Afghanistan Guide
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Afghanistan Info
COMMERCIAL / ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL: Kabul
GEOGRAPHY
Afghanistan is a landlocked nation located in Central Asia. Strategically located at the crossroads of major north-south and east-west trade routes, it has attracted a succession of invaders including Alexander III of Macedon, in the fourth century B.C
DEMOGRAPHY
A population of close to 28.3 Million. Muslims account for Over 99% of the population.
CLIMATE
It has a continental climate with very harsh winters in the central highland. The average temperature in January is below −15 °C (5 °F) while the temperatures average over 35 °C (95 °F) in July.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
Pashto and Dari Persian are the two official languages. Other languages, such as Uzbek, Arabic,Turkmen,Balochi and Pashayi are used as native tongue by minority groups across the country.
LOCAL TIME
GMT+4:30 hrs throughout the year
BUSINESS HOURS
General: 8 AM to 5 PM
(Saturday to Wednesday are the working days of the week. Thursday & Friday are considered as weekends)
HOLIDAYS
Independence Day: August 19th
May Day: May 1st
Muslim Festivals (Based on the lunar calandar):
Islamic New Year
Id-ul-Fitr
Id-ul-Adha
Milad-un-Nab
CURRENCY
Afghan Afghani
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Police/ Emergencies: 911
Red Cross (Medical Emergency): 112
Introduction to Afghanistan
In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta from Tirmidh travelled along with his associates through several towns in Khwarizm, Transoxiana, Khurasan and finally Afghanistan. From Transoxiana he crossed into Afghanistan traversing the Hindu Kush mountains and also the Indus River sometime in the late spring of 1333 (1335).The caravan reached the Panjshir Valley and crossed it to reach the Kabul Plain. It took Ibn Battuta about three to four months to cross this entire route from Hindu Kush to Indus plains.
A landlocked mountainous country, Afghanistan is officially known as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The history of Afghanistan can be dated to 50,000 BCE as per archaeological findings. Urban civilization of the area is as old as 3000 to 2000 BC.
The country also finds a strategic location connecting Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East. The present state of Afghanistan was established in 1747.
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Latest on Afghanistan
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Kabul Overview
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Ibn Battuta after making a rushed visit the Herat travelled towards the Kabul Plains and visited the city of Kabul. Kabul has served as the capital of Afghanistan since 1776 and was an important point of trade in the Silk Road.
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Herat (Afghanistan) Overview
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One of the most beautiful cities of ancient Afghanistan, Herat is located in the western part of the country. In the ancient times, Herat was called as the Pearl of Khorasan because of its importance on the Silk Road.
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Balkh (Afghanistan) Overview
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Ibn Battuta mentions in his Rihla about the city of Balkh as being the oldest city in the Amu Darya Valley. The city is also was the capital of the ancient Greco-Bactrian Empire. According to some reports, Balkh is also the birth place of Prophet Zoroaster and also served as home to the famous female poet of the Islamic world Rabia Balkhi.
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Afghanistan Overview
Read more...
In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta from Tirmidh travelled along with his associates through several towns in Khwarizm, Transoxiana, Khurasan and finally Afghanistan. From Transoxiana he crossed into Afghanistan traversing the Hindu Kush mountains and also the Indus River sometime in the late spring of 1333 (1335).
