Photogallery of Herat, Afghanistan

The gorgeous city of Herat is the center of the province with the same name and one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Afghanistan. Do you want to learn more about the history of this region? Fabulous architectural landmarks are always ready to tell their interesting stories to guests of Herat. The city is situated in the fertile valley of the Hari River. In order to see the most important city on the Silk Road, many foreign guests visit Herat every year. The story of Herat started many millennia ago, yet during the ancient period. Historians still do not know the exact date when the city was founded. Earlier mentions of Herat date back to the period of the Achaemenid Empire. When Alexander the Great ran his campaign against the Persians and captured the territory of the modern city, he renamed it to Alexandria Ariana. When the legendary leader died, the city was captured by different kings and rulers and was added to different countries in Central Asia. Despite the continuous change of rulers, Herat remained an important stop on the Silk Road. In the 20s of the 13th century, Mongols captured and almost completely destroyed Herat. Local people were proudly fighting for their motherland but they failed to save it. The Mongol army killed almost all aboriginal people. Rebuilding works started in the town only fifteen years later. The Timurid dynasty period was the time of prosperity and development for Herat. The city became so rich that Iran and the United Kingdom … Read further