Kandahar

Kandahar is a big city in Afghanistan.

It sits near two rivers.

This city is very old. People have lived here for a long time.

Long ago, a leader named Alexander built a city here. He called it Alexandria.

Today, the land grows sweet food. You can find tasty grapes and melons there.

Many people visit the busy markets. It is a very important place to trade.

Kandahar is a large city in southern Afghanistan.

It sits between the Arghandab River and the Tarnak River. The city is the capital of Kandahar Province. It is also a major center for trade and industry.

The area around the city grows very sweet fruit. People grow grapes, melons, and pomegranates there. The city has many places to dry and pack this fruit.

Kandahar is one of the oldest places where humans live.

A large, strong city stood here a long time ago. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great built a city nearby. He named it Alexandria. Over many years, that name changed into Kandahar. Because it sits on important trade routes, many empires fought for it. Many different groups have ruled the city through history. Today, it is a very important cultural center for the Pashtun people.

The city has many banks, hotels, and busy markets called bazaars.

Kandahar is a major city located in southern Afghanistan.

It serves as the capital of Kandahar Province. The city sits between two rivers called the Arghandab and the Tarnak.

It is the center of a large cultural area known as Loy Kandahar. About 732,629 people live in the city as settled residents. The city is divided into 15 different districts called nahias. It is a busy place with many banks, hotels, and hospitals. You can also find many mosques, universities, and places to play sports.

This region is famous for its fertile land and sweet treats. The area produces some of the finest fruits in the world. People grow many delicious grapes, melons, and pomegranates here.

Because there is so much fruit, the city has special plants. These plants help people with canning, drying, and packing the fruit. Some people believe the name Kandahar comes from words for candy. This might be because the area is so good at growing sweet things. The city is a very important center for trading these goods.

Kandahar is one of the oldest places where humans have lived.

Archaeologists found a large, strong city at this site long ago. They believe it existed as early as 1000 to 750 BC. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great founded a city nearby. He named it Alexandria Arachosia. Over many centuries, the name changed from Iskandar to Scandar and finally to Kandahar.

This long history makes the city a very special place.

Because the city sits on important trade routes, many empires fought for it. It was once part of the Achaemenid Empire and the Seleucid Empire. In 1709, Mirwais Hotak made the region an independent kingdom. Later, in 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani made it the capital of his empire.

The city has seen many different rulers over the years. This includes the British, the Soviets, and NATO forces. Even though Kabul is the official capital, Kandahar is a very powerful seat of leadership.

Today, Kandahar is a vital part of the Pashtun community. It has been a traditional seat of power for over 300 years. The city is a busy hub for industry and trade in southern Asia.

You can see many modern things like the Ayno Maina township. This area sits near the Kabul–Kandahar Highway in the northeast. Whether looking at old ruins or new markets, the city shows a deep history. It connects the ancient past to the modern world.

Kandahar is a major city in southern Afghanistan. It serves as the capital of Kandahar Province. The city sits within the jurisdiction of Kandahar District. It is located between the Arghandab River and the Tarnak River.

This city is the center of a large cultural region called Loy Kandahar. It has an estimated population of 732,629 settled residents. The Kandahar Municipality is divided into 15 administrative districts known as nahias.

The city contains many industrial parks, business centers, and banks. It also hosts universities, hospitals, and various tourist sites.

The region around Kandahar is one of the oldest known human settlements. Archaeologists have found evidence of a large fortified city at this site. They believe this city existed as early as 1000 to 750 BC.

Later, the city became an important outpost of the Achaemenid Empire. This occurred during the 6th to 4th centuries BC. The city was part of the province of Arachosia. The main inhabitants of Arachosia were the Pakhtas. They may have been ancestors of the modern Pashtun people.

In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great changed the city's history. He founded what is now called Old Kandahar in the southwest. He named this new city Alexandria Arachosia.

After Alexander died, the territory became part of the Seleucid Empire. It later fell to the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom for 200 years. The city also belonged to the Indo-Greek Kingdom from 180 BC to 10 AD. During the Mauryan period, Buddhism was introduced to the region. Emperor Ashoka left famous inscriptions here in Greek and Aramaic.

The name Kandahar has a very interesting linguistic history. It likely derives from the name Alexandria. In the local Pashto language, the name Alexander is rendered as Iskandar.

Over time, this name likely transformed into Scandar. Eventually, it became the modern name, Kandahar. Some historians noted a change from Scandar to Candar in the 16th century. There is also a folk etymology involving the words "kand" or "qand." In Persian and Pashto, these words relate to candy. This may refer to the fertile land and its sweet fruits.

Kandahar's strategic location has made it a target for many empires. It sits along vital trade routes in southern, central, and western Asia. These routes link the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East. Because of this, many groups fought for control of the city. In 1709, Mirwais Hotak established an independent kingdom here. He made Kandahar the capital of the Hotak dynasty. Later, in 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani founded the Durrani Empire. He made Kandahar the capital of his new empire.

The city has experienced many different periods of foreign rule. The British occupied the area briefly in the 19th century. The Soviets held the region in the 1980s. More recently, NATO forces were present in the area. Despite these changes, Kandahar remains a vital center for the Pashtun community. It has been their traditional seat of power for over 300 years. Today, it is a major industrial and trading hub. The region is famous for producing fine grapes and pomegranates.

The city even has plants for canning and packing these fruits.

Kandahar holds a unique position in the modern political landscape. Although Kabul is the official capital of Afghanistan, Kandahar is a seat of power. The supreme leader and his spiritual advisers are based in Kandahar. This has led many to call it the de facto capital. The city is also the founding and spiritual center of the Taliban. Modern urban areas like the Ayno Maina township have developed in the northeast.

This township sits next to the Kabul–Kandahar Highway. The city continues to grow as a center of trade and culture.