Afghan 06: The Historical Ancient City of Kholm...

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction..." Blaise Pascal

(Al-Fateh Mosque)

Day 06: 09 October 2024 (Wednesday)
Route: MAZAR - e SHARIF / KHOLM / KABUL
Flight: FG262 MZR 0400 KBL 0530 Kam Air
Hotel: Hotel Khyber, Kabul

We had a heavy breakfast at the guesthouse courtyard.

Today on the way to Kholm we had a brief visit to the Firdosi Library of Mazar-e Sharif. The library is actively sponsored by Iran and has quite an extensive collection of English books. The library is named after a famous poet Ferdowsi, who is well-known for his epic poem, the 'Shahnameh'. It often hosts community events, literary discussion and educational programs.

(The Firdosi Library of Mazar-e Sharif)

(Meeting the Chief Librarian)

(Extensive collections of books)

(Promoting the culture of reading and literacy)

Next visit was at Al-Fateh Mosque, similar to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine. The new mosque located at the roundabout in Mazar-e Sharif was built by Cam Air at a cost of 22 million Afghanis. The mosque, completed within a year, can accommodate 200 worshippers at a time.

(Al-Aqsa Mosque look-alike)

(A beautiful blue mosque)

(The new mosque can accommodate 200 worshippers)

By 10.00 am we reached the city of Kholm and drove direct to Tashqarqhan National Park. The Bagh-e Jehan Name Palace was built between 1890-1892 by Emir Abdur Rahman. It was then further restored and renovated between 1974-1976 with the intention of turning it into a museum. However, an earthquake in 1976 caused serious damage to the structure and the following years of conflict and civil war led to further damage and the neglect of the palace. The residence was used as a stopover place for the Shah of Afghanistan during his travels in the northern provinces. The palace was in the style of Mughal residences with a swimming pool and garden.

(The entrance to the palace area)

(The high wall surrounding the garden)

(The Bagh-e Jehan Name Palace)

(The exterior and interior of the palace)

(The palace needs further restoration and renovation)

(Photo opportunities on the rooftop)

(The view from the rooftop)

We took the Balkh Samangan Highway, known as the Aibak-Mazar-i-Sharif highway in northern Samangan province. Stopped for some photo opportunities and bought some local food stuff from the roadside stalls.

(The Balkh Samangan Highway)

(The highway in between two mountain cliffs)

(Roadside stalls selling local produces)

(The Kholm River along the highway)

There is a fresh spring water by the Kholm River. Our van stopped near the river bank on the opposite side of the spring. We could see the locals taking a bath at the pool. To get to the spring pool one had to wade in the river which was muddy at the time.

(The Kholm River valley, with mountains to the west and east)

Our lunch was pilaf and chicken/lamb on skewers at a local restaurant in Kholm. After lunch we drove direct to Mazar's Maulana Jalaluddin Airport. After we said goodbye to our driver, Kassim we went through a thorough check-in process. All our baggage were subject to dog search. We had ample time to perform our prayers before we boarded the 4:00 pm flight to Kabul.

(Seated on a traditional Afghan rugs) 

(Lamb, chicken and beef shashliks)

(A plate of lamb pilaf)

Our flight arrived safely in Kabul at 5:15 pm. We checked in Khyber Hotel and had our dinner in the room.

Afghan 05: Balkh, a hub of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism...

Afghan 07: The Buddhas of Bamiyan, a destruction of heritage...👉