Afghanistan is a very ancient country, the first mention of which was made in the chronicles of VI century ВС, when it was included in the Persian Empire of Akhaemenids. In about 330 ВС. Afghanistan was conquered by Alexander the Great. After the death of Alexander the country was successively under the power of Greek, Indian, Iranian, Arab and Mongolian governors, this is the reason why Afghanistan has such a tremendous variety of cultural highlights to show for. In XVIII century the first Afghan Emirate was established.
However, due to the extremely reactionary political system and strict religious regulations at this time, the majority of historical treasures are out of bounds and moreover some of the monuments are being cruelly destroyed to an international outcry.
The Hindu Kush, consisting of two massive ranges, is one of the most majestic and beautiful mountain systems in the world, having preserved absolutely primeval appearance. This could be a wonderful region for hiking and Alpinism. Marvelous mountains, valleys and lakes create a unique and amazing landscapes, alas inaccessible to a most foreigners.
Afghanistan once prided itself on its marvelous Kabul Museum of History with its magnificent collection of Buddha exhibits, the Shah's palace, and numerous outstanding mosques and mausoleums. Kabul of today to our chagrin preserves pitiful remains of its historic greatness. Among some temptation for tourists first and foremost is Babur's garden from the Moghul era and further expanded upon and improved by all succeeding dynasties of Afgan governors.
Foreign visitors are at this time not allowed to venture outside the capital. With much patience and determination, one may however still succeed in obtaining the necessary permit. A visit to the Pagkhman valley to the west of the capital is much recommended, in the gardens and foothills lay scattered the villas of Afghanistan's ancient nobility. Further north, in the regions of Karez-ay-Amir on the outskirts of Charikara and in the Chakardara valley some wonderful natural conditions prevail, ideal for tourism development. Around Jalalabad, capital of the Nangarkhar region, used to be an attractive winter resort. It is now literally lost among cypress bushes and blooming fruit gardens.
Mazar i Sharif is famous for its mosque of XV century, where the tomb of AN, son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed, can be visited.

In Herat, the fortification walls of the ancient city and the Great Mosque are major attractions. Gazni attracts visitors for the ruins of legendary "old Gazni", mentioned as far back as the chronicles of XII century and also the 2 majestic towers, the height of which is 43 meters, are especially noteworthy. The city of Kandahar has at all times been renowned for its oriental bazaar, right in the neighborhood of splendid mosques and the tomb of Akhmad Shakh, the first Afghan Emir. It is in Balkh that the founder of a world religion, Zoroastr (Zaratushtra) died, his gravesite is considered to be in Balkh too.
February 15,2005,08:30 news tickers all over the world spread sensational news. A giant statue of the lying Buddha has been found in the Bamian province of Afghanistan, now considered the largest lying statue anywhere in the world, considerably ousizing those that were destroyed by the Talibans
4 years earlier. ITAR-TASS reported that this find had been made by the Afghan archaeologist Zemaryalai Tarzi. According to him, the statue had been burried under the bulk of sand on the grounds of a Buddhist monastery. Tarzi was convinced that the statue had been intentionally covered up by monks in order to save it from the Moslem armies' invasions. Not far from the statue scientists discovered also a dozen sculptures of Buddha's heads, of which some are dated to III century when Bamian was a flourishing Buddhist center. Archaeologists made mention of how well preserved the lying Buddha was despite of their being burryed for so long. August 11,2005,16:35 The Government of Afghanistan proposed to the Japanese artist Khiro Yamagata to renew figures of the prominent Buddhas from the Bamian province by means of laser beams, reports BBC News. Probably the statues would be revived as a projection on the rocks, in which they had been standing for 1600 years, until in 2001 they were destroyed by the Taliban. If the project is realized, then a 7km rock cliff in the Bamian valley on the route of the ancient Great Silk Road will be turned into a unique 52,5m high screen, onto which by June 2007 every Sunday 140 images will be projected during 4h, generated through direct lasers light and operated by solar and wind energy estimated to cost US$ 9mio. A plan by the Swiss government to re-carve the Buddhas of Bamian at a cost of US$ 30mio has been rejected. Representatives of the Afghan government (and the world at large) are now expecting the UNESCO approval of the project.