Afghan 04: Mazar-e Sharif Blue Mosque...

"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him..." - David Brinkley

(Makam Saidina Ali)

Day 04: 07 October 2024 (Monday)
Route: KABUL / MAZAR-E SHARIF
Flight: RQ141 KBL 1000 MZR 1100 Ariana Afghan Air
Hotel: Samir Walid Guesthouse Mazar Sharif

Breakfast was at the 5th floor of Khyber Hotel. We had Afghan bread with hard boiled eggs, cream cheese, salad, followed by double shot coffee. After breakfast we loaded our bagage in two cars and headed for Barbur Gardens to while away time before our flight to Mazar-e Sharif.

Barbur Gardens was created by the founder of the Mughal dynasty, Ziihir ad-Din Muhammad Biibur, after his conquest of Kabul in 1504, this Bagh-e Babur is possibly one of the earliest surviving Mughal gardens. 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.

Lunch was at a Kabuli Palao restaurant before we headed to the Kabul Airport for our domestic flight on Ariana Afghan Airline to Mazar-e Sherif.

Security at the airport was quite strict. Our bag was isolated and checked thoroughly. We performed our jamak prayers at the airport prayer room before we departed to Mazar-e Sharif. ETA in Mazar-e Sharif was at 11.00 am.

Mazar-e Sharif or just Mazar is a city in Afghanistan and the capital of Balkh Province. It has a population of nearly 300,000 people. Mazar-e Sharif is the 4th largest city in Afghanistan. It was founded in the 12th century after a local mullah dreamt of the secret site where Ali bin Talib, the Prophet's cousin and the fourth caliph of Islam, had been buried. Outside of Afghanistan most Muslims believe that Ali is buried in Najaf, Iraq. A shrine, which was later rebuilt as the Blue Mosque, was constructed on the site and the town of Mazar grew around it.

The town, however, continued to live in the shadow of its larger neighbor, Balkh, until that city was abandoned due to disease in the mid 19th century. As a result, Mazar assumed the role of capital of the region - a position it has maintained ever since.

We went out for dinner of mutton shaslik and bread at Bilal restaurant.

After dinner we walked to the Local Bazaar situated at the north side of the park surrounding the Blue Mosque. It is the main bazaar of this northern Afghan city. It's a chaotic, noisy, busy, and utterly interesting marketplace, with stalls selling almost anything imaginable. Wherever we go we were surrounded by local on-lookers and small kids begging for money or sweets.

After buying fruits and perfume we went back to our hotel by tuk-tuk. Samir Walid Guesthouse, was our accommodations for the next two nights.