Guide to Kabul

In the city itself, you'll find Kabul University, established in 1931, and a few other colleges as well. Furthering education in the ancient city are the Kabul Museum and the Afghan National Museum, featuring a large statue of Surya from Khair Khana, as well as Babur's Tomb & Gardens. Nearby also is the Tomb of Timur Shah, surrounded by mosques, the Mausoleum of Mohammad Nadir Shah and the the Minar-i-Istiklal which was built after the Third Afghan War in 1919. Bala Hissar, destroyed in 1879 by the British, has been not only restored, but converted to a military college. Kabul also features an "old section" is filled with markets & bazaars along it's narrow streets. One can find many local & traditional goods along this area.

Other places to look for in Kabul are the Shah Do Shamshera Mosque, Bala Hisar, Bibi Mahroo Hill, Babur Gardens, Paghman Gardens, the Afghan National Archive, the Afghan National Gallery, the Afghan Royal Family Mausoleum, the OMAR Mine Museum and the Kabul Zoo. One story about the zoo says that a lion named  Marjan once killed a soldier who climbed into her cage to show off.  Later on, a fellow soldier, angered at the death of his friend tossed a grenade at Marjan, costing her an eye.

Tappe-i-Maranjan is a nearby hill where Buddhist statues and Graceo-Bactrian coins from the 2nd century BC have been found. The mausoleum of the first Mughal Emperor Babur is also on the outskirts of Kabul. Outside the city proper is a citadel and the royal palace. Paghman and Jalalabad are interesting valleys north and east of the city.

Transportation in Kabul

For a city of 2-4 million people, only 108 public buses service the city. Because of that transportation is overcrowed. However, the US planned a US $23 million project to not only upgrade the existing system but expand it, adding an electric bus system consisting of some 50 km of track & 50 vehicles. To this date, however, this project has yet to begin. Training the drivers & maintenance crews for this project will be provided by Ostrov-Skoda of Czech Republic. In addition, India, Iran and Japan have agreed to deliver more regular buses for the city. Today still, private mini-buses and taxis crowd the streets, often seriously overcrowded with passengers.

Banking in Kabul

Standard Chartered Bank, Kabul Bank, Habib Bank of Pakistan, Punjab National Bank & the Afghanistan International Bank are the main 5 of the 13 banks in existance in Afghanistan.

Places to Stay

AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) is nearly complete with its US $25 million renovation of the Kabul Hotel, central Kabul. Also, the landmark InterContinental Hotel, while dated, is partially refurbished.  Work was interrupted during a bomb attack in 2003, causing minor damage to the hotel. As for the Hyatt Regency hotel, plans are still in the works, but it's unclear whether this hotel will be built.

More Photos of Kabul