Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, had preserved only a fraction of its historic past until the fighting in 2001, after which even less was still standing. It is estimated that at least one-third of all public buildings and approximately 40 per cent of the houses were completely destroyed. The Gardens of Babur and a well-presented museum are among the few conventional attractions for tourists. The ancient walls of the citadel Bala Hissar remain dangerous to circumnavigate. There are plans to re-open the National Gallery in the near future. If able, it is worth trying to visit the Valley of Paghman,
90 minutes by road west of the capital, where the rich had second houses; and, to the north, Karez-i-Amir, Charikar and the Valley of Chakardara.
Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province, used to be an attractive winter resort, with many cypress trees and flowering shrubs.
Consisting of two huge mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush is a wild and remote region. Although traveling by car is possible, the steepness of the routes makes vehicles prone to breakdowns. The Hindu Kush is best left for travelers prepared to rough it. For those who make the journey, the mountains, valleys and lakes provide stunning scenery. Bamian is the main center. The second- to fifth-century Great Buddhas were destroyed here to international outcry in 2001. The Red City (Shahr-i-Zahak), 17km (11miles) from Bamian, is the location of the remains of another ancient citadel.
It should be noted that much of the land in Afghanistan is still mined and, therefore, trips outside urban areas are ill-advised and dangerous.
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