

Khorasan." 

Places to See 

Citadel 

This fort, originally built by Alexander the Great, suffered repeated attacks and 

dominates the Herat landscape. Held by the Ghaznavid, the Seljuks, the Ghorids, 

the Mongols the Timurids, the Safavids and others, the citadel is a reminder of the 

time of kings, conquerors and great pageantry. 

Masjid-e Jami 

In the center of the city, the great mosque, and was built in the time of 

Zoroaster, was rebuilt several times, and stands in splendor since its last. 

Old Town & Bazaar 

An enjoyable way to get around the Old Town and to Gozargah is by the horse 

drawn taxis that queue at the beginning of the road that leads to the bazaar and 

citadel. The Herat Bazaar’s arched mud 

brick tunnels lead off the main streets to 

more houses, surprising squares, interesting 

street turns, and more houses that encircle 

an unexpected courtyard. The bazaar caters 

to many needs: silk turbans, aluminum 

cooking pans, firewood, motorcycle and 

lorry traders, car battery replacements, 

Wellington boots, bikes, plastic shoes, ripe 

oranges, and popcorn. 

Gawhar Shad Mausoleum & 

Minarets 

Of the Gawhar Shad madrasa (theological 

college), which is named after the famous 

Timurid queen, five minarets survived. Their 

chief glory was the tile work, of which the 

blue and turquoise tiles remain. The interior 

of the mausoleum contains a set of inter-

locking niches 

painted in slightly 

faded colors, and 

its three graves 

belong to Gawhar 

Shad, Huseyn 

Bayqara, and a 

child. 

Gozargah 

A complex of 

buildings in the 

east of the city, 

the Sufi shrine of 

Gozargah holds 

the burial site of Abdullah Ansari, the 

Sufi poet, who lived during 1006 – 

1089. The buildings were started under 

Shahrukh. 

Upon entering, it is advised to 

remove shoes at the portico. There is a 

hallway with a domed and painted 

roof. 

A mosque stands to the left; on the 

right a staircase leads to a room containing 

a hair of the Prophet 

Muhammad (PBUH). It is housed in a 

circular cupboard that is covered in 

green cloth. The floor of the hallway is 

made up of beautifully worn white marble 

paving stones of various sizes and 

heights that are hundreds of years old. 

The tiling of blue interlocking lozenges 

in the hall is magnificent and ancient. 

Also, there are the lovely plaques 

carved with lines of Persian poetry and 

Quranic verses. In the courtyard one 

finds fine examples of the tile-work 

known as haft rangi, or "seven colors", 

for which Timurid period-Herat was 

famous. 


Green Palace Guest 

House 

Jardeh Mahbas, Street 

No.2 

Tel: 224219 

Mobile: 0704 05095 

Marco Polo Hotel 

Badmurghan Street 

Tel: 221944, 221947 

Mobile: 0704 03340 

E-mail: heratmarcopolo@yahoo.com 

Website: www.heratmarcopolo.com 

Where and What to Buy 

On the north side of Friday Mosque 

are the shops that sell handicrafts and 

antiques, some of which may be genuine. 

Herat's specialty is hand-blown 

blue glass, with bubbles which is a 

sort of rustic but attractive. 

55

56 



Kandahar 

Kandahar was the birthplace and 

the first capital of Afghanistan and 

founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 

1747. It is the second largest city of 

Afghanistan and located in the Asian 

Highway, halfway between Kabul 

and Herat. 

The city 

was razed to 

the ground by 

Arab invaders 

in 869 AD, by 

the Ghorid 

Sultan 

Alauddin in 

1151 AD, and 

by Genghis 

Khan in 1221 

AD. Yet, the 

area is rich in 

ancient monuments and enjoys a 

strategic position in the economy. 

Kandahar is also the setting of two 

of Asuka's Rock Edicts from circa the 

3rd century BC and unearthed in 

the Zor Shah or Old City. 

Places to See 

Kherqa Mubarak 

This shrine contains the cloak of 

the Prophet 

Mohammad 

(PBUH), and 

Ahmad Shah 

Durrani 

brought it to 

Kandahar. 

Chel Zina 

The monument 

consists 

of 40 stairs 

leading to a 

chamber carved into rock. Inside it, 

an inscription states that it was built 

by Babur and lists the domains of 

the Emperor. 

Kandahar Surroundings 

Zor Shar (Old City), Shrine of 

Haratj-e 

Baba, Shrine 

of Baba Wali, 

and Charsuq, 

“Bazar of 

Four 

Arcades.” 

Where 

to Buy 

Kandahar 

bazaars are 

famous for 

their fruits and handicrafts. 

Mazar-e-Sharif 

Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of the 

Balkh province, is a major trading 

center famous for Karakul, a great 

variety of traditional Turkmen carpets, 

and high-quality, long-staple 

cotton. The city is named after the 

shrine of Hazarate Ali, the fourth 

caliph of 

Islam and 

cousin to and 

son-in-law of 

the Prophet 

Mohammad 

(PBUH). 

Hazarate 

Ali was assassinated 

in 

661 and 

buried at 

Kufa, near

Baghdad. Local 

tradition tells that 

his followers 

feared that enemies 

may take 

revenge on the 

body, and so 

placed his remains 

on a white shecamel 

that wandered 

until she fell 

exhausted upon 

the site where he 

was buried. The 

knowledge of the 

final resting place 

was lost until it 

was discovered 

later, and the great 

Seljuk Sultan Sanjar ordered a shrine 

built there in 1136. 

Changhis Khan destroyed the 

building, and again, the grave lay 

unmarked until a second discovery 

during the reign of 

the Timurid Sultan 

Hussain Baiqara. 

He ordered an 

elaborate shrine 

constructed in 

1481, yet none of 

the 15th century 

decoration 

remains. The later 

restoration 

returned the building 

to its original 

beauty. 

Thousands of 

white pigeons 

make their home 

there. Amir Sher 

Ali Khan lies 

buried there with 

other members of Amir Dost 

Mohammad’s family. The largest 

tomb is that of Amir’s illustrious son, 

Mohammad Akbar 

Khan, who played a 

prominent role during 

the First Anglo- 

Afghan War of 

1838-1842. 

Mazar-e-Sharif is 

visited by countless 

pilgrims throughout 

the year and particularly 

on Nowroz, 

March 21. During 

the Nowroz new 

year celebration the 

great Janda religious 

banner is raised to 

announce the beginning 

of spring and 

the coming of the 

new year, which is the an elaborately 

celebrated festival in Afghanistan. 

Places to See 

Road to Balkh 

The road to Balkh 

crosses the Hindu 

Kush via Salang Pass 

through the highest 

tunnel in the world, 

which is 3,363 m 

high. Surkh Kotal, 

the site of a great 

religious temple 

founded in 130 AD 

by Kanishka the 

Great, king of the 

Kushan, lies 240 km 

on route to Kabul 

and 12 km from 

Pule Khumri. It is 

one of Afghanistan's 

important archeological 

sites and was finally burned 

down by the Hephthalites, the 

nomadic rivals and ultimate succes- 

57

58 



sors to the Kushans. The capital of 

the Samangan province, Aibak, lies 

70 km further north. Two kilometers 

nearby and dating to the 4th century 

sits an important Buddhist site, 

which is locally known as Takhte 

Rustam, “Rustam’s Throne,” in 

honor of the hero of Ferdowsi’s 

great epic, the Shahnama, “Book of 

kings” around 1010. The stupa cave 

crowns the hill in front of the 

monastery, which is said to have 

been destroyed by Hephthalites 

around 460 AD, 60 km north of 

Tashkurghan, Kulm. 

Balkh Surroundings 

Khawja Parsa Shrine 

The main sight of Balkh is the late 

5th century 

late15th century 

and late 

Timurid 

Khwaja Parsa 

Shrine built 

by Sultan 

Husayn 

Bayqara. The 

turquoise 

pumpkin 

dome with 

fluted tiling is 

similar to the 

Mausoleum of 

Gawhar Shad in Herat. The shrine is 

dedicated to the saint Khwaja Parsa, 

a theologian who taught at the 

madrasa near the site and died in 

1460. 

Noh Gonbad Mosque (Nine 

Cupolas Mosque) 

This 9th century mosque is an 

early monument of the Islamic period. 

It has intricately carved stucco 

decorations of flowers and vines 

reaching up to its nine domes. 

What to Buy 

Karakulum is a staple product of 

the area. This very tightly wound 

sheep's coat is a distinguished product. 

Ten days before the ewe is due 

to give birth, she is disemboweled, 

and the unborn lamb is skinned. 

It was popularly used for the collars 

of western men's coats, yet it is 

rare to find. Mazar is also the manufacturing 

center for beautiful 

stripped silk chapans.Carpets and 

kilims have traditionally been the 

major trade items for the entire 

Central Asian region, including the 

former Soviet Union’s Central Asian 

lands, and 

Mazar is 

famous for 

such commodities. 

Fine 

embroidery, 

such as 

Arabian 

Nights 

embroidered 

leather slippers 

from 

Turkmenistan 

are also sold 

in Mazar. 

Bamiyan 

The Bamiyan village lies about 

2,500 m above sea level and 240 

km west of Kabul. The exquisite 

beauty of the valley is embraced by 

the snow capped range of the Koh-e 

Baba mountains in the south and by

59 

the steep and massive Buddha 

carved-cliffs in the north. The area 

of Bamiyan developed under 

Kanishka the Great to become a 

major commercial and religious center. 

Additionally, the smaller, 38 m 

Buddha statue was built during his 

reign. Two centuries later, the colossal, 

55 m Buddha statue was carved. 

Thousands of ornamented caves, 

inhabited by yellow robed monks, 

extended into Folladi and Kakrak 

valleys, where a smaller, 6.5 m statue 

of Buddha stands. Bamiyan fell to 

Muslim conquerors in the 9th 

Century. 

Places to See 

Shahr-e Gholghola 

Genghis Khan destroyed the 

Islamic city of Bamiyan in vengeance 

for the death of his 

grandson Mutugen 

in 1221. The ruins 

of the citadel, 

called the city of 

noise, give proof to 

the pre –Mongol 

magnificence. 

Band-e Amir 

The lake of 

Band-e Amir is situated 

in the 

Hazarajat mountains, 

75 km from 

Bamiyan, and at an altitude of 

approximately 3,000 m. 


Bamiyan Hotel 

Next to the governor's office on 

the town's main hill 

Tel: 23 00 33 8; 0702 76152 

Bamiyan Heights Hotel 

Tel: 0088 216 211 97621 

Where to Buy 

Bamiyan's old bazaar runs along 

the road immediately below the 

large Buddha. It was destroyed by 

the Taliban as part of their persecution 

of Hazaras. Since then, it grew 

and expanded. One can buy food 

and general household items, 

clothes, mobile 

phones, kebabs, 

DVDs, and get a 

room at a hotel. 

According to some, 

it is possible to find 

leather Bactrian 

manuscripts in 

Greek in the new 

bazaar.

60 


Etiquette- Do's and Don'ts 

Etiquette- Do's and 

Don'ts 

Role of Hospitality 

Hospitality is an essential aspect of 

Afghan culture. No matter who you 

are, if you visit a home you will be 

given the best the family has, this tradition 

has its roots in the idea of gaining 

honor. 

The societies in Afghanistan have 

conventional rules of polite behavior 

and put much emphasis on correct 

behavior. 

Honor in Afghan culture defines the 

reputation and worth of an individual, 

as well as those they are associated 

with. 

The head male of a family is responsible 

for protecting the honor of the 

family. The issue of honor drives much 

of the behavior surrounding the protection 

of women, modes of dress, 

social interaction, education and economic 

activity. 

Meeting and Greeting 

When meeting someone the handshake 

is the most common form on 

greeting. You will also see people 

place their hands over their hearts and 

nod slightly. 

enquiring about things like a person's 

health, business, family, etc is 

considered as a polite social behavior. 

Women and men do not shake 

hands. 

Mixing Between Genders 

Free mixing between genders only 

takes place within families. In professional 

situations such as at businesses 

or universities, males and females may 

be co-workers, but are nevertheless 

cautious to maintain each other's 

honor. Foreign females must learn to 

read the rules and live by them. 

Women must always dress properly to 

avoid unwanted attention. 

Dressing modestly and conservatively 

is advisable. 

Food and Drinking 

Drinking alcoholic beverages in public 

is forbidden. 

Religion and Culture 

Respect the religion, sacred places 

and cultures of people.

Language Essentials 

Accommodation 

Do you have any rooms available: 

Aya otagh-e khali darid 

I'd like a … room. (Single, shared),: 

man yak otagh-e ….. mikhaham (yak 

nafari, moshtarak). 

How much is it for… (One night, a 

week, two people): 

baraye …….. che ghadar gheimat 

darad (yak shab, yak hafteh, do nafar) 

We want a room with a … (bathroom, 

shower, TV, window). : 

man yak otagh mikhaham ke ……….. 

daashte bashad. (Tashnaab, shawar, televizion, 

kelkeen) 

Conversation 

Welcome: 

khosh amadid 

Greetings: 

ehteramat, 

Hello: 

salaam 

good morning: 

sob be kheir 

good day: 

rooz khosh 

good evening: 

shamkhosh/bekheir 

goodbye: 

khoda hafez 

how are you: 

chetor hastid 

fine and you: 

khoob hastam,shoma chetor hastiid 

yes: 

baleh 

no: 

na/ nakhair 

please: 

lotfan 

thank you: 

tashakkor 

you're welcome: 

ghabelesh nist 

excuse me/ I'm sorry: 

bebakhshid/mazerat mikhaham 

I like…: 

man …… khosh daram, 

what's your name: 

esme shoma chist, 

my name is…: 

esme man ……. ast, 

where are you from: 

az koja hastid, 

I'm from…,: 

man az ……..hastam. 

Directions 

Where is the… : 

……..kojast(Hotel/taxi etc.) 

can you show me (on the map): 

mitawanid rooye naghshe be man 

neshan dahid/man ra rahnamayi konaid, 

is it far from here : 

aya az inja door ast 

Go straight ahead: 

mostaghim beraveed 

to the left: 

be tarafe chap 

to the right: 

be tarafe raast 

here: 

inja 

there: 

anja 

behind: 

dar aghab 

in front of……: 

pishe rooye…./moghabele….., 

far from……: 

door az …… 

near to ….: 

nazdik be ….., 

opposite: 

rooberooye 

Health 

Where is the … (Chemist, dentist, 

doctor, hospital): 

koja hast (dawa khaneh, daktare dandan, 

daktar, shafa khaneh) 

61

62 


Language Essentials 

I am sick: 

man mariz hastam 

I have… (Anemia, asthma, diabetes): 

man ……. Daram (kam khooni, nafas 

tangi, maraze shaker) 

I am allergic to … (antibiotics, 

aspirin, bees, peanuts, penicillin): 

man be (antibiotics, aspirin, bees, 

peanuts, penicillin) hassasiyat daram. 

Antiseptic: 

Antiseptic/zedde ofooni 

Diarrhea: 

es-haal 

Medicine: 

dawa 

sun block: 

zedde aftab 

Language difficulties 

Do you speak English: 

shoma englisi sohbat karde mitavanid 

does anyone speak English: 

kee englisi yaad darad 

I understand: 

man fahmidam 

I don't understand: 

man nafahmidam 

How do you say … in ( your language) 

: what does …mean: 

… chi ma'ni darad 

Please write it down: 

lotfan 

Numbers 

0,1…,10, 20,…,100,1000: 

yak(1), do(2), se(3), chahar(4), 

panj(5), shash(6), haft(7), hasht(8), 

noh(9), dah(10), bist(20), see(30), 

chehel(40), pinjah(50), shast(60), haftad(70), 

hashtad(80). Navad(90), 

sad(100), do sad(200), se sad(300),…, 

hazar(1000), do hazar(2000),… 

Paperwork 

Name: 

naam/esm 

Nationality: 

melliyat/tabeiyat 

Date/place of birth: 

tarikh/mahalle tavallod 

Sex/gender: 

jensiat 

Passport: 

passport 

Visa: 

visa 

Question words 

Who: kee/kodam kas 

what: chee 

when: key/che zaman 

where: koja 

which: kodam 

why: chera 

how: chegoone/chetawr 

Shopping Services 

Where is the… : 

Bank kojast 

(Bank: Bank, church: 

kelissa, city center: 

city center /markaz-e- shahr, 

consulate: 

ghonsoolgari, 

embassy: 

Sefarat, hotel: hotel, 

lodging house: 

mehman khaneh movaghatee, 

mosque: 

masjed, 

market: 

market/bazzar, 

police: police, 

police office: 

hawzeh amniyati, 

public telephone: 

telephon-e- shahree, 

public toilet: 

tashnab shahree/ 

tashnab-e- omoomi, 

tourist office: 

markaz-e- touristi, 

town square:

maidan-e shahr, 

I'd like to buy…: 

mikhaham ……. ra bekharam. 

How much is it: 

chi gheimat darad 

chand ast, 

I don't like it: 

man nemikhahamash, 

May I look at it: 

mitavanam an ra bebinam 

I'm just looking: 

faghat mikhastam an ra bebinam, 

I think it's too expensive: 

fekr mikonam kheili ghemmat 

geran ast, 

I'll take it: 

man in ra mikharam/ migiram. 

Do you accept credit cards: 

aya credit card ghabool mikonid 

Do you accept travelers cheques: 

aya chek-haye safari/mosaferati ghabool 

mikonid 

More: 

bishtar 

Less: 

kamtar 

Smaller: 

cochaktar/ khordtar 

Bigger: 

bozorgtar/ kalantar 

Time & Dates 

What time is it: 

chee vaght ast/saa't chand ast 

Today:emroz 

Tomorrow:farad/saba 

Yesterday:diroz 

Tonight:emshab 

Morning:sobh 

Afternoon:ba'd az zohr 

Day:rooz 

Month:maah 

Year:saal, 

Monday:do shanbe 

Tuesday:se shanbe 

Wednesday:chahar shanbe 

Thursday:panj shanbe 

Friday:jome' 

Saturday:shanbe 

Sunday:yak shanbe 

Transport 

Public transport: 

transport-e omoomi 

where is the …: 

… kojast istgah-e bus kojast 

Airport: 

maidan-e havayee 

Bus stop: 

istgah-e bus 

Train station: 

istgah rail 

What time does the …leave: 

che vaght bus harkat mikonad 

What time does the …arrive 

che vaght bus miyayad 

Boat: 

keshti 

Bus: 

bus 

Plane: 

tayyareh 

Train: 

rail 

What time is the … bus: 

che vaght bus -e- avali miyayad 

First: 

avali 

Last: 

akharee 

Next: 

ba'dee/deegar 

I'd like a one-way ticket: 

man ticket-e- yak tarafeh mikhaham. 

Return ticket: 

ticket-e- do tarafeh, 

1st class: 

daraje-ye aval 

2nd class: 

daraje-ye dovom 

63

Tourist Guide-Book - Economic Cooperation Organization

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