Afghanistan, a landlocked nation in South Asia, has a complex and varied history that has shaped the country as it is today. Afghanistan, which is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China, enjoys a strategic position at the nexus of numerous trade routes and civilisations. The political and cultural hub of the nation is Kabul, its capital. The formidable Hindu Kush and Pamir ranges, which dominate Afghanistan’s landscape and add to its distinctive cultural and ethnic diversity, are part of the country’s rough and mountainous terrain. Afghanistan is a strong country with a proud history and a people who continue to work for stability, peace, and advancement despite facing many difficulties. Travellers who are daring will find Afghanistan to be a unique and immersive experience with its varied landscapes, historic cities, and rich heritage. UAE tourists can discover the cultural and historical treasures of this fascinating country by obtaining an Afghanistan visit visa for UAE residents. Before submitting an application, it is crucial to review the particular specifications and guidelines established by the Afghan Embassy or Consulate in the UAE.
Reasons to Visit Afghanistan
Afghan tribes
Afghanistan will soon have a population greater than 39 million. The majority of Afghans are Pashtuns, according to the current population. 25% of Afghans belong to one or more ethnic groups, including the Aimaq, Turkmen, and others. The mixing of different groups and tribes is responsible for this country’s diversity.
Tourism
People from all over the world travel to Afghanistan. The reasons are the area’s natural beauty, atmosphere, and civilisation. Understanding the rich cultural heritage of the world is crucial, and new techniques are frequently created to emphasise history. Next, the tourists travel to Afghanistan, a country known for its numerous well-known lakes and valleys. Afghanistan is a fascinating but risky place to visit. The area’s stunning natural beauty astounds every visitor who comes here. There are several enormous mosques that are attractive and worth seeing.
Places of worship
The cultural heritage of this country is extensive. There are places like Mazar-i-Sharif and Kirka Sharif that offer information about the religion. No matter where you go, you will learn about Afghan traditions. The trip to Afghanistan will be exciting for those who are interested in religion. One such place is the city of Bamiyan, where enormous Buddhist statues from ancient times can be found. In addition to numerous additional religious sites, this region also contains remnants of ancient Indian, Persian, Chinese, and Turkish power.
Weather
Unpredictable weather occurs in Afghanistan. Low-lying cities in Afghanistan experience 120 °F summer temperatures in May and June. It is not advised to travel to places like Mazar-e Sharif and Jalalabad between May and June. Travellers should consider going to Afghanistan in September and October.
Food
Afghanistan’s population is very interested in flavours. In this case, saffron, cardamom, coriander, and black pepper are combined to prepare food. The food clearly has an Indian influence. Naan and pulao are popular foods in this area. Meals also consist of both meat and green vegetables. For different castes, different food preparations are made in different restaurants, and special accommodations are made for the visitors’ stay here.
Religion
Afghanistan is a Muslim country. Other Afghans who practise other religions are considerably less numerous here. The percentage of Sunnis in the Muslim population of this country is 5%. There are a few tiny Hindu and Sikh communities in addition to Muslims. Buddhism existed in Afghanistan before Islam. Travelling to this nation would therefore be interesting because you could discover the regional traditions and cultural practices of the various religions.
Tourist hotspots
Despite the unrest, some places are popular with tourists. These places have an impact on people in a way that causes them to think about what they should and shouldn’t do in Afghanistan. But now, the majority of these structures are gone. Even though caves like the Minaret of Jam, the National Museum of Afghanistan, Lal Town, and Tora Bora caves draw tourists to them, there are even bigger mosques like the Great Mosque of Herat in Mazar-i-Sharif that you must visit at least once.
Culture and history
Tribal people in Afghanistan preserve the majority of their culture. A sizable portion of the country’s historical legacy was destroyed during the war in Afghanistan. However, even today, it is evident that Buddhism was practised widely here due to the presence of Buddhist relics in locations like Bamiyan.
Top Destinations to Visit Afghanistan
Kabul
Kabul is among the cities in the world with the fastest population growth, along with New York, London, and Mumbai. It has advanced very quickly in every field. The disorder is as severe as it has become over the years, according to a report from Kabul. This is due to its high level of development despite being part of a dangerous country. There are a number of locations in Afghanistan that are worth visiting, and the country is proving to be a popular travel destination.
Kandahar
At the confluence of Afghanistan’s southern and central mountain ranges is Kandahar, the revered location of the Mosque of the Sacred Cloak and a city steeped in history. It served as both the traditional seat of Pashtun power and the capital of the last Afghan empire under Ahmad Shah Durrani. Tourists throng the area to see the intriguing inscriptions left by the great Mughal invader Babur on the Chilzina View, which is located just outside the city, and the area is now crowded with mosques, shrines, and mausoleums dedicated to national heroes.
Mazar-e Sharif
The massive cobalt domes of the Blue Mosque tower over Mazar-e Sharif’s skyline, glowing white-hot in the sweltering Balkh sun. With turquoise-blue domes and gold-pepped minarets, it is a stunning collection of Arabesque and South Asian architecture. It is also well-known for being the resting place of Ali bin Talib, the Prophet Mohammad’s own cousin. Mazar-e Sharif’s Muslim history is only one aspect of this city; it also contains a large number of Greek artefacts that were brought here by Alexander’s armies in the third century BC.
Jalalabad
In Jalalabad, an area where the passage of time is practically palpable, the emperor Akbar founded the city like so many others in this region. Imagine the emotions the Mughal armies must have experienced in the 1500s as they admired the snow-capped peaks of the Safid Mountain Range. Often, they are barely discernible on the horizon. Due to its climate and proximity to the city, Jalalabad is known for its citrus orchards and lush parks. Visit the mausoleum of King Amanullah Khan, challenge the locals to a game of cricket, or simply unwind in the well-maintained parks and gardens.
Balkh
The legendary capital of the ancient Bactrian Empire, Balkh, has a history that dates back nearly 4,000 years! In fact, it was at these heights, deep within the crevasses of the northern ridges of the Hindu Kush, that Zoroastrianism and Buddhism first established themselves. By the time the Venetian explorer Marco Polo arrived in the 1300s, the town would have been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt (including by Genghis Khan himself), but memories of its massive fortification walls and educational facilities would still be fresh. The bustling bazaars and the emerald-hued Green Mosque give the town a sense of its past, even though it is no longer the regal capital that it once was.
Herat
Because the Timurid dynasty once lived there and because the town is close to the Iranian border, Herat, the third-largest city in Afghanistan, has a significant Persian influence (a lineage that fused elements of Turkic, Persian, and Mongol culture in their time). The primary point of defiance in the city is the Friday Mosque. This stunning building, with its turquoise-tipped minarets and glistening tiles, is thought to be more than eight centuries old. It is also worthwhile to visit the Herat Citadel and the graves of famous Sufi poets.
Faizabad
A hidden outpost of the northern Afghan mountains, Faizabad is supported by the mighty Hindu Kush’s chiselled and cracked passes. The town’s setting, which gives it a rural, small-town feel, defines it. Donkeys can be seen galloping through the streets, and sheep farmers can be seen sauntering through the bazaars. You’ll run into local highlanders who have walked the great Wakhan Corridor trails. You can explore the stunning alpine valleys along the Kokcha River, and there are stew houses nearby that have a spicy aroma.
Band-e Amir National Park
In 2009, along the breathtaking Band-e-Amir, Afghanistan’s first national park was created. The entire area is breathtaking, dotted with no less than six different mountain lakes that are perched more than 3,000 metres up in the craggy peaks of the Hindu Kush and were created by centuries of fascinating geological movements. Hikers travel in the spring and summer (when the temperatures are not an intolerable 20 Celsius below!) to have the chance to marvel at the indigo-blue waters of the Band-e Panir and the Band-e Gholaman.
Samangan
Samangan is a town that once served as a stopping point for caravans making their way along the fringes of the historic Silk Road, but that isn’t what brings most people there. The mysterious Takht I Rostam cave systems, which pierce the nearby dusty mountain ridges, claim that distinction. These are thought to have been built in the fourth or fifth century AD, and they are exquisitely decorated with Buddhist lotus leaf inlays that centre on an interior mud-brick stupa. They offer an engrossing window into a pre-Muslim, nearly forgotten past.
Bamiyan
For those who are interested in culture and religious history, the Bamiyan story is incredibly depressing. Before the Muslim conquest, the region was known as a centre for Hindu-Buddhist worship, and it was thriving with artisans, monasteries, and sculptors. In reality, the two enormous Buddha statues that once stood here are some of Asia’s finest examples of 4th and 5th-century carving. But in March 2001, the Taliban shattered these magnificent effigies, igniting a global outcry that even prompted UNESCO to mark the remnants of the sculptures to prevent further destruction.
