Balkh

This settlement sits on level ground in northern Afghanistan and is encircled by the remains of old fortification walls. Archaeological sites spread across several square kilometers within its boundaries, including foundations of former buildings and partially preserved structures.

Greek forces reached the region in 327 BCE and turned it into a center of Hellenistic influence in Central Asia. Centuries later, Arab armies conquered the area and transformed it into a major hub of Islamic scholarship.

Locals still refer to the settlement as "Mother of Cities" and visitors can see fragments of glazed tiles in shades of turquoise scattered across the ruins. The surrounding fields are worked by farmers whose ancestors have cultivated this land for generations.

Access to the archaeological zones requires permission and coordination with local guides who know the terrain conditions. Most visitors plan a full day to explore the scattered remains and surrounding fields.

Archaeological excavations have uncovered coins and pottery from China, India and the Mediterranean, revealing the wide trade connections this place once held. The ruins also contain traces of Buddhist monasteries that existed here before the spread of Islam.