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Blue-tiled Shrine of Hazrat Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif across its white marble courtyard
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Balkh

بلخ

The Blue Mosque and the 'Mother of Cities'

Mazar-i-Sharif is the north's largest city, famous for the Blue Mosque and its white pigeons. Nearby, ancient Balkh is one of the oldest cities in the world and the birthplace of Rumi.

Tiled entrance portal of the Blue Mosque, the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, in Mazar-i-Sharif
Fluted dome and tiled portal of the Green Mosque (Masjid Sabz) in the old city of Balkh

Best time to visit: March–May (Nowruz in late March) and October–November.

Getting there: Domestic flights from Kabul, by road via the Salang tunnel, or overland from Uzbekistan at Hairatan.

Highlights

  • Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque)

    Afghanistan's most celebrated mosque, centre of Nowruz celebrations.

  • Ancient Balkh

    City walls of the 'Mother of Cities' and the Green Mosque of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa.

  • Noh Gonbad (Haji Piyada)

    Ninth-century mosque with exquisite stucco — among the oldest Islamic buildings in Afghanistan.

  • Takht-e Rustam (Samangan)

    Buddhist stupa carved into the rock, a day trip from Mazar.

Where to stay in Balkh

We don't list partner hotels in Balkh yet, but we arrange trusted guest houses, guides and transport on request.

Plan a trip to Balkh