Ghazni,
closest Afghan town to Kabul, was both economicaly and militarily important.
The city has the honor of being the capital of the empire of Mahmoud of
Ghazni. During those times, Ghazni hosted best poets, musicians, artists and
scientists from the region. Ghazni was a historical and cultural center in
Afghanistan. Ghazni of today is a shadow of the glorious past.
Located on the Kabul-Kandahar trade route, Ghazni is a trade center for
sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruits. World famed Afghan
sheepskin coats are made in the city.
History
Ghazni was prime center for Buddhism during 7th century AD. When Arabs
arrived in the area they brought Islam in the city. The city was completely
destroyed by saffarids later. Ghazni was the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire
(994-1160) and the center for south central Asia. It was again sacked and
rebuilt by the mysterious Ghorids in 1151. In 1221 Ghenghis Kahn raged the
city with his Mongol army.
Ghazni is also famous for its minarets. They date from the middle of the
twelfth century and are the surviving element of the mosque of Bahramshah.
Their sides are decorated with geometric patterns. Upper sections of the
minarets have been damaged or destroyed.
Travel Attractions In Ghazni
Mausoleum of Sultan Mahmud
Tomb of Mahmud Ghazni is located here. He turned the former provincial city
of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of his grandiose empire. Modern day
Afghanistan, Pakistan, most of Iran and parts of northwest India were
conqurered by him. His grave is located in the Bahg-i-Firuzi, the Victory
Garden. The garden was personal favorite of the Sultan. Whole tomb stone is
elegnatly carved with Afghan marble and represents an exquisite example of
baroque architecture.
Palace
of Sultan Mas'ud III
Sultan Masud built this palace as a court for him. The palace was built
in 112 A.D. Sultam Masud was one of the most famous conquerors of the
history. He was born in Ghazni in 1061. He ruled for years, carried the
title Sultan and made several successful campaigns against various other
rulers. He ruled from 1099 to 1114 A.D. The palace is a magnificent building
with splendid architecture. The building includes a throne room, several
soldier quarters, government offices and a mosque. The mosque has been built
for religious purpose and it has minarets and beautiful gardens intensifying
the beauty of the royal apartment.
The Citadel
The fort was destroyed completely during the first Anglo- Afghan war. It
was one of the milestones of Afghanistan's royal history. It was rebuilt
again but never attained its glamor and previous splendor. Around the foot
of the citadel the old city of Ghazni was clustered around but now a days
city has lost its glory. Most of the interior is ruined. The citadel is not
open for public now a days.
The Minarets
The Minarets were built by Sultan Masud III (1099-1114) and Bahram Shah
(1118-1152). The construction of the building was inspired by the Qutub
Minar in Delhi. The interior is highly ornamented with the scripts in Nokshi
. The roofs are decorated with variety of floral and geometric designs.
These buildings served as mosques. The minarets also are not in their
original form now a days. Only a certain part has been preserved.
Museum
of Islamic Art
The museum presents a marvelous example of 16th century Timurid
architecture. The museum is located in the restored mausoleum of Sultan
Abdul Raazaq. It was reopened in 1966. It has a large collection of objects
from Ghaznavid period. depicting art and culture of the period. Artifacts
like ceramic tiles bronze articles, glass wares etc are stored in the
museum. One peculiar feature of the museum is the collection of articles
formed by use of human and animal formation. Generally this feature of the
museum is totally unfamiliar with the Islamic art.
Tapa Sardar Excavations
The site acquired its name 'Tapa Sardar' when Amir Habibullah chose this
site for a camp site. Exploratory excavation carried on at Tapa Sardar from
1959 to 1962 identified a stupa complex. The towering central stupa in 22
meters square is the key attraction of the complex.
