Herat

The citadel is believed to have been built by Alexander the Great in 330 BC during his campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Herat, in the fertile valley of Hari-Rud, was settled as early as the sixth century B.C.E. A mound located to the north of the Old City, known as Kuhandazh (or Kohandez) may have been the site of the fort that Alexander the Great built in 330 B.C.E. following his conquest of the Achaemenid city known as Artacoana or Aria. Herat was ruled by the Seleucids, Parthians, Kushans, Sasanians, Hephthalites, Umayyads, Taherids, Saffarids and Samanids until the tenth century, by which time the square fortified city was already established. Located half a kilometer to the south of Kuhandaz and aligned with the cardinal axes, the walled city described by early Arab geographers had four gates leading into crossing commercial avenues and a square citadel (qal'a) adjoining the northern city wall.
This citadel, which has been suggested as another possible site for Alexander's fort, is known today as the Citadel of Herat or Qal'a-ye Ikhtiyar al-Din. Qala Ikhtyaruddin is central to the turbulent history of the city and is an impressive example of surviving citadels (hisar) in the region. Alexander the Great besieged Herat in 330 BC during his campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Known at the time as Artacoana, Herat was rebuilt and called Alexandria of Aria, and it is believed that a citadel was first established on its current site during this period. Incorporated into the northern perimeter of a square walled city by the Ghaznavids, the Qala stood witness to the changing fortunes of successive empires before being laid waste by Genghis Khan in 1222. Rebuilt by the Kart dynasty in 1245, Herat was again destroyed by Timurlan in 1381. His son Shah Rukh transformed the Ikhtyaruddin Citadel sometime after 1415, when the fortifications were entirely re-built and new buildings were erected inside its walls.
2. Takht e Safar Park:
Spread across a hill 5km north of Herat, Takht-e Safar is a popular place for picnics. Built as a pleasure garden for Sultan Baiqara in the 14th century, it's an oasis of green, with good views to the city. It's a popular place for picnics and to catch the sunset (when cars full of wedding parties often descend on the scene).
At the bottom of the hill is a small theme park, complete with rides and a giant concrete pigeon. As you go up the hill, you pass a large swimming pool, popular with males of the species in the summer months. There's a small café offering drinks and ice cream. Further up the hill is a wedding club.
3. Bagh e Millat:
Bagh Millat (also known as Bagh-e Millat), located in Herat, Afghanistan, is a popular green space that provides recreational opportunities for locals and visitors. It's a park with gardens and recreational areas, serving as a gathering place for people of all ages. Here's a more detailed look at Bagh Millat:
Location: Situated within the city of Herat, Afghanistan.
Purpose: Bagh Millat functions as a park and recreational area, offering a space for relaxation, leisure, and social gatherings.
Features: It includes gardens, walking paths, and various recreational amenities.
Significance: Bagh Millat is a well-known and frequented green space within Herat, contributing to the city's social fabric.
Accessibility: It is open to the public and accessible to visitors from Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan.
The Masjid-i Jami (Herat Central Blue Mosque):
(Great Mosque) of Herat is a historic and architectural landmark in Herat, Afghanistan, known for its blue minarets and intricate tile work. It is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the region, serving as a religious and cultural center for centuries. The mosque was built in the 12th century and has undergone various renovations and restorations over time.
Founding and History:
The mosque was initially built on a site where a Zoroastrian temple was previously located and later converted to a mosque in the 7th century. It was enlarged by the Turkic Ghaznavids and further developed under the Khwarazmian dynasty. The current mosque was begun by the Ghurid ruler Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad b. Sam in 1200 (597 AH).
Architectural Style:
The mosque features a four-iwan pattern with a large central courtyard and a unique Ghorid portal with tiled calligraphic and geometric decoration. Its blue minarets are adorned with intricate tile work.
5. Howz Charsoq (4 sides or square house):
Howz Charso (also spelled Howze Charso) in Herat, Afghanistan, is a historical square or "tahd" (a four-sided area with a central pool). It's a prominent feature in Herat's old city and is considered a significant landmark.\
Location: Situated within the old city of Herat, Howz Charso is a well-known public space.
Features: It typically has a central pool, with structures, shops, and other buildings surrounding it.
Historical Significance: Like many historical squares, Howz Charso served as a gathering place and a hub for social and commercial activities in the past.
Tourism: It's a popular tourist attraction in Herat, offering a glimpse into the city's rich history and culture.
Architectural Style: The buildings surrounding Howz Charso often showcase traditional Afghan architecture, with features like intricate tilework and arched doorways. Howz Charso is a place where you can walk, see the architecture, and experience the atmosphere of old Herat. It's a good place to find souvenirs, local handicrafts, and enjoy a meal at the many cafes and restaurants in the area.
6. Minarets of Herat:
The minarets of Herat, specifically the Musalla Minarets, are significant historical structures in Herat, Afghanistan. Originally part of a larger complex, they are now five remaining towers, each 55 meters tall. The complex was built by Queen Gawhar Shad in 1417 and once boasted 20 minarets. The remaining minarets are supported by steel cables and are considered a symbol of the city's history and art.
Location: Herat, Afghanistan.
History: Built by Queen Gawhar Shad in 1417 as part of the Musalla Complex.
Original Number: The complex originally had 20 minarets.
Current Number: Only five minarets remain today.
Height: Each minaret is 55 meters tall.
Structural Support: The minarets are braced with steel cables.
Condition: Some of the minarets are in a ruined state due to neglect and earthquakes.
Cultural Significance: The minarets are considered a symbol of Herat's history and art.
Restoration Efforts: There have been efforts to stabilize and restore the Fifth Minaret, including plans to build retaining walls and a metal structure inside.
7. Malan Bridge: The Malan Bridge (also known as Pul-e Malan or Poli Malan) is a historic, arched bridge located in Herat, Afghanistan, about 12 kilometers south of the city. It is a two-lane bridge spanning the Hari River and is known for its 22 arches. The bridge is of historical importance, having been built by the Seljuks in the early 12th century.
Malan Bridge in Herat is approximately 915 years old. It was built around 1110 AD during the reign of the Seljuk Sultan Ahmad Sanjar. Some historical accounts attribute its construction to the legendary sisters Bibi Nur and Bibi Hur around 900 AD.
Location: Herat, Afghanistan, south of the city.
Construction: Built by the Seljuks in the early 12th century.
Purpose: Originally served as a crucial link connecting Herat and Kandahar.
Dimensions: 230 meters long, 8 meters wide, and 10 meters high.
Arches: Currently has 22 arches, with some claiming it had 17 in the late 19th century.
Legend: Local legend attributes the bridge's strength to two sisters, Bibi Nur and Bibi Hur, who used eggshells mixed with clay to build it.
Damage and Restoration: The bridge suffered damage during the Soviet-Afghan War and was later rebuilt using concrete and baked bricks by the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees.
Relevance: While no longer used for motor traffic, the bridge remains a significant landmark and tourist attraction due to its historical and cultural value.
Gawhar Shad tomb:
(Persian: گوهرشاد, romanized: Gawaršād; meaning "joyful jewel" or "shining jewel"; alternative spelling: Gohar Shād; died 19 July 1457) was the chief consort of Shah Rukh, the emperor of the Timurid Empire.
The Gawhar Shad Mausoleum, also known as the Tomb of Baysunghur, is an Islamic burial structure located in what is now Herat, Afghanistan. Built in the 15th century, the structure served as a royal tomb for members of the Timurid dynasty and is part of the Musalla Complex.
Architecture
The mausoleum forms a cruciform shape, with a dome covering the centre. This dome is the most impressive feature of the structure, in that it is actually three domes superimposed over one another: a low inner dome, a bulbous outer cupola and a structural dome between them. The outer cupola is decorated with flowery light blue-green mosaics. The inner dome is adorned with gold leaf, lapis lazuli and other colours which form intricate patterns. The interior of the tomb itself is a square chamber with axial niches.
9. Gozer Gah Sharif The (Shrine of Khwaja Abd Allah):
commonly called the Shrine at Gazur Gah (or just Gazur Gah) and the Abdullah Ansari Shrine Complex, is the funerary compound of the Sufi saint Khwaja Abdullah Ansari.
Ansari was a direct descendant of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, being the eleventh in line from him.
Ansari was a commentator on the Qur'an, scholar of the Hanbali school of thought (madhhab), traditionalist, polemicist and spiritual master, known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian.
Buy
There are several antique shops on the north side of the mosque that sell jewellery, tea pots, old coins and traditional clothing. Sultan Hamidi ☏ +93 774 282 153 will happily show his photograph in the Lonely Planet guidebook, demonstrate any instruments he has for sale, and direct you to the glassblowers' workshop where many of his wares are made. Bargain hard and in Afghanis.
There is also a silk bazaar near Chahar Su and the Friday Mosque, where you can watch the weavers at their looms, and bargain on scarves and cloth.
Eat
Herat has a mixture of traditional and modern foods. While in Herat do not forget to try Kichiri Goshti and Chainaki. Also Halwa Sohan Herat, Shirperra Zafarani and Dashlama Herati are the best sweets.
Chaikanas are plentiful, and serve cheap local Afghani food.
Shahiste Restaurant, jad-e Badmurghan, is in the Marco Polo Hotel and is the one of the best restaurants in the city. The menu changes daily, and usually features several Iranian/Afghani options. Meals from around 200 Afs.
Arghawan Restaurant, next to the Nazary Hotel, serves kebabs and pizza, with a garden for hookah. Women may be assigned to a small "family room" at the back. Meals from around 200 Afs.
Fardeen Supermarket, jad-e Ghomandani, about two blocks north of Bagh-e Azadi. A well-stocked supermarket with plenty of western and Iranian imports.
1 Thousand and One Nights, Near new US consulate (hill above University). Rice, kebabs, shisha. Waiters are dwarves in bright blue shirts, black trousers, and striped waistcoats. While this may seem patronizing, the restaurant offers them decent jobs where they would otherwise be unemployed.
Sleep
(Expensive) Jaam Hotel, in the old city west of Darb Khosh, ☏ +93 40 223 477. Has 30 basic double rooms, all sharing 2 squat toilets and 2 showers. Management speaks some English and are very friendly, and there is a restaurant on site. 300 Afs.
Marco Polo Hotel, Jad-e Badmurghan, ☏ +93 40-221946, +93 799 206 192, marcopolo_hotel@hotmail.com. The most popular "western standards" hotel in the city. Internet access, breakfast, laundry and transport is included. US$30-40 per night.
Park Hotel (just south of Girdha Park on the road from the airport), ☏ +93 40-223 010. Oldest hotel in Herat, built in the 1930s, it reopened after being occupied by the military. Has a faded, grand old haunted house feel. Large, high-ceiling rooms have 3 single beds and large tiled bathrooms with western toilets. Surrounded by trees on secure grounds. From 1000 Afs per night, for three persons 2000 Afs.
Baharistan Hery Hotel, Taher Fushanji Ave. (In the Arefi Business center), baharistan_hery@yahoo.com. A western-style hotel on the same street as the Marco Polo Hotel. Internet and heating system available. Around 20 rooms and a terrace with views of the city. Staff are helpful. There is no restaurant inside but there are many nearby. Double room for 2000 Afs.
1 Nazary Four Star Hotel, Walatay St, ☏ +93 799 351 899, +93 795 606 400. A Dubai-esque tower block on the main east-west street. US$60 for an en suite double but discounts are available. Rooms have a/c, heating, satellite TV and LAN internet.