Kabul

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Afghanistan

Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been a country united against invaders but divided against itself. Its allure, spread by Great Game romantics and travel literature alike, has only been heightened by its inaccessibility over the last 30 years.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • People standing near Buddha in rockface.

    Buddha Niches

    Afghanistan

    The empty niches of the Buddha statues dominate the Bamiyan valley. Carved in the 6th century, the two statues, standing 38m and 55m respectively, were…

  • Afghanistan, Kabul, Kabul Museum

    Kabul Museum

    Kabul

    The Kabul Museum was once one of the greatest museums in the world. Its exhibits, ranging from Hellenistic gold coins to Buddhist statuary and Islamic…

  • Minaret of Jam - stock photo Afghanistan Reaching a dizzying height of 65m, the Minaret of Jam stands as a lonely sentinel at the confluence of the Hari Rud and Jam Rud rivers, the greatest surviving monument of the medieval Ghorid empire.

    Minaret of Jam

    Afghanistan

    Reaching a dizzying height of 65m, the Minaret of Jam stands as a lonely sentinel at the confluence of the Hari Rud and Jam Rud rivers, the greatest…

  • TOPSHOT - An Afghan vendor pushes a wheelbarrow after the first snowfall near the old fortress of Bala Hissar in Kabul on December 15, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / WAKIL KOHSAR (Photo credit should read WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

    Bala Hissar & City Walls

    Kabul

    The old seat of royal power, a fortress has stood on the site of the Bala Hissar since the 5th century AD, and quite possibly before. It sits at the foot…

  • The Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

    Friday Mosque

    Afghanistan

    Over 800 hundred years old, Herat’s Friday Mosque is Afghanistan’s finest Islamic building, and one of the greatest in Central Asia. A master class in the…

  • Ancient citadel or 'Ark'.

    Herat Citadel

    Afghanistan

    Towering over the Old City, the Herat Citadel has watched over Herat’s successes and setbacks with its imposing gaze for centuries. The oldest building in…

  • Babur Gardens.

    Babur's Gardens

    Kabul

    Laid out by the Mughal ruler Babur in the early 16th century, and the site of his tomb, these gardens are the loveliest spot in Kabul. At 11 hectares,…

  • The famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

    Shrine of Hazrat Ali

    Afghanistan

    The twin blue domes of the Shrine of Hazrat Ali are one of Afghanistan’s most iconic sights, and pilgrims come from across the country to pay their…

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Articles

Latest stories from Afghanistan

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KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - AUGUST 10: Displaced Afghan families head into Kabul from the northern provinces desperately leaving their homes behind on August 10, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Taliban has taken control of six provincial capitals, among other towns and trade routes, since the United States accelerated withdrawal of its forces this year. Afghan families from Kunduz, Takhar and Baghlan provinces have arrived in Kabul in greater numbers, fleeing the Taliban advance. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

People need safe passage out of Afghanistan - here's how you can help

Aug 17, 2021 • 2 min read

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