Herāt (Persian: هرات) is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. Situated in a fertile area, Herāt was traditionally known for its wine. It is the third largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of 349,000 (2006 official estimate). Persian-speaking Tājiks (or Fārsīwān) are the main inhabitants of the city and are roughly the same as the Persians of Eastern Iran.[1][2]
Herat is an ancient city with many historic buildings, although these have suffered damage in various military conflicts during the last few decades. The city is dominated by the remains of a citadel constructed by Alexander the Great. During the Middle Ages Herat became one of the important cities of Khorasan, and it was known as the Pearl of Khorasan.
Herāt is situated favorably on the ancient and historic trade routes of the Middle East, South Asia, Pakistan,China, India and Europe. The roads from Herāt to Iran, Turkmenistan, Mazar-e Sharif and Kandahar are still strategically important.
I took these pictures from the inside of an armored F150.
Herat. The Pearl of Khorasan. This was and to an extent still is the example to which Central Asia aspires.
Think about that…
Dear David
it just brings a smile in my face seeing all that pictures
and here is a bit more about Herat past less known i belive these days
“The world is like an ocean,” it was said in ancient times, “and in the ocean is a pearl, and the pearl is Herat.”
Breadbasket
Herat, the city considered to have the most fertile soil in central Asia, was first settled 5,000 years ago.
The ancient Greek historian Heroditus called it the breadbasket of the region.
When Alexander the Great came to Herat in the 3rd century BC, the city was already a prosperous place.
Later it became the greatest of the cities of the ancient Persian kingdom of Khorasan.
Florence of Asia
The golden age of Herat was the time of the Timurids, in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the city was known as the “Florence of Asia”.
The best painters, the best architects, the best musicians, all came from Herat.
“In Herat if you stretch out your feet you are sure to kick a poet,” said Ali Sher Nawai, a statesman who was himself a poet and artist.
It was at this time that the beautiful palaces and mosques which still adorn the city were built.
Notable among these are the Musalla complex, built in the late 1400s by Queen Gawarshad.
The city is the burial place of Afghanistan’s greatest mystic poet, Khaja Abdullah Ansari.
Herat was formerly also renowned for its bazaars – the city is a major carpet-making centre.
But one great thing about this city is it always recover it has many times been taken to brink of nothingness but has recoverd its people has a will it may take time but if there is peace it will stand up high and proud.
I will recite the story of how grapes come to herat and why it was called ”Florence of Asia ” later.
Ali, you are a font of knowledge. You are always welcome here.
Thank You David,
As promised here is the Legend of Herat’s Famous Vineyard an how the grape came about to Herat
The legend goes that Jamshid the first King of Persia was at his Palace which is believed to be where the citadel stand in the city today (re-constructed by Alexander the Great and rebuilt later).
It was 1st day of Spring which is (NOWROOZ= new day the first day of the Persian calendar = 21 of march). As the King was sitting in his court yard all the ministers and his generals were present and they were celebrating the start of the new year suddenly an eagle crash landed in the court yard, there was a Cobra snake around its neck trying to suffocate the eagle, the king announced that who ever free the eagle shell receive 1000 gold coin.
The royal prince raised to the challenge before anyone and took his arch out and in no time had killed the snake the free eagle fly around the court yard and over the palace making lots of noises and left.
A year passed and on the first day of spring celebration was taking place inside the royal court yard and suddenly an eagle fly into the court yard the same eagle that was here last year, the eagle landed near the king drop some thing that look like seeds of a plant and made some noise and took of, by the order of the king the seeds were passed to the royal gardener who planted it and you guessed it was the grape.
At one point there were over 100 variety of grapes in heart but unfortunately due to decades of war and displacement of people most variety’s are lost but those ones that are left are still the best I have tasted grapes from many countries and have never seen anything to rival Herat’s famous grapes they just melt in your mouth where the grapes from other places you need good tooth to crack the thick skin they got.