Afghanistan Country Sheet
The central Asian Islamic Republic of Afghanistan country has unfortunately been through 30 years of near constant occupation or civil war. Afghanistan enjoys a climate of extremes, with winter lows of -11° Fahrenheit, and summer highs reaching 113-122° Fahrenheit, with monsoon rains in some areas in summer.
Most of the country is in the Himalayas, which results in some particularly spectacular mountain scenery. Several great religious sites like Takht-e-Rostam at Samangan or the ruins of the Buddha statues at Bamiyan are great places to visit.
The capital city of Kabul is slowly rebuilding and still has the thriving markets that are great to explore and offer the opportunity to barter with the local traders. This area is the site of human habitation for over 5,000 years, and has a rich history due to its strategic location. The historic park at Bagh-e Babur, or the Gardens of Babur, have gardens dating back to 1528 A.D., and are still popular with locals and tourists alike and offer great views over the city.
All visitors will need to obtain a visa in advance to enter Afghanistan, which are not available from a border crossing or Kabul airport. The visa application will need a letter of introduction, which you can write for yourself. Some embassies might want to interview you in person to discuss why you wish to visit the country as a tourist.
Quick Info:
Capital: Kabul
Language(s): Dari (Persian) and Pashto
Religion(s): Islam
Currency: Afghani (AFN)
Electricity Voltage: 220V
Calling Code: +93
Popular Travel Destinations:
- GARDENS OF BABUR
- BOT-E-BAMIYAN (Buddhas Statue)
- ROZA MUBARIK (Shrine of Hazrat Ali)
Official Website: www.afghanistans.com/
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*Note* - Some of the graphics on this page were taken from the CIA World Factbook which contains a wealth of information on every country in the world. I highly recommend it.