The Elusive Enclave: Unveiling Kabul's Mystique In The Heart Of Afghanistan

Kabul is the capital city of Afghanistan, located in the eastern half of the country. It is situated in a high, narrow valley in the Hindu Kush mountain range and is bounded by the Kabul River. At an elevation of 1,790 to 1,800 metres, it is one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city is divided into 22 municipal districts and has a population of approximately 4.95 million people, making it the largest urban centre in Afghanistan. Kabul has a rich history, dating back over 3,500 years, and has been a key destination on trade routes between Central and South Asia.

Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan

Kabul has a long and rich history, dating back more than 3,500 years. The city has been a major trading centre for centuries and was a key destination on the ancient Silk Road. It has been under the rule of various dynasties and empires, including the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the Seleucids, the Mauryans, the Mongols, and the British. In 1776, Kabul became the capital of Afghanistan during the reign of Timur Shah Durrani.

The city is known for its historical gardens, bazaars, and palaces. Some notable landmarks include the Gardens of Babur, the Darul Aman Palace, the Arg (presidential palace), the National Museum of Afghanistan, the Abdul Rahman Mosque, and the Id Gah Mosque. Kabul is also home to several universities, colleges, and a diverse range of ethnic and religious groups, including Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Sikh and Hindu communities.

Kabul has experienced periods of conflict and occupation, including the Soviet-Afghan War, civil wars, and the Taliban regime. Despite these challenges, the city has continued to grow and develop, with a population of approximately 4.95 million people as of 2023.

It is located in a valley

Kabul is located in a valley, high up in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The city is surrounded by the Logar and Paghman Ranges in the south-east, the Qrough Range in the south-west, the Shirdarwaza Range in the north-east, the Charikar Range in the north, and the Tangi Gharrow Range in the west. Kabul is also situated in a triangular valley between the Āsamāʾī and Sherdawaza mountain ranges. The Kabul River flows through the city, joining the Indus in northern Pakistan.

The valley in which Kabul is located is known as the "Valley of Death" by locals, due to the high number of suicide bombings and attacks that have taken place there. The area is densely populated, making it easy for militants to infiltrate and hide.

Kabul's location in a valley has contributed to its long history as a trading centre. The city is located along trade routes between Southern and Central Asia, and it commands the passes from the north and the south, as well as the main approaches through the Khyber Pass to Pakistan and India.

The city is divided into 22 districts

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is divided into 22 municipal districts, which are also called city districts or police districts. These districts are further divided into neighbourhoods, called gozars. Each city district has a district head appointed by the mayor, and each gozar has a wakil-e gozar, or a person chosen to represent the community within the district.

The number of city districts in Kabul has increased over time. In 2005, there were 11 districts, which increased to 18 in 2005, and then to 22 by 2010. This increase was due to the incorporation of Districts 14 and 19-22, which were annexed by the Kabul Municipality from surrounding rural districts. The city limits have thus substantially increased.

District 1

Chindawol, Kharabat Street, Jadayi Maiwand Street, Mandawi Street, Rika Khana, Shur Bazar

District 2

Andarabi, Baharistan, Deh Afghanan, Karte Ariana, Karte Parwan (part), Murad Khane, Shash Darak (part)

District 3

Deh Bori, Deh Mazang, Deh Naw, Jamal Mina, Karte Char, Karte Mamorin (part), Karte Sakhi, Silo Street (part)

District 4

Karte Parwan (part), Kolola Pushta, Shahrara, Shahr-e Naw, Taimani

District 5

Afshar, Fazel Baig, Karte Mamorin (part), Khushal Khan, Mena, Kote Sangi/Mirwais Maidan, Silo Street (part), Qala-e Wazir

District 6

Darulaman, Karte Seh, Qala-e Shada

District 7

Aqa Ali Shams, Chihil Sutun, Deh Dana, Gozar, Gah, Wassel Abad

District 8

Beni Hisar, Karte Naw, Rahman Mina, Qalacha, Shah Shahid

District 9

Karte Wali, Mikrorayon (2nd, 3rd, 4th), Shash Darak (part), Yaka Tut

District 10

Bibi Mahro, Char Qala, Qala-e Fathullah, Qala-e Musa, Sherpur, Wazir Akbar Khan

District 11

Hazara-e Baghal, Khair Khana, Qala-e Najara

District 12

Ahmad Shah Baba, Mina/Arzan Qimat, Bagrami, But Khak Shina

District 13

Bist Hazari, Dashte Barchi, Omid-e Sabz (township)

District 14

District 15

Hamid Karzai Int'l (airfield), Khwaja Bughra, Khwaja Rawash, Qasaba (township)

District 16

Mikrorayon (1st/Old), Qala-e Zaman Khan, Sement Khana

District 17

District 18

Bakhtiaran, Deh Sabz, Tara Khel

District 19

District 20

District 21

District 22

Kabul is a historical city, over 3,000 years old

Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, is over 3,000 years old. It is located in a valley between the Hindu Kush mountains, in the eastern part of the country. It is also a municipality, forming part of the greater Kabul Province and is divided into 22 administrative districts.

Kabul has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the course of its long history. It has been conquered by the Arabs, Mongols, and Persians, and has been ruled by various dynasties and empires, including the Seleucids, the Mauryans, the Kushans, the Hindu Shahis, Western Turks, the Turk Shahis, the Samanids, the Khwarazmians, the Timurids, and the Mongols.

Kabul has long been an important centre of trade and culture. It was a key destination on the ancient Silk Road and was traditionally seen as the meeting point between Tartary, India, and Persia. The city is known for its historical gardens, bazaars, and palaces, including the Gardens of Babur, the Darul Aman Palace, and the Arg.

Kabul has a rich Buddhist history, with many monasteries once encircling the Bala Hissar citadel. It was a place of settlement since the Bronze Age and has been witness to the ebb and flow of fortunes in Afghanistan, with many invaders and dynasties coming and going.

It is known for its bazaars, gardens and palaces

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is known for its bazaars, gardens, and palaces.

Bazaars

Kabul has long been a centre of trade, and its bazaars are renowned throughout the region. The Char Chatta Bazaar, built in the 17th century, was a covered marketplace over 200 metres long. It was destroyed in 1842 by British forces, but Mandawi Road on the south side of the river remains one of the city's main bazaars.

Gardens

Kabul was once known as a city of gardens. The Gardens of Babur, also known as Bagh-e Babur, is a historic site in the southwest of the city. The gardens feature terraced buildings, a small mosque, and walking space. They are the final resting place of Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, and are thought to have been developed around 1504. They are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palaces

Kabul is also home to several palaces, including the Arg, the Darul Aman Palace, and the Tajbeg Palace. The Arg currently serves as the office of the President of Afghanistan. The Darul Aman Palace, built in the 1920s, was renovated and restored to its former glory between 2016 and 2020. The Tajbeg Palace, originally built in the 1920s, was fully renovated in 2021.

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