The most famous cities of Afghanistan

In Central Asia, a relatively small state is located, whose history goes back to ancient times. It was part of the Persian Empire, saw Alexander the Great, was part of the Seleucid state, joined the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, was part of the Parthian and Kushan possessions. The state was both a kingdom, and a kingdom, and an emirate, and a republic. The inhabitants of this mountainous country rarely fell peaceful periods, so they say that they are born with weapons in their hands.

There is an opinion that Afghanistan is today the most poor and dangerous country in our world. There is no access to quality medicine, there is no normal education, it is impossible to develop international tourism. But terrorism and opium production flourish. Those who are interested in or are ready to visit this dangerous country, it is advisable to get acquainted with large and small cities of Afghanistan in advance. The list of the largest settlements includes:

• Kabul.
• Kandahar.
• Herat.
• Jalalabad.
• Mazar-i-Sharif.

Let us consider in more detail the features of these cities.

Kabul

Kabul is a very ancient city. The date of its foundation is 1504. The Mongol emperor Babur laid the city. It is built on the banks of the Kabul River. An accurate estimate of the population number for many years was not carried out, according to 2006 it is about 616 thousand people. The city is the capital of Afghanistan.

Getting to Kabul, foreigners understand that even the big cities of Afghanistan suffer from poverty and lawlessness. In many areas of the capital, clay one-story houses still exist, in which there is no electricity and no water supply. The old five-story buildings built during the Soviet occupation are considered elite housing. But this is the largest city in the country.

Of course, not all cities in Afghanistan have airports. Kabul could be a happy exception. A major airport is considered one of the city's attractions. It was built at the expense of the Soviet Union for the acceptance of international tourist flights. But the flow of tourists did not appear. In 1979, a civil war broke out in the country. In 1992, the airport passed under the authority of the Mujahideen, and in 2011 it was destroyed by US aircraft. Today part of the airport is restored and takes international flights. Several airlines fly here.

In Kabul, you can visit the Darul-Aman Palace, the Taj-Beck Palace, Abdul Rahman Mosque and Id Gah. On the outskirts of the largest city of Afghanistan, the National Museum was opened. You can also visit the historical park Babur Gardens and bazaars.

Kandahar

Kandahar is much older than Kabul. The date of its foundation was 330 BC. In those days it was called Alexandria in honor of Alexander of Macedon. The city was inhabited mainly by the ancestors of modern Pashtuns. For some time the city was the capital. Today, the population of this city of Afghanistan is almost 492 thousand people. It is the second largest in the country.

Kandahar is the center of local trade. Here there are four large bazaars overlooking the historic Char-Suk square. In the same square, the Mosque of Volos the Prophet was built. In another area of the second largest city of Afghanistan - Shahidan Chowk - the monument of the Fallen towers.

Another attraction of Kandahar is the Mausoleum of the founder of the state Ahmad Shah Durrani. Next to it is a mosque, storing a piece of a cloak of a prophet. But tourists are not allowed into the mosque. This entrance is open only to Muslims.

Near Kandahar, you can visit the excavations of the Bronze Age settlement. There is something to see for lovers of history.

Herat

It's not a godsend, but ancient Afghanistan is mysterious. All the cities of the country bear an imprint of a centuries-old history. Did not become an exception and Herat, the third most populated city. Here lives more than 436 thousand people. The city is built in the valley of the river Gerirud (north-west of Afghanistan).

In ancient times, Herat stood on the Great Silk Road. In the times of Alexander of Macedon he was called Alexandria Ariana. From the sights there is preserved the citadel of the times of Alexander the Great, which was partially reconstructed in 2011, the mausoleum of the Gauhar Shad, the Juma Masjid Cathedral Mosque and the remains of the minarets from the Musalla architectural ensemble.

Mazar-i-Sharif

This city is different from the others. Poverty and lawlessness are not visible here. In Mazar-i-Sharif maintain order and cleanliness. The name of the city can be translated as "majestic tomb". The main pearl of the city is the architectural ensemble of Rosi Sharif. This translates as "Blue Mosque". There is a legend that the Caliph Ali was buried in this mosque, and then his body was stolen and reburied in Najaf (Iraq). The complex of mosques is a place of worship of Shiites.

According to the population, this city puts statistics on the third place. Although here live more than 600 thousand people.

Jalalabad

Jalalabad is another beautiful ancient city of Afghanistan. Remains of ancient Buddhist shrines l-Vll centuries are preserved here. Today the city is considered a transport and trade and distribution point, where agricultural products are transported to Kabul. The population here is slightly more than 168 thousand.

This city can be very interesting for tourists, but the place is difficult to call safe. Here was the largest transshipment point of the Mujahideen. In the mountains there is a whole network of tunnels and bunkers filled with ammunition.

Surprising and controversial country is Afghanistan. The cities listed in this article clearly saw better times. It would be possible to tell more about Kunduz, Puli-Khumri, Maimena, but the bitterness of this will not be lost. It is impossible to build a comfortable life, knowing how to destroy ...