Kandahar

The interior view of khirqa mubarak in kandahar.it is great holy place for local peoples. due to claimed about Holy HAZRAT MUHAMMAD(PBUH)'s related some clothes and piece of hear.which were brought here from india by first afghan king ahmed shah durrani.

History

Kandahar or Qandahar is the second largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of 450,300 people (2006 official estimates). It is the capital of Kandahar province on the Arghandab River, approximately 3,297 feet (1,005 meters) above sea level. It is linked by highways with Herat to the west, Ghazni and Kabul to the east, Tarin Kowt to the north, and Quetta in Pakistan to the south.

Kandahar is a major trading center for sheep, wool, cotton, silk, felt, food grains, fresh and dried fruit, and tobacco. The region produces fine fruits, especially pomegranates and grapes, and the city has plants for canning, drying, and packing fruit. Kandahar has an international airport and extensive road links. Together with Peshawar in Pakistan, Kandahar is the main city of ethnic Pashtuns.

Alexander the Great founded Kandahar in the 4th century BC and named it Alexandria, a popular name given to cities that he discovered during his conquests. Many empires have fought over the city, due to its strategic location along the trade routes of Southern and Central Asia. In 1748, Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Durrani Empire (Afghan Empire), made Kandahar the capital of Afghanistan.

Capital of Kandahar province with a population of 250,000. The country's second largest city and chief trade center, Kandahar is a market for sheep, wool, cotton, food grains, fresh and dried fruit, and tobacco. It has an international airport and is linked by road with Kabul, Herat, Quetta, and the Central Asian Republics of the former USSR. Woolen cloth, felt, and silk are manufactured. The surrounding irrigated region produces fine fruits, especially grapes, and the city has plants for canning, drying, and packing fruit. Kandahar was founded by Alexander the Great (4th century B.C.). India and Persia long fought over the city, which was strategically located on the trade routes of central Asia. It was conquered by Arabs in the 7th century and by the Turkic Ghaznavids in the 10th cent. Genghis Khan sacked it in the 12th century, after which it became a major city of the Karts (Mongol clients) until their defeat by Tamerlane in 1383. Babur, founder of the Mughal empire of India, took Kandahar in the 16th century. It was later contested by the Persians and by the rulers of emerging Afghanistan, who made it the capital (1748 - 1773) of their newly independent kingdom. British forces occupied Kandahar during the First Afghan War(1839 - 1842) and from 1879 to 1881. The old city was laid out by Ahmad Shah and is dominated by his octangular, domed mausoleum. There are also numerous mosques (one said to contain the Prophet Muhammad's cloak) and bazaars. Modern Kandahar adjoins the old city. It has a technical college. Together with Peshawar, Pakistan, Kandahar is the principal city of the Pashtun people. During the Soviet military occupation of 1979 to 1989, Kandahar was the site of a Soviet command. A major prize, it changed hands several times until the fall of the Najibullah government in 1992.

Travel Attractions in Kandahar
Kandahar is a city rich in history. Cities historical monuments and religious sites are associated with the historical journey of the city.

The Chilzina
Located four km away from Kandahar, Chilzina is known for its rock out chamber. It is located high above the plains in the mountain chains of Afghanistan. Since ancient time Chilzina has served as the defence wall for Kandahar. Chilzina was built between 1522 A.D. To 1531 A.D. Person behind the idea and construction of the chamber was Moghul emperor Babur. It is also known as Forty Steps.

Mausoleum of Ahmed Shah Durrani
One of the most important historical monuments of Kandahar. Adjoining the mausoleum there is shrine of Muhammad's cloak. Ahmed Shah Durrani was the founder of Sadozy Dynasty and ruled Afghanistan from 1747 to 1772 A.D. He added Kashmir, Sindh and Western Punjab to his domains His empire extended from Eastern Persia to Northern India and from Amu Darya to the Indian Ocean. The Mosque of the Hair of Muhammad is located inside the covered bazaar of Char Suq in Kandahar.

Shrine of Baba Wali
Baba Wali's shrine is located near at the lush green bank of Arghandab River. The shrine is a famous landmark of Kandahar. Shrine of Baba Wali is located on the hill side near Arghandab district. The terraces of the shrine are shaded by the pomegranate shrubberies. Fil Koh or Elepahant Mountain can also be noticed while you are on your visit to the shrine. The shrine owes its importance as a religious site as well as known as an ideal picnic spot with family and friends.

Village of Sher Surkh
Just about a mile south of Jadi Haji, Sher Sukh village is located. Most wonderful and picturesque sight all over the Afghanistan. It is famous for the musoleums of Ahmad Khan, Durrani's son Payeda Khan.

Char Suq (Four Bazaars)
Char Suq is considered to be the hub of the city. It is referred as the Cahr Suq as four principle markets of the city lies here. The tradition of four bazaars has been going on since the time of Ahmad Shah Duranni. Char Suq exactly is a square, where the four main market streets meet. Inside the covered bazaar the mosque of hair of Muhammad is located.

Kandahar Museum
At the western end of the Eidgah Durwaza, city museum is located. It has a wide display of Ghiyassuddin's paintings, the famous artist from Afghanistan.

Kandahar Airport, built in 1970s and to become the largest airport in Central Asia was built with US financial and technical assistance under the US International Development Program. The airport was severely damaged during the Russian attacks on the city during 1979-89 and again during the US raids in 2001.

1933 - “Main Street of the 'Silk City,' Kandahar: Like many Indian cities, the center of the manufacture of Afghanistan’s small prayer carpets is quartered by two principal streets. They cross under the 'Tower of the Four Highways,' center of the busy bazaars.” (Photographs by Maynard Owen Williams - courtesy of The National Geographic Society)