AFGHANISTAN - Tora Bora

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Tora Bora is a world famous cave complex located in the White Mountains (Safed Koh) of Eastern Afghanistan. In the local language Pashto, Tora Bora can be literally translated as Black Dust. Tora Bora caves are approximate 50km west of the Khyber Pass and 10km north of the Pakistani border. When the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban regime of Kabul suffered defeat and its 'guest' Osama bin Laden was forced to take refuge in the cave complex of Tora Bora. This turned Tora Bora into a battlefield. US and anti-Taliban Afghan forced Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters to leave Tora Bora. Laden was not found in Tora Bora and where he escaped from thee is a mystery. Before anyone heard of Osama bin Laden, Tora Bora was known as a mystic picnic spot. Plans are on to turn Tora Bora into a £5.3million tourist resort. Hotels and restaurants are being built on the mountains surrounding the caves.

AFGHANISTAN - Panjshir Valley

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Panjshir Valley is undoubtedly the most beautiful region in Afghanistan. The Valley, located about 60 miles from Kabul, Panjshir Valley is known for its fascinating landscape and possesses great potential for trekking. The Valley, which stretches for 62miles to the Anjoyman Pass, has been the centre of Afghan resistance against the invading Soviets and the ultra-conservative Taliban.
Mausoleum of Ahmed Shah Masood, the legedanry mujahedin fighter and Afghan national hero, lies in the Panjshir Valley. The Mausoleum is nothing less than a pilgrimage centre for the visitors. Masud, a brilliant military strategist, foiled nine Russian attempts to conquer Panjshir Valley. He continued his struggle against the Taliban until he was assassinated in a terrorist attack in 2001.

AFGHANISTAN - Minaret of Jam

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Minaret of Jam, one of the World Heritage Sites in Afghanistan, talks with the sky in a remote valley encircled by barren mountains. Constructed in the 12th century, it is only undamaged monument from the Ghorid period. Soaring to the height of 65 metres, it is the second tallest minaret in the world. Setting of the Minaret enhances its impact.
Objective behind the construction of the tower is not yet clear. Some regard it as Victory Tower, while some think that it would have been part of any other grand design. Archaeological remains of a fortress, palace, wall and market have been found near the market. Archaeologists are trying to find out if the tower has any relation to these discoveries.

AFGHANISTAN - Khyber Pass

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Khyber Pass has always been important due to its strategic location. It has been an important link between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Throughout history it has been an important trade route between Central Asia and South Asia. It is one of the most important mountain passes in the history. Crossing the Khyber is quite adventurous. Pakistan controls the khyber Pass now a days. At present two highways thread their way through the Khyber Pass-one for motor traffic, and one for the traditional caravans. A railway line also travels to the head of the pass. Recently, the Khyber Pass has been used to transport refugees from the Afghan civil war into Pakistan, and transport arms into Afghanistan. The highway over the Khyber Pass links Kabul to Peshawar. Villages lie on each side of the Khyber Pass. The people of the Khyber Pass are mainly Pashtuns.

AFGHANISTAN - Kabul Museum

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Kabul Museum was once considered the most comprehensive record of Central Asian history. Also known as Afghanistan National Museum, Kabul museum was one of the most famous archaeological sites in Afghanistan. Built in 1920, the museum was home to some of the finest collections in central Asia. Many antiquities from Kushan, early Buddhism and early Islam have been hosted by the museum. Some early manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to former royal families were stored here. Almost 90% of the artifacts in the museum were excavated in Afghanistan and formed a complete historical record of the great cultural crossroad of Asia.

AFGHANISTAN - Band-e-Amir Lakes

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Afghanistan established its first national park on April 22, 2009, to promote and protect the natural beauty of a series of intensely blue lakes created by natural dams high in the Hindu Kush. Band-e-Amir is a chain of six lakes in the mountainous desert of central Afghanistan. The lakes formed from mineral-rich water that seeped out of faults and cracks in the rocky landscape. Over time, the water deposited layers of hardened mineral (travertine) that built up into walls that now contain the water. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, who helped the Afghan government set up the park, Band-e-Amir is one of the few travertine systems in the world.

The Landsat-7 satellite acquired this image of Band-e-Amir on October 22, 2002. The starkness of the landscape highlights the ruggedness of the terrain around the lakes. Towering cliffs create sharp lines and shadows on the south side of many of the lakes. The lakes range in color from faint turquoise to deep blue.
On the ground, the lakes are famous for their intense and varying colors, an artifact of the minerals that fill the water and created the lakebeds. Band-e-Amir has also been nominated to be a World Heritage Site.
The five lakes of Band-e Amir are arguably Afghanistan's greatest natural asset. The group of five lakes are collectively known as Band-e- Amir. Band-e-Amir lakes are also considered the lakes of jewels. Lakes of Band e Amir are formed naturally with special geological formations. Color of the water is deep blue flourishing with amazing natural beauty.


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