History
Kandahar is historically an extremely significant city for Afghanistan and until recently was also considered one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. During the recent conflict, it was said that anyone that went there would be kidnapped within 24 hours. Those days are behind us now and it is now safe once again to visit Kandahar.
Kandahar is considered one of the most important cities for Pashtun people and is considered the spiritual capital of the Taliban. There is evidence of settlements in Kandahar dating back over 3000 years and numerous different groups have come through and conquered the area. Pashtun people came through around 300 years ago and has since then been a major cultural centre.
Where to stay
There are several places to stay in Kandahar in the form of hotels and guesthouses. Our picks are the Continental Guesthouse, which has a lovely garden courtyard and the NFC Hotel which has a restaurant attached and also a gym and swimming pool.
Where to eat
There is some amazing little street food stalls you can find throughout the city, however for more substantial meals there are two restaurants we recommend:
- Anar Restaurant – This is a great spot located in the centre of the town with great local Afghani food. We recommend trying the green mutton handi.
- NFC Restaurant – Also known as the National Fried Chicken Restaurant this restaurant all the usual things you’ll find in Afghan restaurant from local cuisine to pizza and of course fried chicken. This is the restaurant attached to the NFC hotel and is considered one of the best restaurants in Kandahar. It has a great outdoor seating area and is perfect in spring, summer and autumn.
- Pommegranate - While not a specific restaurant, pomegranates are some of the best in the world in Kandahar and if in season should definitely be tried!
What to see and do?
Mirwiz Hotak – This is the tomb of the first emperor of the Hotak dynasty. This beautiful mausoleum is a nice way to start a trip in Kandahar. The inside of the mausoleum has some pretty fruit paintings around the inside which is something quite unique to the area.
Chel zina
– Also known as the 40 steps, this is a staircase carved out of stone by Babur after his conquest of the city. Climbing the stairs gives you an amazing view over the city and is a must see.
Karqa Sharif
(Shrine of the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed) – This is one of the most sacred mosques in all of Afghanistan and is the place where the cloak of the Prophet Mohammed is kept. The cloak is brought out during times of crisis and was last seen in the 1990s during a long drought and famine in the country. The mosque can only be entered if you are invited or if you are a Muslim and is adorned with beautiful mirrors on the inside. Towards the back of the complex you will find the tomb of Ahmed Shar Durrani who is considered the King of modern Afghanistan.
Dune bashing
– If you happen to find yourself in Kandahar on a Friday, then in the afternoon head out to the where the sandy desert starts and you will find groups of men dune bashing with motorbikes and 4wd vehicles. For this we definitely recommend to go with a guide as crowds tend to swarm if they see foreigners.
Tips
- Kandahar is one of the most religiously conservative cities in the world and so conservative dress is absolutely mandatory. For women in particular it is recommended that you wear a niqab.
- This area is also known as Taliban headquarters so you will most likely have to engage with the local government for permits or just to be escorted around the city. This can be an interesting experience and you can have the chance to experience some unique hospitality. Our advice is go with the flow and don’t be too stressed about time.
- Kandahar is extremely hot in the summer, so we recommend traveling outside of this period. Spring, autumn and winter are very pleasant to quite hot as well.
If you'd like to join us in Afghanistan and explore Kandahar then join us on one of our Afghanistn tours. To see itineraries and sign up to the tour send us an email to [email protected]. For more information on Afghanistan tours check out our website .
