Holiday in Kabul

About Kabul

Kabul is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — a crossroads of civilizations on the Silk Road for over 3,500 years, the capital of empires ranging from the Greeks to the Mongols to the Mughals, and a place of tragic beauty that has preserved an astonishing cultural depth despite decades of war. The city is located in a valley at an altitude of 1,800 meters, surrounded by the barren, dramatic mountains of the Hindu Kush. The Bala Hissar, a fortress from the 5th century on a hill overlooking the city, offers the best view of the valley and the snow-capped peaks beyond. The Gardens of Babur, laid out by the first Mughal emperor Babur in the 16th century and lovingly restored after decades of neglect, are an oasis of tranquility: terraces, water features, and pomegranate trees — and Babur's tomb, which he himself chose as his favorite resting place. The National Museum of Afghanistan in Darulaman preserves artifacts that make the intersection of civilizations tangible: Greco-Buddhist Gandhara sculptures, Bactrian gold from the time of Alexander the Great, Islamic calligraphy, and coins from all the empires that ever ruled Kabul. Many pieces were hidden and rescued during the war — their existence is a triumph of Afghan cultural preservation. **Important Note:** Kabul has been under Taliban rule since August 2021. The Foreign Office strongly advises against travel to Afghanistan. The sights and cultural aspects described here serve to inform about the historical and cultural heritage of the city.