In today's video, we'll be taking a look at 10 of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan.
Welcome back to FTD Facts, I'm Sarah Carvalho, and it's great to be doing another video for you today!
In the Western world, when we hear of the country of Afghanistan, you can imagine what comes to mind,
especially given what is going on in the world right now, and how things are being portrayed
by different news outlets. However, what these news and media outlets sometimes forget to
talk about, is just how beautiful of a country Afghanistan really is. So, at your popular request
we've been pumping out a few Afghanistan themed videos lately. So, if you haven't checked them out
yet, be sure to do so. And to help you out, I've linked them in the description section below
for your viewing pleasure. Today though, I'm excited to be celebrating some of what this country has to
offer by looking into 10 of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan. Be sure to stick around
until the end, and let us know if you recognize any of these places. Let's get started. Alright,
starting with number 10, we have Kandahar - Mosque of The Sacred Cloak. The revered home of the Mosque of
The Sacred Cloak, and a city steeped in history, Kandahar sits at the crossroads where southern
Afghanistan meets the mountains of the country's heartland. As the traditional seat of Pashtun power,
it was the capital of the last Afghan empire during the years of Ahmed Shah Durrani. Today,
the place is filled with beautiful mosques, shrines, and mausoleums dedicated to luminaries from the
national past. People from all over come to see the curious inscriptions of the great Mughal invader,
Babur on the Chilzina view. This is located just on the edges of the city. Up next, we have Mazar-e-Sharif.
The cobalt domes of the great Blue Mosque shoulder their way above the skyline of Mazar-e-Sharif,
glowing white-hot, under the scorching Balkh sun. Famed as the burial site of Ali bin
Talib, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad himself, it's a gorgeous array of arabesque and South Asian
architecture, complete with turquoise-blue domes and gold-peppered minarets. However, Muslim history
is just one aspect of Mazar-e-Sharif, because this city is also home to countless Greek relics.
Ones that found their way here with the coming of Alexander's armies in the 3rd
century BC. Alright, and now, we have Bamiyan. For lovers of culture and religious history,
the Bamiyan story is a sad one. In ancient times, the place was known as a hub for Hindu
Buddhist worship, and it thrived with artisans, monasteries, and especially, sculptors. In fact,
the two giant statues of The Buddha that stood here, were considered some of the most elegant
4th and 5th-century carvings in all of Asia. The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental statues
of Vairocana Buddha and Gautama Buddha, carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan Valley
of central Afghanistan. Now, this is 130 kilometers northwest of Kabul, at an elevation of 2,500 meters.
Through carbon dating of the structural components of The Buddhas, has determined that the smaller 38 meter
eastern Buddha was built around 570 AD, and the larger 55 meter, western Buddha,
was built around 618 AD. In March 2001, however, these great effigies were destroyed,
causing international outrage and even prompting UNESCO to tag their remains, to prevent further
destruction. Coming in at number 7, we have The Minaret of Jam. The Minaret of Jam is a UNESCO
World Heritage site in western Afghanistan. It is located in a remote, and nearly inaccessible region
of the shahrak District, Ghor province, which is next to the Hari River. The 65-meter high minaret was
built around 1190 entirely of baked bricks, and is famous for its intricate brick stucco and glazed
tile decoration. These decorations consist of alternating bands of Kufic and Naskhi calligraphy,
geometric patterns, and verses from the Quran. Since 2002, the minaret has remained on the list of World
Heritage in danger, under serious threat of erosion, as it has not been actively preserved through time.
The circular minaret rests on an octagonal-shaped base. It has two wooden balconies and
was topped by a lantern. It's formal presentation has a striking similarity to the Ghazni minarets
built by Masud iii. It is thought to have been a direct inspiration for the Qutub Minar in
Delhi, India. Moving on to Band-e Amir National Park. The breathtaking reaches of the Band-e Amir became home
to the first-ever national park in Afghanistan back in 2009. It's easy to see why too! Populated
by no fewer than six individual mountain-lakes, perched more than 3,000 meters up in the rugged
peaks of the Hindu Kush, and forged by millennia of fascinating geological movements, the whole area
is a wondrous place to behold. Hikers come in the Spring and Summer when the temperatures are not an
unbearable 20 degrees celsius below, to wander and wonder at the cobalt blue waters of Band-e Panir
and the Band-e Gholaman. Coming in at number 5, we have the Herat Citadel. So, The Citadel of Herat
also known as, The Citadel of Alexander, is located in the center of Herat in Afghanistan.
It dates back to 330 BC, when Alexander the Great and his army arrived to what is now Afghanistan
after the battle of Gaugamela. Now, many empires have used it as a headquarters in the last
2,000 years, and it was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. This historic citadel
was saved from demolition in the 1950s, and was excavated and restored by UNESCO between
1976 and 1979. From decades of wars and neglect, the citadel began to crumble.
But, in recent years, several international organizations decided to completely rebuild
it. The National Museum of Herat is also housed inside the citadel, while the Afghan Ministry of
Information and Culture, is the caretaker of the whole premises. And next, we have
Babur Garden. So, laid out by the Mughal ruler, Babur, in the early 16th century, and the site of his tomb,
these gardens are the loveliest spot in Kabul. At 11 hectares, they are also the largest public
green space in the city. Left to ruins during the war, they have been spectacularly restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Or the (AKTC). The garden was laid out in the classic four-garden pattern,
with a series of quartered rising terraces split by a central water court. The garden is thought to
have been developed around 1528 AD, when Babur gave orders for the construction of an avenue-style
garden in Kabul. Alright, now let's talk about the Hazrat Ali Mazar located in Mazar-i-Sharif,
Afghanistan. This is a mosque which Sunni Muslims believe contains the tomb of Ali ibn Abi
Talib. Sunnis regard Ali as their Fourth Rightly Guided, Caliph. And they pay tribute to Ali's shrine
every year. The site is also where many pilgrims annually celebrate Nowruz, which is the Persian
new year. At the annual Jahenda Bala ceremony to celebrate the first day of the new year,
a holy flag is raised in honor of Hazrat Ali, and people touch the flag for luck in the new year.
Okay, coming in at number 2, we have the Great Mosque of Khost, or simply The Khost Mosque. It is
the largest mosque in the city of Khost, in eastern Afghanistan. It can hold up to 2,000 worshippers
during any prayer, and it is important to note that the city of Khost has a number of other smaller
mosques which are also reported in the news as Khost mosques. So, you want to make sure you're
going to the right one. And coming in at number 1, we have The Red City, or Shahr-e-zahak. The Red City
is a historic city ruin in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which was once home to 3,000 people.
This city used to be a primary defense for the basin. The imposing ruins of Shahr-e Zahak, guard
the entrance to the Bamiyan Valley, perched high on the cliffs at the confluence of the Bamiyan
and Kalu rivers. Built by the Ghorids, they stand on foundations dating back to the 6th century. Genghis
Khan's grandson was killed here, bringing down his murderous fury on the whole Bamiyan Valley
as a result. The colloquial name "Zohak," is taken from the legendary serpent-haired king
of Persian literature. The towers of the citadel are some of the most dramatic in Afghanistan.
Made of mud-brick on stone foundations, they wrap around the side of the cliff with geometric
patterns built into their crenellations for decorations. The towers had no doors, but were
accessed by ladders that the defenders pulled up behind them. Alright friends, that brings us to
the end of today's video, showcasing 10 of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan. After this, I don't
think anyone can say that it isn't a country with many beautiful sights and historical landmarks to
see. Do you agree? Also, let us know which of our top 10 locations would make it onto your must-see list.
Drop us a comment below. Alright, that's all for today. Thanks for tuning in to FTD
Facts for this video. And don't forget to check back daily for new content, posted just for you. Bye.
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