- Type
- Fortress
- Location
- Kabul, Afghanistan
- Coordinates
- 34.5056°, 69.1917°
History
Tradition places the origins of the stronghold on the slopes of Sher Darwaza mountain, guarding the Kabul valley, in the 5th century or earlier, though no firm date is known. In 1504 Kabul was taken by Babur, the future founder of the Mughal Empire, and the citadel became one of his residences. When Timur Shah Durrani moved the Afghan capital to Kabul in 1776, the Bala Hissar served as the royal palace and fortress. During the First Anglo-Afghan War it was home to Shah Shuja, installed on the throne by the British, and in September 1879 mutinous soldiers killed the British envoy Sir Louis Cavagnari in the residency inside the fortress. In reprisal General Frederick Roberts's troops occupied Kabul and pulled down part of the buildings, and Emir Abdur Rahman later moved his court to the new Arg palace. In the 20th century the citadel was used by the army, and the fighting of the 1990s left it badly damaged.
What to see
Massive brick and mud walls studded with towers climb the mountain ridge above Kabul's southern districts and can be seen from much of the city. The upper citadel and the lower area with the ruins of the old palace were held by the army for decades, so visitors usually see the fortress only from outside. The foot of the walls offers a wide view over the Kabul valley and the surrounding mountains.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q804581
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