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Kandahar



The model plan of a 20,000 homes development project called Kandahar Valley.
The model plan of a 20,000 homes development project called Kandahar Valley.

Due to almost 30 years of destruction and no development, Kandahar (along with the rest of the country) is going through a nationwide reconstruction period. As of 2002, large amounts of money have been pouring in for construction purposes. New modern-style buildings are slowly replacing the older ones. Kandahar's major highways were repaired and completed including the highway to Kabul. However, work on smaller roads in some parts around the city is still in progress.

Kandahar's residents have access to clean drinking water and 24 hour electricity. Although not every part of the city may receive it, plans and works are underway to extend these services to every home.[23]

Up to 20,000 single-family homes and associated infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, and community buildings, including schools, are under construction on empty land in Kandahar.[24]

About 6 miles (10km) east of Kandahar, a huge industrial park is under construction with modern facilities. The park will have professional management for the daily maintenance of public roads, internal streets, common areas, parking areas, 24 hours perimeter security, access control for vehicles and persons.[25]

A railroad track from the Pakistani town of Chaman to Kandahar is planned for the near future. The feasibility study was completed in or about early 2006, allowing for the next step to lay-down the rail track. The work on the rail track will take approximately 2 years to complete.

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Places of interest

The most important historical monument in Kandahar is the mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani, who founded the Durrani Empire. The shrine of the Mosque of the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed, adjoining Ahmad Shah’s mausoleum, is one of the holiest shrines in Afghanistan. The Mosque that contains Hair of Muhammad is located inside the covered bazaar, on the left as you enter from Kabul Bazaar.[17]

The charming village of Sher Surkh is located southeast of the city, in the suburbs of the old city of Nadirabad. Kandahar Museum is located at the western end of the third block of buildings lining the main road east of Eidgah Durwaza (gate). It has many paintings by the now famous Ghiyassuddin, painted while he was a young teacher in Kandahar. He is acknowledged among Afghanistan’s leading artists.

Just to the north of the city, off its northeast corner at the end of buria (matting) bazaar, there is a charming shrine dedicated to a celebrated saint who lived in Kandahar more than 300 years ago. The grave of Hazratji Baba, 23 feet (7.0 m) long to signify his greatness, but otherwise covered solely by rock chips, is undecorated save for tall pennants at its head. A monument to pious martyrs (Shahidan: those who died in battle defending their land) stands in the center of Kandahar’s main square called Da Shahidanu Chawk, which was built in the 1940s.

The Chilzina is a rock-cut chamber above the plain at the end of the rugged chain of mountains forming the western defence of Kandahar’s Old City. Forty steps, about, lead to the chamber which is guarded by two chained lions, defaced, and inscribed with an account of Moghul conquest. The rugged cliffs from which the Chilzina was hewn form the natural western bastion of the Old City of Kandahar which was destroyed in 1738 by Nadir Shah Afshar of Persia.

A short distance from Chilzina, going west on the main highway, a bright blue dome appears on the right. This is the mausoleum of Mir Wais Khan, the Ghilzai chieftain who declared Kandahar’s independence from the Persians in 1709.

The shrine of Baba Wali, its terraces shaded by pomegranate groves beside the Arghandab River, is also very popular for picnics and afternoon outings.

Night view of Kandahar International Airport in 2007.
Night view of Kandahar International Airport in 2007.
The Shrine of Baba Wali in the Arghandab district.
The Shrine of Baba Wali in the Arghandab district.
  • Districts
    • Arghandab Valley
    • Daman
    • Dand
    • Kandahar Valley (under construction)
    • Karz
    • Mirwais Mina
    • Sarpuza
    • Shāri Noe
    • Zoar Shār (Old City)
  • General
    • Baba Saab (picnic area & weekend spot)
    • Bāghi Pull (picnic area & weekend spot)
    • Chilzina View (Moghul Emperor Babur's inscription site)
    • Kandahar Stadium
    • Shāri Noe Fairground (local amusement park)
  • Shopping
    • Herat Bazaar
    • Kabul Bazaar
    • Shah Bazaar
    • Shkar Pur Bazaar

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Notable people from Kandahar

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References

  1. ^ a b c Alexander the Great: his towns - Alexandria in Arachosia...Link
  2. ^ Columbia Encyclopedia (Sixth Edition) - Kandahar...Link
  3. ^ Columbia Encyclopedia (Fifth Edition) - The City of Kandahar...Link
  4. ^ Hobson Jobson Dictionary
  5. ^ Gandara...Link
  6. ^ W. Vogelsang, "Gandahar", in The Circle Of Ancient Iranian Studies
  7. ^ E. Herzfeld, "The Persian Empire: Studies on Geography and Ethnography of the Ancient Near East", ed. G. Walser, Wiesbaden 1968, pp. 279, 293-94, 336-38, 345
  8. ^ Ashoka's Rock Edicts...Link
  9. ^ a b Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1971) "Sites in Perspective (Chapter 3)" An Historical Guide To Afghanistan Afghan Tourist Organization, Kabul, OCLC 241390 Copy here is non-attributed.
  10. ^ Map of the Median Empire from the University of Texas in Austin, showing Pactyans in what is now Kandahar, Afghanistan...Link
  11. ^ Mentioned in Bopearachchi, "Monnaies Greco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques", p52. Original text in paragraph 19 of Parthian stations
  12. ^ Maurya dynasty...Link
  13. ^ Afghanland - Mirwais Khan Hotak...Link
  14. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica - The Hotakis (from Afghanistan)...Link
  15. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica - The Durrani dynasty...Link
  16. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica - Ahmad Shah Durrani...Link
  17. ^ a b Nancy Hatch Dupree - An Historical Guide To Afghanistan - The South (Chapter 16)...Link
  18. ^ Conflict Studies Journal at the University of New Brunswick...Link
  19. ^ Reuters, Link
  20. ^ Pajhwok Afghan News - AAA begins flights for Kandahar... Link
  21. ^ Lonely Planet - Tony Wheeler - Afghanistan Practicalities...Link
  22. ^ Pajhwok Afghan News - Ministry signs contract with Chinese company...Link
  23. ^ South Asian News Agency, 30 Power Generators to Be Installed in Kandahar
  24. ^ U.S. Department of State, U.S. Government Agency Grants $3 Million to Build Afghan Homes
  25. ^ Afghanistan Investment Support Agency, Afghanistan Industrial Parks Development Authority

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Further reading

  • Dupree, Nancy Hatch [1st Edition: 1970] (1977). An Historical Guide to Afghanistan, 2nd Edition, Revised and Enlarged, Afghan Tourist Organization. 
  • Hill, John E. 2004. The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu. Draft annotated English translation.[1]
  • Hill, John E. 2004. The Peoples of the West from the Weilue 魏略 by Yu Huan 魚豢: A Third Century Chinese Account Composed between 239 and 265 CE. Draft annotated English translation. [2]
  • Thapar, Romila (1963): Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas. Oxford University Press. 3rd impression, New Delhi, 1980.
  • Frye, Richard N. (1963). The Heritage of Persia. World Publishing company, Cleveland, Ohio. Mentor Book edition, 1966.
  • Toynbee, Arnold J. (1961). Between Oxus and Jumna. London. Oxford University Press.
  • Vogelsang, W. (1985). "Early historical Arachosia in South-east Afghanistan; Meeting-place between East and West." Iranica antiqua, 20 (1985), pp. 55-99.
  • Wood, Michael (1997). In the footsteps of Alexander the Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia. BBC, London. First published 1997. Paperback Edition 2001.

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External links

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v • d • e
Twelve largest cities in Afghanistan by population
Kabul · Kandahar · Herat · Mazar-e Sharif · Kunduz · Taloqan · Jalalabad · Ghazni · Charikar · Sari Pul · Puli Khumri · Sheberghan
v • d • e
Districts of Kandahar
Arghandab · Arghistan · Daman · Ghorak · Kandahar (capital) · Kandahar · Khakrez · Maruf · Maywand · Miyannasheen · Naish · Panjwaye · Reg · Shah Wali Kot · Shorabak · Spin Boldak · Zhari



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