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Travel information Afghanstan.

Islamic State of Afghanistan in Central Asia

Provinces in Afghanistan: Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak and Zabol

Cities in Afghanistan: Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif.

Pakistan bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the easternmost part of the country.

Capital City of Afghanistan: Kabul


car hire, hotels, travel agencies, travel guides, transportation / travelling to afghanistan

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Car Rentals

Better not. Take a cab.

Hotels in Afghanistan

In Kabul there is limited moderate and low-class accommodation.
Only basic accommodation elsewhere. In some rural areas there are hotels run by the provincial authority. No info about standards.

 

  -  look for hotels in Kabul
Safi Landmark Hotel in Kabul [ Khwaja Rawash ].

 Mustafa Hotel in Kabul 
Located one block from the famous Chicken Street and 5 minutes from Wazir Akbar Khan
Popular with journalists. 50 roomst. Kebab night on Thursdays on the roof terrace. Pizzas, pool table, darts, DVD room, basketball court.
 Kabul Hotel [ in the center of Kabul ]
 Hyatt Regency Hotel  -  in Kabul [ mid 2007 ]
 IIntercontinental Hotel [ landmark ] 
Opened in September 1969. 200 rooms, 170 in use at US$63-73 (varies from time to time) a night. Swimming pool, tennis court, sauna, Ping-Pong, billiards, barber, shops, Ariana Airlines office and 24 hour Bamiyan Coffee Shop. Ideal for conferences. Ballroom sits 400 for dinner, or 600 for a conference.
Sat: +873 761 469690; Tel: +93 20 2201320.
 Kabul Serena Hotel
The Kabul Serena Hotel, excellently located in the centre of Kabul city overlooking the famous Zarnegar Park, is situated close to all the Embassies, Ministries, and is just 20 minutes from the airport. Built in 1945 amid handsome gardens, the hotel has undergone a complete refurbishment, with the rehabilitation of the existing building and a completely new section added to it. The hotel dominates a busy junction and is situated in the city's commercial centre.

Hostels / Guesthouses

Most guesthouses are in the suburb of Wazir Akbar Khan and are pretty much the same, though furniture, fixtures and fittings do vary.

 Ariana Guest House  -  In Wazir, Akbar Khan, Kabul, Telephone: 93 23765
It's in the part of the city where all the Embassies, Government offices and NGO's are located.
 Smooth Hound Systems
This Directory features over 100,000 places to stay throughout the world. A leading guide, with a wide range of holiday and business accommodation. Bed & breakfast room rates to suit all pockets.

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

 Global Exchange Reality Tours
Reality Tours offer participants an opportunity to journey to other countries to examine a situation firsthand. This gives the individual the chance to understand the issues beyond what is communicated by the mass media. By joining us on one of these delegations, a participant will have the chance to learn about unfamiliar cultures, meet with people from various walks of life, and establish meaningful relationships with people from other countries.
 Bestway Tours  -  Kabul and The Khyber Pass - A cultural tour of Pakistan and Afghanistan
Afghanistan's history as a country, spans little more than two centuries. However, before this the country was part of many great empires. It is in Afghanistan that Zoroastrianism began in the 6 th century B.C. and later Buddhism spread from India. The eastward sweep of Islam reached Afghanistan in the 7th century and to this day Afghanistan remains a Muslim country. Albeit a bit risky, it is possible to visit what many believe is among the most beautiful places on Earth.
 Live Travel  -  tours to special places- the inaccessible, obscure and out of this world
These are exclusively and personally arranged by ardent and experienced voyageur, Phil Haines, who in 1997 became the youngest person to have visited all 193 sovereign countries in the world.
 Silkroaders  -  organizes all possible travels along the Silk Road [ based in Germany ]
The itinerary connects the dimensions of two periods, the past and the present. Its roots go back to the unknown period of Zoroastrism. The descendants of the worshippers of fire, the "Preserved Tribes of Afghan" have retained their history, culture, way of life and traditions up to present times. These people live in the mountaineous valleys of Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif.

Travel Guides Afghanistan / Related Books

Afghanistan Travel Guides [ Amazon.co.uk ]

Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide -  Bijan Omrani, Matthew Leeming
Thanks to 20 years of civil war and its association with terrorism, Afghanistan is now unjustly thought of in the West as a barbarous backwater. Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide aims to dispel this image in a comprehensive introduction to 3,500 years of Afghan culture. Starting with a full history of the country from 1500BC, each chapter looks at the major cities and regions, describing their distinctive cultural and ethnic traditions, their associations with poets, artists, musicians, travelers and holy men, as well as warriors and conquerors. Ancient and modern sources from Afghanistan are extensively quoted, as well as the thoughts, musings and experiences of writers from America, Europe, Russia, China, India and the Middle East, including such luminaries as Robert Byron and Bruce Chatwin.
Paperback 768 pages (June 30, 2005); Publisher: Odyssey Publications,Hong Kong; Language: English; ISBN: 9622177468
Kabul: Bradt Mini Guide (Bradt Mini Guides) 
Dominic Medley, Jude Barrand
... One of the world's oldest cities (dating from about 3500 years ago - and legend has it that it was founded by Cain) - hidden from view by a quarter of a century of war, located at 6000 feet on the Shomali Plain, at the cross roads of the Silk Road, surrounded by the Hindu Kush and encircled by castles, forts and walls. There can be no better place in Central Asia than Kabul...
Paperback 160 pages (June 24, 2003); Publisher: BRADT Travel Guides; Language: English; ISBN: 1841620858 
Reaping the Whirlwind: The Taliban Movement in Afghanistan by Michael Griffin
Synopsis : Afghanistan has historically fulfilled the role of an artificial "buffer state". In recent years, and particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has become the geopolitical playground of various regional interests - the Saudis, the Russians, the Pakistanis and the Americans. Resource rich and strategically important, Afghanistan's unstable and problematic history has been further complicated in recent years by the emergence of the mysterious Taliban - one of the most conservative and least understood Islamic movements in the world. This book provides an account of the background to the ongoing conflict in the area, and a profile of the Taliban movement itself - its origins and beliefs, its religious and political ethos, the character of its particular brand of so-called Islamic fundamentalism and the nature of its international links.
Hardcover 312 pages (September 19, 2000); Publisher: Pluto Press Ltd 
Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia (Yale Nota Bene) by Rashid, Ahmed
Paperback 294 pages (April 1, 2001); Publisher: Yale University Press
Dangerous Destinations -  Andrew Duncan, Michel Opatowski
This pocket guide for the serious traveller or journalist covers the world's most dangerous travel destinations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Each destination has a concise, but detailed, historical background to the causes of conflict, with information about what has happened, what is currently happening, attempts to resolve the situation and what the future may hold. The authors do not attempt to criticize or offer answers, concentrating instead on the advantages and disadvantages of possible options. They also assess the likelihood of violence spreading from the original outbreak. Advice on travel safety from organizations such as the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office is supported with maps of the area and a comprehensive list of useful websites for further information. This book should also appeal to the general reader.
Paperback 288 pages (November 14, 2002); Publisher: Sutton Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 0750929782

Transport / How do I travel to Afghanistan

 Kabul Airport is closed for commercial flights
 Peshawar Airport, Pakistan (PEW). Situated 4 km out fo town ( about 10 minutes by car). From there with a Bus or cab to Kabul.

Roads from Rawalpindi [ Pakistan ] to Kabul and from Karachi [ Pakistan ] to Quetta [ Asia Highway ]

  Opodo  -   
Flight tickets Afghanistan.

 Ariana Afghan Airlines  -  Flights from Frankfurt to Kabul
 Gulf Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways

 Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights  -  price comparison possible

 Maps International  -  Maps of Afghanistan   
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
 Map Afghanistan: Atlapedia Online - Afghanistan - geography, economy, history etc.
 Map Afghanistan [ Uni Texas  -  Perry-Castañeda Library  -  Map Collection ]
Silk Road Countries World Map 
For centuries European traders travelled the Silk Road in search of riches from the Orient. This map details National Parks, the routes from Eastern Turkey to Western China and all the great caravan cities.
Map (July 25, 2003); Publisher: GeoCenter International Ltd; Language: English; ISBN: 3707904059


Links 

 Travel Insurance

 Afghanistan Government
 Afghanembassy.net [ Embassy Australia ]

 Kabul  -  Capital City an largest city of Afghanistan
Economic and cultural center strategically situated in a narrow valley along the Kabul River, high in the mountains before the Khyber Pass.
Kabul is linked with the Tajikistan border via a tunnel under the Hindu Kush Mountains.

 Afghanisch-Turkestan in the North
 Hindukush in the northeast
 Southern Highland

 Bagram
 Ghanzi
 Herat - city in western Afghanistan, in the valley of the Hari Rud river [ Province Herat ]
The city had a favourable position on the trade routes between Persia, India, China and Europe. The roads from Herat to Turkmenistan and Iran are still strategically important. Traditionally known for wine. The inhabitants are mainly Persians.
 Jalalabad - Capital City Nangarhar province, 150 km east of Kabul near the Khyber Pass.
 Kandahar - city in southern Afghanistan, the capital of Kandahar province
Together with Peshawar, Kandahar is the main city of the Pushtu people. It is linked by road to Quetta in Pakistan. The city has been a frequent target for conquest due to its strategic location in central Asia.
The city of Kandahar was founded in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great, near the site of the ancient city of Mundigak [ established around 3000 BC ].
 Kondoz
 Mazar-i-Sharif  -  capital of Balkh province
Dominant language in the city is Persian
 Shindand
 Shir Khan
 Towraghondi
 Zaranj [ border Iran ]

 Hindu Kush
 West Kabul

 Afghan hounds [ running dogs ]  -  originate from Afghanistan.
 Afghan Royal Family Mausoleum
 Babur Gardens
 Bala Hisar
 Bibi Mahroo Hill
 Buddha-Statues of Bamiyan
The two famous statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan province were destroyed by the Taliban because they were regarded as being symbols of another religion.
 Darul Aman Palace
 Kabul Christian Cemetry
 Kabul Zoo, former home of the notable lion, Marjan
 OMAR Mine Museum
 Paghman Gardens
 Shah Do Shamshera Mosque

 Afghan Daily
 News from Afghanistan -  Afghan Media
Up-to-date news and information about Afghanistan. Furthermore focused on Afghans living in North California.
 News  -  Afghan News Channel Afghan News Network
 News  -  Afghan Online Press
 News  -  Afghanistan News Service  -  offers updated news, chatting and polls.
 News  -  Afghanistan News Net
 Magazine  -  Faanoos
 Kabul Times  -  main English-language newspaper
 Payam-e-Mujahid  -  weekly news in Pushtu en Dari lanhuage
 Radio  -  Radio Afghanistan
 Radio  -  Radio Kabul
 Magazine  -  Sabawoon

Cuisine - Afghan Kitchen

Afghan Food and Cookery - Saberi
Paperback 291 pages (August 2000); Publisher: Hippocrene Books, Inc.; Language: English; ISBN: 0781808073
Afghan Cuisine: Cooking for Life a Collection of Afghan Recipes (and Other Favorites) for the Novice Afghan and Non-Afghan Cook 
Nafisa Sekandari
Paperback 156 pages (March 27, 2003); Publisher: AuthorHouse; Language: English; ISBN: 1403385904

History of Afghanistan

Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

Afghanistan, often called the crossroads of Central Asia, has had a very turbulent history. Through the ages, the region today known as Afghanistan has been occupied by many forces including the Persian Empire, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great.
The Afghanistan nation-state as it is known today came into existence in 1746 under the Durrani Empire, but control was ceded to the United Kingdom until King Amanullah acceded to the throne in 1919.

 Afghanistan's History  -  Wikipedia
Pre-Islamic period of Afghanistan (before 651), Islamic conquest of Afghanistan (642-1747), The Durrani Empire (1747-1826), European influence in Afghanistan (1826-1919), Reforms of Amanullah Khan and civil war (1919-1929), Reigns of Nadir Shah and Zahir Shah (1929-1973), Daoud's Republic of Afghanistan (1973-1978), Soviet intervention in Afghanistan (1978-1992), History of Afghanistan (1992 to present). See also Afghanistan Timeline.
The Khyber Rifles: From the British Raj to Al Qaeda -  Jules Stewart
Still recruited from the Pathan tribes that live in the no-man's land between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Khyber Rifles continue to stand guard over this area, one of the world's most volatile borders. For more than a century these gallant poachers turned gamekeepers fought for the British Raj against their own kith and kin, but to date nothing has been written about their key role in Britain's struggle to dominate the North-West Frontier. Jules Stewart tells the incredible story of Colonel Sir Robert Warburton, the man who raised the Khyber Rifles in 1878, and describes the Khyber Rifles in action, in particular in the 1897 Frontier uprising and the Third Afghan War. In 1947, Pakistan gained its independence and the Khyber Rifles took on new duties, amongst them pursuing drug smugglers and terrorists. In the past two years they have been actively involved in the war against Al Qaeda and the opium trade. Most recently they set up the first permanent military presence in the forbidden tribal territory of Tirah, to seal the border against Al Qaeda militants and eradicate the opium trade.
Hardcover 256 pages (June 1, 2004); Publisher: Sutton Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 075093963X
 Kabul Museum 
 Taliban  -  Wikipedia
 Rise to power, Culture, Life under Taliban rule [ Islamist law, Opium, Women, Buddhas of Bamiyan ], Relationship with Osama bin Laden, U.S. invasion
 Taliban
 Understanding The Reasons For Taliban Defiance by Amir Butler
Amir Butler is a Muslim writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a frequent contributer to newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Music, Culture & Entertainment

The classical musical form of Afghanistan is called klasik, which includes both instrumental (ragas, naghmehs ) and vocal forms (ghazals). Many ustad, or professional musicians, are descended from Indian artists who emigrated to the royal court in Kabul in the 1860s.
Afghan folk music is traditionally played at weddings and other celebrations.

Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics -  David Ewans
Examines the history, people, politics, religion, geography, and culture of Afghanistan, offering a revealing portrait of the war-ravaged nation and the Taliban regime and including new information covering events up to spring 2002.
Paperback 368 pages (September 2002); Publisher: HarperCollins; Language: English; ISBN: 0060505087
 Afghanistan Today  -  Culture and more
 Ahmed Zahir  -  'afghan Elvis'  -  died in 1979 gestorben [ car accident ]
Meer dan een miljoen Afghanen waren op zijn begrafenis. Voor veel Afghanen hét symbool van de rijke en voorspoedige jaren zestig en zeventig. Zijn Perzische liefdesliedjes werden door de nieuwe machthebbers in 1996 in de ban gedaan en vernielden zijn graf aan de rand van Kaboel met raketten. Zie de MP3's bij Aghanan.net
 Amid Zahir -  Wikipedia
 Afghan Magazine [Lemar-Aftaab]  -  Afghan culture, Afghan music, Afghan literature, etc.
 Music of Afghanistan  -  Wikipedia

Web Portals / Afghan Search Engine / Aghan Directories

 Kabulguide.net  -  The Survival Guide to Kabul
 Afghanistan Online  -  news, history culture, chatting etc.
 Afghans Online 
 Afghanistan: The Land of the Afghans
 Afghanistan Today  -  Culture, history, etc
 Afghanistan Voice
 AfghansNet  -  Afghan studenst in the Netherlands
 Atlapedia Online - Afghanistan  -  geography, economy, history etc.
 BBC Farsi
 BBC Pashto
 Britannica.com: Afghanistan
 CIA World Factbook - Afghanistan
 Kabul Caravan  -  Online Travel Guide
 Voice of America Pashto
 World Statistics & Atlases

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