Kabul
Also known as Cabool, Caubul, Kabol, Cabul, Kaboul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is within the jurisdiction of Kabul District and has an estimated population of 5,333,284 people. Located in the eastern half of the country, forming part of the Kabul Province, the city is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts. The native population of Kabul primarily speaks Persian, locally referred to as Persian Dari, using regional Dari dialects with a distinctive Kabuli accent.
AI overview
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country with a population of over 5 million people. The city is administratively organized into five zones and 22 districts, and its residents primarily speak Persian Dari, a regional dialect of Persian with a distinctive Kabuli accent.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
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Place details
- Locality
- کابل
- Region
- ولایت كابل
- Country
- افغانستان
- Population
- 4,434,550
- Timezone
Travel guide
Understand
thumb|400px|A section of Kabul, the capital of [[Afghanistan]]
Get in
thumb|Afghan customs officials at the Kabul International Airport in 2010.
Get around
Maps of Kabul are available from Afghanistan Information Management Services who can print out custom wall maps of the city.
See
thumb|Inside the Gardens of Babur.
Buy
thumb|Lycee Maryam Road in the Khair Khana 2 neighborhood
Eat
There are many places to eat delicious food in Kabul without needing to spend too much money. Restaurants can crudely be split into "places for locals" and "places for expats", with the latter having higher quality, higher prices, and higher security. Restaurants that are UN-approved are particularly expensive. There are vendors on almost every street in the city.
Restaurants open and close with surprising frequency, so it is a good idea to check whether a place is still operating before heading out.
Sleep
Kabul is not a cheap place to stay, principally due to the costs of running a generator and providing security. The hotels are good if you are just passing through, however for long term stays opting for a guest house is more popular. There are several in Wazir Akbar Khan and Shar-i-Naw, often in huge Pakistani style mansions.
It is wise to look closely at the security arrangements for any of these hotels. Many, especially those in the Splurge section, have been attacked by Taliban or other insurgent groups. Always think about escape routes and safe places to shelter.
Stay safe
See the warning on the Afghanistan article for information about the security situation.
The security situation in Kabul has deteriorated significantly due to the Taliban's control since August 2021. While Kabul remains relatively safer than other parts of Afghanistan, the risk of bombings, kidnappings, and targeted attacks persists, particularly for foreigners and expats. The presence of expats and visitors continues, but incidents, though rare, can be severe. Exercise extreme vigilance: avoid traveling after dark, minimize time in public spaces like hotel lobbies, and vary daily routes and schedules for longer stays. Protests and riots, though less frequent, can escalate quickly, with authorities often responding with lethal force—avoid these at all costs.
~40 min read
Article
44 sectionsContents
- Toponymy and etymology
- History
- Antiquity
- The Jewish community
- Islamisation and Mongol invasion
- Timurid and Mughal era
- Durrani and Barakzai dynasties
- 20th century
- Occupations, wars and Taliban rule (1996–2001)
- 21st century
- Geography
- Climate
- Architecture
- Environment
- Demographics
- Economy
- Tourism
- Sports
- Law and government
- Districts
- Internet-based participatory planning
- Healthcare
- Education
- Universities
- Transportation
- Air
- Road
- Public transport
- Notable people
- Rulers
- Politicians
- Religious figures
- Musicians
- Athletes
- Actors and Actresses
- Writers and poets
- Journalists
- Activists
- Twin towns – sister cities
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is within the jurisdiction of Kabul District and has an estimated population of 5,333,284 people. Located in the eastern half of the country, forming part of the Kabul Province, the city is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts. The native population of Kabul primarily speaks Persian, locally referred to as Persian Dari, using regional Dari dialects with a distinctive Kabuli accent. Kabul has long been Afghanistan's political, cultural and economic center. Rapid urbanization has made it the country's primate city. It is located high in a narrow valley in the Hindu Kush mountain range, and is bounded by the Kabul River. At an altitude of 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level, it is one of the highest capital cities in the world. The center of the city contains its oldest neighborhoods, including the areas of Bala Hisar, Deh Afghanan and Murad Khani.
Kabul is believed to be over 3,500 years old. It was mentioned at the time of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Located at a crossroads in Asia—roughly halfway between Istanbul, in the west and Hanoi, in the east—the city is situated in a strategic location along the trade routes of Central Asia and South Asia. As a key destination on the ancient Silk Road, it is traditionally seen as the meeting point between Tartary, Hindustan and Persia. Over the centuries Kabul was claimed by various empires, including the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Greco-Bactrian, Mauryan, Kushan, Samanid, Ghaznavid, Ghorid, Khwarazmian, Timurid and others.
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On the map
3 mapped locations
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Categories
Capital cities in AsiaCities in AfghanistanCleanup tagged articles with a reason field from January 2018KabulKabul ShahiPlaces in the ShahnamehPopulated places along the Silk RoadPopulated places established in the 2nd millennium BCPopulated places in Kabul ProvinceProvincial capitals in Afghanistan