Herat travel guide — Herat tourism and travel information

Welcome to Herat Travel Guide, extensive source of tourist information and travel services offer related to Herat and Afghanistan. Book cheap hotels, cheap flights and get car rental. We also offer Herat travel guide books and maps and atlases. Please visit Afghanistan travel guide for more travel and tourism iformation and attractions in the Afghanistan.

our Herat travel guide — Herat tourism and travel information content

Herat travel and tourist guide
Herat travel services
Herat travel books
- Herat travel guide books
- Herat maps and atlases

latest Herat and Afghanistan discussion posts

Join our comprehensive travel discussion board! Share your Herat and Afghanistan travel experience! Our Ask and Answer forum is geographically divided, the team of editors world-wide is ready to answer your questions.

insert new comment or question »

Herat travel guide

about Herat

Herāt is a city in western Afghanistan, in the valley of the Hari Rud river in the province also known as Herat, and was traditionally known for wine. The inhabitants are mainly Tajiks.

It's an ancient city with many historic buildings, although these have suffered damage in various military conflicts during the last few decades. The buildings are generally constructed of mud brick. The city is dominated by the remains of a citadel, constructed under the rule of Alexander the Great.

The city had a favourable position on the trade routes between Persia, India, China and Europe. The roads from Herat to Turkmenistan and Iran are still strategically important.

Herat history

Herat is probably a descendant of the ancient Persian town of Artacoana, established before 500 BC. It may also have been known as Aria.

It was captured by Alexander in 330 BC during his war against the Persian Achaemenid Empire. The town was rebuilt and the citadel was constructed. It was part of the Seleucid Empire but was captured by others on various occasions and became part of the Parthian Empire in 167 BC.

Around 484 it became part of the Hephthalite Empire.

Around 786-809 it was part of the Abbasid caliphate.

Later, it was ruled by the Tahirid dynasty.

After 867-869 the Saffarid dynasty took control.

Before 1040 it was ruled by the Ghaznavids. In 1040 it was captured by the Seljuk Empire. In 1175 it was captured by the Ghorids and then came under the Khawarazm Empire. In this period Herat became an important center for the production of metal goods, especially in bronze, often decorated with elaborate inlays in precious metals.

In 1221 it was captured by the Mongols and later destroyed by Genghis Khan. In 1245 it was given to the Kart Maliks.

Around 1381 it was destroyed again by Timur. Under his son Shah Rukh it was rebuilt and became an important center under the Timurid Empire. In the late 1400s the Musalla complex (with many minarets) was built under the rule of Queen Gawharshad. Her tomb complex is considered one of the great monuments of Timurid architectural carving.

In 1506 it was captured by the Uzbeks and a few years later by Shah Ismail Safavi, to become part of a new Persian Empire.

From 1718 until 1880 there were various battles until the city became part of a united Afghanistan.

During the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Herat was used by the Soviets. Even before the Soviet invasion at the end of 1979, there was a substantial presence of Soviet advisors in the city with their families. From 10 to 20 March 1979 the army in Herat under the control of Ismail Khan mutinied and 350 soviet citizens were killed. The soviets bombed the city, causing massive destruction and thousands of deaths and it was recaptured with tanks and paratroopers.

Ismail Khan became a Mujahedin commander and after the departure of the Soviets he became governor of Herat. In 1995 the city was captured by the Taliban. In November 12, 2001 it was captured by the Northern Alliance and Ismail Khan returned to power in the region.

Near cities to Herat

Near webcams to Herat

Herat travel services

choose from our international travel services offer:

cheap flights to Herat

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Herat, cheap flights Herat, also available cheap airline tickets to Afghanistan and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Herat deals also available.

cheap Herat hotels

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Herat, Afghanistan hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Herat hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Herat vacations

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Herat, Afghanistan vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Herat vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Herat

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Herat, car hire in Afghanistan and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Herat car hire deals also available.

Herat travel insurance

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Herat, accident health Herat travel insurance, all using our online Herat travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Afghanistan. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Herat real estate

City Travel Guide comes with Herat real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Herat property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Afghanistan, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Herat.

Herat travel books

Herat travel guide books

Herat maps and atlases

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Herat".

Europe

North America

South America

Asia

Australia

Africa

world city travel guides

Asia city travel guide

Afghanistan city travel guide

Herat, Afghanistan travel guide