Kabul

About Kabul

Set in a high valley at about 1,800 meters and ringed by bare mountains, Kabul has stood at the crossroads of Central and South Asia for thousands of years. Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire, loved its gardens so much that he asked to be buried here, and later Afghan kings rebuilt it as their capital. Today it is a sprawling city of several million people, the largest in Afghanistan.

Decades of conflict left deep scars, yet much of Kabul's heritage survives or has been restored. The terraced Gardens of Babur climb a hillside to the emperor's tomb, the National Museum still guards treasures from the country's long history, and the restored Darul Aman Palace stands at the end of a long avenue. In the old quarter of Murad Khane, rebuilt merchant houses host craft workshops.

Kabul is best known for its bazaars, carpets and lapis lazuli, for sweet green tea and for kabuli palaw, the national rice dish with carrots and raisins. Travel conditions in Afghanistan can change quickly, so check current official advice and travel with experienced local partners.