Nuristan Province

Nuristan Province sits in eastern Afghanistan and covers a wide mountainous area crossed by deep river valleys. It borders Pakistan to the east and features steep slopes and forested hillsides that range across different elevations.

In the late 19th century, Amir Abdur Rahman Khan conquered the area, then called Kafiristan, and introduced Islamic rule. Since then, the region has carried its current name, which refers to the light of Islam.

Local people speak several related languages, including Kati, heard in the northern valleys, and Kom, spoken further south. These languages belong to the Dardic language group and differ markedly from Dari or Pashto, Afghanistan's two main languages.

Roads are often in poor condition, and many villages can only be reached on foot or by narrow mountain paths. Travelers should expect a dry and cold climate at higher elevations and noticeably warmer temperatures in the valleys.

In some remote villages, local people still use wooden carvings and patterns on houses and doors that date back to the pre-Islamic period. These old decorations show geometric shapes and stylized figures rarely seen in other parts of Afghanistan.

Location: Afghanistan

Capital city: Parun

Elevation above the sea: 3,471 m

Shares border with: Panjshir Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kunar Province

GPS coordinates: 35.25000,70.75000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:30