Kandahar

Understand

alt=|thumb|Night view of a section of Kandahar Kandahār or Qandahār (Pashto: کندهار; Persian: قندهار) is one of the largest of Afghanistan's thirty-four provinces and is located in the southern region of the country. The province connects with Pakistan's Balochistan province through the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing. The city of Kandahar was the capital of Afghanistan prior to 1776. It is an economic and political hub of Afghanistan and has always played a major role in the nation's history. alt=|left|thumb|Pashtuns are multilingual. They make up the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. alt=|thumb|Mountains and plains just south-west of Kandahar city, which is beneath the haze on the right Kandahar's residents are Pashtuns (Pashto: پښتون Paṣ̌tun, Pax̌tun) of various tribes, with small communities of Tajiks, Turkmens, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Baloch and others scattered in and around the city. They have lived in harmony each other throughout history. The people of Kandahar enjoy humor and laughter, and they often talk about sports, history and geopolitics. Many influential Afghan rulers, such as Mirwais Khan Hotak, Ahmad Shah Durrani, Abdur Rahman Khan, Amanullah Khan, and Hamid Karzai, originate from Kandahar. The city has also produced a number of prominent Afghan poets, singers, scholars, intellectuals, academics and businessmen.

Kandahār is about 1,005 m (3,297 feet) above sea level. The Arghandab and Tarnak rivers run along the city. These major rivers turn into numerous sm…

Get around

To get around the city visitors can use taxis or rent a vehicle, which usually comes with a reliable driver but special arrangements can be made to exclude the driver. The basic requirement for such special rental is insurance for the vehicle.

See

thumb|Shrine of Baba Wali (also known as Hassan Abdal), located on the northwestern edge of the city in the Arghandab area.|alt=There are a number of historical sites to visit in and around Kandahar.

Do

There are many outdoor places to swim in Kandahar. There are no alligators in Kandahar but various types of snakes, scorpions and spiders do exist. The people of Kandahar traditionally enjoy family picnic trips. This sometimes involves driving to other districts of the province, usually where their farms are located.

Kandahar International Cricket Stadium, inaugurated in 2017, in Aino Mina. Kandahar Football Stadium, located in the Shahr-e Naw neighborhood next to the Ghazi family park.

Buy

All business transactions in Kandahar are done by using cash and only in the nation's currency, the Afghani.

Afghanistan International Bank (AIB), Afghan United Bank, Afghan Milli-e-Bank, Azizi Bank, and New Kabul Bank all have branches in the city with cash machines. Western Union service is available in various locations in the city.

Eat

There are a growing number of restaurants. Most of them serve Afghan cuisine. The popular items include roasted chicken, mutton, lamb, and beef, along with rice dishes, cooked vegetables, and plenty of fresh fruits. Fast food places that serve pizzas, burgers and other sandwiches are also growing. The best street food in Kandahar is fried fish and samosas along with several styles of freshly-baked local bread.

Drink

Selling alcohol is illegal in Afghanistan, but this rule is not strictly enforced like in Saudi Arabia. Smoking hashish (marijuana) is common in Afghanistan, and it does not lead to an arrest.

Connect

4G LTE services, smart phones and smart TVs are available in Kandahar.

Stay safe

See the warning on the Afghanistan article for information on the security situation.

Kandahar has been one of the safer cities in southern Afghanistan, especially its Aino Mina section located in the east and closer to the main airport. The most advanced hospital is in Aino Mina, which opened in April 2019. Blending with the locals is a good way to prevent unnecessary attention. Residents of Kandahar are friendly and hospitable, but some of those from other places who are staying in the city may not be. Kandahar residents treat foreign tourists as special diplomats. Many residents of Kandahar also have family and friends who are citizens of countries in Europe, Oceania and North America.

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